This page was created by Andrew Olsen.  The last update was by Dawn Duncan.

Star of the Sea : A Postcolonial/Postmodern Voyage into the Irish Famine

Pius Mulvey (Non-Spoiler)

Pius Mulvey, an Irishman, is one of the central characters in Star of the Sea. He begins life as a tenant farmer in Galway, a character who could embody any of the thousands of Irishmen from the time. His traditional farming lifestyle is challenged by adversities raised by both the influence of the potato blight and of the oppressive English rule of Ireland. He lives with his brother who is named Nicholas. Pius adapts to the variety of situations he finds himself in while pursuing his ensured well-being by whatever means necessary. Mulvey's character is crafted in a way that encourages a feeling of ambiguity in origin- he could be any countryside farmer twisted by the realities of life in Ireland at the time. Erin Conley described this as Pius being "a man whose descent into personal hell seems to mirror Ireland’s disintegration" (8). To entirely understand the importance of Pius Mulvey and his growth in Star of the Sea, it's important to keep this broader context in the back of one's mind.



Works Cited
Conley, Erin B. "Famine as a Function of Empire in Arrow of God and Star of the Sea." KU Scholar Works. University of Kansas, 22 May 2010. Web. 18 Mar. 2016.

O'Connor, Joseph. Star of the Sea. Orlando: Harcourt, 2002. Print.
Researcher/Writer: Ben Deetz
Web Designers: Madison Luke and Andrew Olsen

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