Overview

The Banshees of Inisherin is a dark tragicomedy set in 1923 on a fictional Irish island during the Irish Civil War. The film explores friendship, isolation, pride, the consequences of conflict, and the search for meaning in life.

The story follows Pádraic Súilleabháin, a simple, kind-hearted man, and Colm Doherty, an ageing musician who suddenly decides to end their friendship. This seemingly minor conflict escalates into a destructive feud, mirroring the broader themes of human stubbornness and pointless violence.

Understanding Theme or Issue

The Theme or Issue in a text refers to the central concerns explored through characters, conflicts, and their resolution.

In The Banshees of Inisherin, McDonagh examines how small personal disputes can escalate into life-altering consequences, reflecting themes of pride, conflict, isolation, and the search for purpose.

Friendship and Isolation

At its core, the film is about friendship and the pain of rejection. Pádraic values companionship and kindness, while Colm seeks solitude and artistic fulfilment. The sudden and unexplained end of their friendship leaves Pádraic isolated and confused, highlighting how loneliness can deeply impact a person’s sense of self.

  • Example: Colm coldly tells Pádraic he no longer wants to be friends, without offering any real explanation.
  • Quote: “I just don’t like you no more.”
  • Analysis: This blunt rejection shows how fragile human relationships can be. Pádraic, who once found comfort in daily routines and social interaction, is suddenly left without companionship, forcing him to confront loneliness for the first time.
  • Example: Pádraic’s sister, Siobhán, leaves the island for a better life, while Dominic, the local misfit, suffers from abuse and rejection.
  • Analysis: These subplots reinforce the theme of isolation, suggesting that staying on Inisherin leads to loneliness, while leaving offers a chance for freedom and happiness.

The film presents isolation as a destructive force, showing that without human connection, people either grow bitter or desperate.

Pride and Stubbornness

Neither Pádraic nor Colm is willing to compromise or step back, and their stubbornness drives the story towards tragedy.

  • Example: In an extreme act of defiance, Colm begins cutting off his own fingers every time Pádraic tries to talk to him.
  • Quote: “Some things there’s no moving on from. And I think that’s a good thing.”
  • Analysis: This self-destructive behaviour symbolises how stubbornness can lead people to harm themselves just to prove a point. Colm’s actions make no sense—he ruins his ability to play music, the very thing he wanted to focus on—but his pride will not allow him to back down.
  • Example: Pádraic, once described as a “nice” man, eventually becomes hardened by the conflict, choosing revenge over reconciliation.
  • Quote: “You used to be nice. And now, do you know what you are? Not nice.”
  • Analysis: This reflects how prolonged conflict changes people. Pádraic, who originally sought to mend the friendship, becomes just as stubborn and vengeful as Colm, proving that bitterness is contagious.

Through these actions, McDonagh suggests that pride leads to needless suffering, and stubbornness only deepens divides.

The Consequences of Conflict and War

The personal conflict between Pádraic and Colm serves as a symbol for the Irish Civil War, which is occurring in the background.

  • Example: Gunfire and explosions from the mainland are heard throughout the film, but the islanders pay little attention, reflecting how pointless and repetitive the war has become.
  • Quote: “Good luck to those stuck in the middle of it.”
  • Analysis: This suggests that ordinary people suffer the most in conflicts they did not start and cannot control.
  • Example: By the end of the film, Pádraic and Colm’s feud has led to violence, loss, and irreversible damage, yet neither man seems satisfied.
  • Analysis: This mirrors the self-destructive nature of war, where both sides suffer, but no one truly wins.

The film implies that many conflicts—whether personal or political—are driven by ego and could be avoided through communication and compromise.

The Search for Meaning and Legacy

Colm’s decision to end the friendship is partly driven by his fear of dying without leaving behind a legacy. He believes that writing music is more important than spending time with Pádraic, as art will outlast human relationships.

  • Example: Colm justifies his actions by saying that great artists like Mozart are remembered, but “nice” men are forgotten.
  • Quote: “But no one remembers being nice.”
  • Analysis: This reflects the human desire to be remembered. Colm believes that immortality comes through creativity, but the film questions whether legacy is worth sacrificing human connection.

However, Colm ironically destroys his ability to play music by cutting off his fingers, making his pursuit of legacy pointless. This raises the question: is seeking greatness worth it if it leads to self-destruction?

  • Example: Siobhán, unlike the men on the island, realises that she can find purpose elsewhere and leaves for the mainland.
  • Analysis: This suggests that escape is possible, but only for those willing to change. Colm and Pádraic, too set in their ways, remain trapped in a cycle of conflict and loneliness.

The film ultimately suggests that meaning in life comes from human connection, not just individual ambition.

Violence and Revenge

Throughout the film, violence escalates without reason, reflecting how grudges and revenge often lead to more suffering than resolution.

  • Example: After Colm cuts off his fingers, Pádraic responds by burning down his house.
  • Quote: “I’ll call it even, so.”
  • Analysis: This eye-for-an-eye mentality mirrors the never-ending cycle of revenge in human history, showing that violence rarely brings closure.

By the end, neither man has truly won, but both have lost something important, reinforcing the theme that revenge leads only to emptiness.

Comparative Insights

The themes and issues in The Banshees of Inisherin can be compared with other texts that explore conflict, isolation, human pride, and self-destruction.

  • Friendship and Betrayal: The sudden breakdown of Pádraic and Colm’s relationship can be compared to texts where characters struggle with rejection and loss.
  • Conflict and War: The pointless escalation of their feud mirrors texts that explore civil wars, political divisions, or personal rivalries.
  • Stubbornness and Self-Destruction: The film’s depiction of how pride leads to suffering can be linked to other texts where characters refuse to change, leading to their downfall.
  • The Search for Meaning: Colm’s obsession with legacy over friendship can be examined alongside texts that explore ambition and existentialism.

Conclusion

The themes and issues in The Banshees of Inisherin focus on friendship and isolation, pride and stubbornness, the consequences of conflict, and the search for meaning. Martin McDonagh presents a bleak but thought-provokingexploration of human nature, showing how small disputes can spiral into tragedy when people refuse to let go of their pride.

The film leaves the audience questioning whether conflict is ever truly necessary, making it a powerful text for comparative study