Paige Character Research Project

1. Conchobhar is the king of the Ulster in Irish mythology. Conchobhar is born after Ness, his mother, goes into labour by the river Conchobhar. Cathbad, Nessa's husband by force, tells her if she can manage not to give birth until the following day, her son will be a great king and have everlasting fame. The following morning Nessa gives birth. The baby falls in to the river, but Cathbad lifts him out, names hime Conchobhar after the river, and brings him up as his own son. Conchobhar becomes king at a very young age by the help of his mother refusing to marry Fergus, the Ulster king at the time, unless her son can be king for a year. Conchobhar rules so well that by the end of the year he decides that he should be king permanently. During Conchochar's rule, he goes to battle in the Cattle Raid of Cooley and the battle of Ros na Rig and comes out victorious. Conchobhar is eventually killed as a result of Meis-Geghra's brain being embeded into his head during a battle with the Connaught warriors. Seven years later he hears of Christ being crucified and gets so angry that Meis-Geghra's brain pops out of his head and he dies.


2. Here is a story of Conchobhar during his rule trying to make a woman, Deirdre, forcefully marry him. One day, when Conchobhar is visiting the house of his storyteller Fedlimid mac Daill, Fedlimid's wife gives birth to a daughter. Cathbad, now Conchobar's chief druid, prophesies that she will be so beautiful that kings will go to war over her, and she will bring nothing but sorrow. The child is named Deirdre, and Conchobhar decides to have her brought up in seclusion from men, intending to marry her when she comes of age. However, she elopes with a young warrior called Naoise. Along with Naoise's two brothers, the couple go into hiding, and are eventually forced to flee to Scotland. Wherever they settle, the local king tries to have the brothers killed so he can have Deirdre for himself, and they have to move on. Eventually Conchobar tracks them down to a remote island, and sends Fergus to them with his guarantee of safe passage home. On the way home he arranges for Fergus to be separated from his charges by having him invited to a feast, so they are escorted back to Emain Macha by Fergus's son Fiachu. When they arrive, Fiachu, Naoise and his brothers are murdered on Conchobar's orders by Eogan mac Durthacht, and Deirdre is forced to marry Conchobar.
Fergus, outraged by the death of his son and the betrayal of his honor, makes war against Conchobar, alongside Cormac Cond Longas, who sides with his foster-father against his father, and Dubthach Doeltenga. They burn Emain and slaughter the maidens of Ulster, before going into exile with Medb and her husband Ailill in Connacht.
Deirdre lives with Conchobar for a year, but during that time she never smiles, rarely eats or sleeps, and refuses to be comforted. Conchobar asks her what it is she hates, and she replies, "you, and Éogan mac Durthacht." Conchobar gives her to Éogan. The next day, riding in Éogan's chariot, she commits suicide by dashing her head against a stone.


3. Conchobhar symbolizes what makes up an awful king. You'll see this in numerous ways throughout the stories you read about him. First, let's compare a few qualites of a king to Conchobhar whom is supposed to carry out these traits. Kings are supposed to be compassionate, a good host, loyal to his country, fair in decisions, keeps his word, and be intelligent and wise. Conchobhar pretty much crosses all of these qualities. For example, Conchobhar does not perform the duty of being a good host or keeping his word when he gives his guarantee of a safe passage home to Dierdre, her lover Naoise, and his brothers after they runaway from Conchobhar. Conchobhar ends up murdering Naoise and his brothers and then takes Dierdre hostage. Conchobhar is definitely not compassionate when he forces Dierdre, who is in love with another man, to marry him. Dierdre ends up commiting suicide by dashing her head against a stone. During the battle with the Connaught warriors, you'll see that Conchobhar is not loyal to his country, (he leaves his men during battle), fair in decisions, (he decides that he should take a minute off from the battle thats happening right next to him to pose for the "enemies" women so they can admire his astonishing figure), or intelligent and wise, (considering he gets a brain ball slung into his head while he is being a self-centered and conceeded man). In my view it is surprising that his warriors stay so true and faithful to him until the very end.


4. In my opinion Conchobhar is an egotistical, ruthless man. If I was one of his warriors I would not have given him as much respect and loyalty as they did. All Conchobhar thinks of is himself. He wants the best woman, whether see likes him or not, he abondons his men in the middle of battle, and is dishonest and deceitful to get what he wants. I would not have wanted to be one of Conchobhar's warriors in his time.

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6. One literary device associated with Conchobhar would be the theme Paganism vs. Christianity. At the end of the story you see Conchobhar get very upset after he hears that Christ was crucified by the Jews. He gets so angry after hearing this that Meis-Geghra's brain pops out of his head and he dies. The blood from the wound baptises him as Christian, and his soul goes to heaven. This suggests that the author was probably Christian. I think that it implies if you are a pagan, your 'gods' or you are subject to wyrd (fate). Meaning that all men are doomed to die. Whereas God, rules wyrd itself. God will give you strength and security if you are faithful to him. Thus, providing you with salvation and glory for eternity.