Identity Crisis

It is known that Castle Rackrent was published at least six months before the union between Britain and Ireland was solidified. The ending of Maria Edgeworth’s narrative leads me to believe she knew the union inevitable, and the point was to salvage a national identity. This is illustrated by the recount of Sir Condy’s drinking duel and subsequent death at the end of the book. The man who is dared to drink the special horn-full of “punch” – which I can only take as meaning beer – does not manage to do so; and he lives. On the other hand, Sir Condy downs the drink in one draught, much to his detriment. This anecdote serves as conceit. The metaphor is of England’s possession of Ireland; Sir Condy is England and the beverage Ireland. If England tries to completely absorb Ireland and steal her of her heritage, the union will surely fail. England must leave a little drink in the horn; she must let Ireland retain her national identity and be a sister – separate but united – to England. This is Maria’s chief concern, educating (especially England) the world on the great country of Ireland; for, “Indeed the domestic habits of no nation in Europe were less known to the English than those of their sister country.”