Stream of Consciousness
The fragmented nature of some of the dialogue - in particular that of Gar Private - shows Gar鈥檚 confused state of mind as he recalls the past, imagines the future and deliberates over whether he is making the correct choice.
The disjointed sentences, exclamation marks, dashes, ellipsesA punctuation mark consisting of three dots denoting that one or more words have been left out of a sentence. and non sequitursA conclusion or statement that does not logically or correctly follow from the meaning of the statements that led to it. in Private鈥檚 monologueA speech by a single person, speaking alone, often revealing something about their past or personality. show the reality of the thinking process. They also convey what Gar is going through.
While the real characters sit on stage in silence 鈥 this internal aspect of Gar鈥檚 personality is in turmoil.
Music
Songs and balladA traditional poetic form used in narrative poetry. A ballad normally features repetition, regular rhyme scheme and rhythm. They were traditionally penned to be sung or read aloud. feature in the play, many of which reinforce key themes and ideas. The types of music change between music hall songs such as Give the Woman in the Bed more Porter, the classical MendelssohnA German classical pianist and romantic composer. His romantic music is elegant and light and his chamber works intense and dramatic. violin concerto and the haunting folk song, She Moved Through the Fair.
They all create different moods, highlighting the very changeable nature of Gar鈥檚 moods throughout the play. He moves from being ostensiblySomething that outwardly appears one way, but underneath there's the hint of something different. excited in the opening scene to questioning why he is going at all in the closing scene.
Poetic refrain
Gar repeatedly recites the opening lines from Edmund Burke鈥檚 Reflections on the Revolution in France, a piece of writing critiquingEvaluating a literary or other work in a detailed and analytical way in which you give your opinion about the good and bad parts of it. the French RevolutionThe French Revolution was a period of social and political upheaval in France that lasted from 1789 until 1799. An uprising against the monarchy resulted in the establishment of France as a republic and the execution of King Louis XVI. that was criticised for idealising pre-Revolutionary France and the governing royal family.
Perhaps this is a piece of writing that he remembers from studying 鈥淎rts鈥 for 鈥渙ne year at University College鈥, and so the repetition of it throughout the play may highlight his regret at not pursuing his studies.
On the other hand, Friel may have intended to show this as another form of escape for Gar as he seems to repeat these lines to distract himself from thoughts and feelings he wants to avoid.
Perhaps - considering the piece of writing he is quoting - Friel also uses this to remind us of how Gar may be idealising the past - for example in his memories of Kate Doogan or the boys.
Title
The title of the play combines the lyrics of the song California, Here I Come by Al Jolson and the name of the American city, Philadelphia, that Gar is emigrating too.
Although the exclamation mark in the title suggests enthusiasm and excitement at the impending journey, the original song is in fact about missing one鈥檚 home.
Lyrics such as 鈥淐alifornia, I鈥檝e been blue / Since I鈥檝e been away from you鈥 and 鈥淐alifornia, here I come/ Right back where I started from鈥 show a person longing to go back to where they came from.
Perhaps Friel is using the title ironically to portray Gar鈥檚 ambivalentHaving mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone. attitude towards emigration.