J.J. Lee’s “In Search of Patrick Pearse”

蔡純瑋

Summary

     Written by J. J. Lee, this essay aims to provide the revisionist interpretations of Patrick Pearce, a nationalist and political activist and one of the leaders of the Easter Rising in 1916. In line with Irish historical revisionism, Lee challenges the official historiography about Pearse, reexamining his decision-making process regarding the Easter Rising and his relationship with comrades, so as to offer a more balanced view on this oft-idolized figure.

      Pearse used to be idolized by Irish nationalists who believe his contributions to Ireland are unquestionable. Nevertheless, Irish revisionists, including F.S.L. Lyons, urged a closer assessment of Pearse’s political acts and their consequences through, for example, The Letters of P. H. Pearse.

      Lee starts with contradictions in Pearse’s writings. The author focuses on two contradictions: 1) Pearse’s political language; 2) Pearse’s tactical but inconsistent polemics. For example, Pearse had at different time contradicted himself about the German involvement with the Easter Rising. That is, in the 1916 “Proclamation of the Republic,” Pearse praised Germany as one of “our gallant allies in Europe,” whereas he, when on trial, denied the military assistance of Germany towards the Easter “rebels”: “We neither asked for nor accepted German gold nor had any traffic with Germany” (125). Lee regards that Pearse’s denial of German involvement makes himself more like an opportunistic politician rather than a proper leader.

      Lee also points out the contradictions between Pearse’s political language and actions. By comparing his words to young students and his relationship with other partners during the Rising, Lee argues that although Pearse strove to live up to his exalted self-image as “the noblest man,” he could lapse from the high standards he set for himself (124). According to Lee, Pearse was a good war propagandist, but in reality what he wished to happen were paid for with the blood of many youngsters (126).

      In conclusion, Lee reminds the readers of the risk of taking Pearse’s words for granted: “it is fatally easy to fix Pearse into a particular mould, and then to fit everything in him into that mould” (128). Lee suggests that it is necessary to further examine the nationalistic historiography that has stereotyped Pearse and his fellow as heros rather than humans with weaknesses.

Work Citied

Moran, Seán Farrell. Patrick Pearse and The Politics of Redemption: The Mind of The Easter Rising, 1916. Washington, D.C.: Catholic University of America Press,1994.

Edwards, Ruth Dudley. Patrick Pearse: The Triumph of Failure. Dublin: Irish Academic Press, 2006.

Brady, Ciaran, ed. Interpreting Irish History: The Debate on Historical Revisionism, 1938-1994. Dublin: Irish Academic Press, 1994.

Relevant Links

Easter Rising 1916            http://www.easter1916.net/

PatrickPearse.com            http://www.patrickpearse.com/