Theatre of the absurd

The Theatre of the absurd (French: théâtre de l’absurde [teɑtʁ(ə) də lapsyʁd]) is a post–World War II designation for particular plays of absurdist fiction written by a number of primarily European playwrights in the late 1950s. It is also a term for the style of theatre the plays represent. The plays focus largely on ideas of existentialism and express what happens when human existence lacks meaning or purpose and communication breaks down. The structure of the plays is typically a round shape, with the finishing point the same as the starting point. Logical construction and argument give way to irrational and illogical speech and to the ultimate conclusion—silence.

wikipedia/en/Theatre%20of%20the%20absurd

Theatre of the Absurd is a post-World War II theatrical style by European and American playwrights, notably Samuel Beckett and Eugène Ionesco, in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It portrays a meaningless universe where humans struggle for purpose, leading to plays that reject traditional plot, character, and logic in favor of illogical dialogue, strange situations, and a dark sense of humor to highlight humanity’s futility. The term was coined by critic Martin Esslin, influenced by Albert Camus’s essay The Myth of Sisyphus, which described the human condition as absurd and futile.

• Meaningless Universe: Plays are set in a godless universe where human existence lacks inherent meaning or purpose.
• Rejection of Logic and Structure: There is a deliberate abandonment of conventional plots, linear timelines, and logical structures.
• Devalued Language: Dialogue is often nonsensical, illogical, or filled with long pauses, reflecting the breakdown of communication and the inadequacy of language.
• Illogical Situations: Characters find themselves in bizarre, nonsensical, or ridiculous circumstances.
• Alienation: Characters feel isolated and estranged from a seemingly indifferent world.
• Dark Humor: Despite the bleak themes, these plays often contain a sharp, grim, and even humorous element, derived from the characters’ bitter understanding of their futile existence.

Influences and Key Playwrights

• Albert Camus: His essay The Myth of Sisyphus argued that the human condition is inherently absurd, providing a philosophical foundation for the movement.
• Martin Esslin: The critic who coined the term “Theatre of the Absurd” in his groundbreaking book of the same name to describe the emerging style.
• Key Playwrights:
  • Samuel Beckett (Waiting for Godot)
  • Eugène Ionesco (The Bald Soprano, Rhinoceros)
  • Arthur Adamov
  • Jean Genet
  • Harold Pinter