English Literature- an Episode in the Life of an Author Essay Example

hero such as- bravery, honesty and unselfishness… Examples include Manfred in ‘Lord Burous ‘Manfred’. Valmont in Christopher’ Hamptons- Les Liaisons, Willy Lowmanin Author miller’s-Death of a salesman. Conventions A complete agreement by the audience to accept an artistic reality for everyday reality. (like other art from, drama depend on it’s effects on certain conventions). he stage as per conventions generally a 3 sided set that represent both indoor and outdoor scenes. The audience accepts this partial representation of reality, using its imagination to complete the illusion. Another use of agreement with the ways a horse is represented on the stage. In Kabuki, it is a wooden frame with four legs. In this case the audience understands what is suggested and accepts it. Episode in the life of an Author -An Absurd playin utmost care of class 12 by P. Baburaj The theater of the absurd presents to its audience the meaninglessness and uselessness of existence.

It shows that the people merely exist and that they have forgotten to live. The playwrights who advocated the theater of the absurd showed to world that man is alienated from the world he lives in. Bucket in his play “Waiting for Godot” presents this by showing two tramps waiting for Godot without showing what or who Godot is. Similarly ‘Episode in the life of an author shows that nobody knows what is happening and what they are doing. A similar kind of human situation is shown in Ionesco’s play “The Rhinoceros”.

In this play of Ionesco we see that all the characters turn into rhinoceros – this tells us that gradually everyone is getting caught up by

absurdity and meaninglessness. The theatre of the absurd disregards language as a means of communication as people thought that word failed to express the experience of the humans. In this play we see the same is portrayed in the incidents where we see that the characters get misinformed. And in all the cases we see that the characters fail to make the other characters know his/her problems.

These further leads to more confusion and at the end we see that nobody has been successful in communicating, that is why we see a messy end. in utmost care of class 12 by P. Baburaj The other remarkable feature we see in the absurd play is that they defy all the norms of the convectional theater . The plays are plot less and conflict less. In “Episode in the life of an author” we see no sequential flow of events. The entering and exiting of the characters are very abrupt and surprising. The events in the play instead of uncoiling and solving we see that the characters are left more confused and out of key.

The characters in the play are so confused and alienated that we see no possibilities of any conflicts. The absence of plot and conflict makes this play so very different from the plays of the earlier period. As we aware absurd play avoids any kind of logic for the people then believed that rationalism could not touch the true essence of the life. It is observed in the play we see not much of rationalism. “The plot less events show us no logical movement in the play rather the events

are nonsensical. The talks between the characters and their reasoning are all nonsense.

For example in the play we see Gontran crying because his wife has left him for another man and that she had been deceiving him since he had left him for another woman. There is no logic at all in what Gontran says and feels. Gontran himself had been unfaithful and he expects his wife to remain faithful to him forever which is very much irrational. in utmost care of class 12 by P. Baburaj Absurd plays are grotesquely comic in the sense that it is irrational and non-consequential. The irrational events and nonconsequential language makes it comic. We also see that unlike other plays there is no nd, we see that the tactics of farce is used. This is to make people laugh. In this play we see that all the characters wear a false nose. This is to show that they are the caricatures of the humans who are confused and entangled in their own problems and they cannot find a way out. The repetition of the actions in the play adds the humour of the play. Miscommunication and mistaken identities are other ways of bringinghumour in the play. But as the author remarks at the end -the play is not to be laughed at but there is more an absurd play. It makes us think. in utmost care of class 12 by P.

Baburaj What is the aesthetic existentialism theory? Define existentialism theory as “A philosophy that emphasizes unique isolation of the individual experiences in a hostile or indifferent universe regard human existence as unexplainable and stresses

(freedom of choice and responsibility for the consequences of ones acts)”. Existentialism is generally an aesthetic philosophy though some theists have attempted to adopt it to their theistic paradoques. “Although many if not most, existentialists were anaesthetists’. Kierkegaard, Karl Jaspers and Gabriel Marcos pursued more theological versions of existentialism.

Theists emphasize interpersonal relationships (between a person and God, a believer and other believers, a believer and non- believers, etc). Existentialists emphasize the “isolation of the individual experience in a hostile or indifferent universe”. Theists believe that the humen are created by god and are given a purpose by that maker. Existentialists regard human existence as ultimately unexplainable. in utmost care of class 12 by P. Baburaj Theist and existentialists generally agree on “freedom of choice and responsibility for the consequences of ones acts”.

But they differ significantly in that theists hold to an absolute moral standard while existentialists believe in moral relativism. Existentialism is a term that has been applied to the work of a number of 19th and 20th century philosophers who, despite profound doctrinal differences took the human-subject-not merely took the human-subject-not merely took it as a thinking subject, but the acting, feeling, living human individual and his or her conditions of existence-as a starting point for philosophical thought.

Existential attitude is characterized by what has been called the explicit conceptual manifestation of all existential attitude that begins with a sense of disorientation and confusion in the face of an apparently meaningless or absurd world, many existentialist have also regarded traditional systematic or academic philosophy, in both style and content, as too absurd and remote from concrete human experience. Existentialism

emerged as a movement in 20th century literature and philosophy foreshadowed more notably by 19thcentury philosophers Seven Kierkegaard and Frederic Nietzsche, though it had fore numbers in earlier centuries.

In 20th century the German philosopher Martin Heidegger influenced other existentialist philosophers such as Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir and Albert Camus. Fyodor Dostoevsky and Francis Kafka also described existential themes in their literary world. Although there are some common tendencies amongst ‘existentialist’ thinkers, there are major difference and disagreements among them (most notably they divide between the atheistic existentialists like Sartre and theoretic existentialists like Flinch); not all of them accept the validity of the term as applied to their own work. in utmost care of class 12 by P. Baburaj

Origins The term “existentialism” seems to have been coined by the French philosopher Gabriel Hared around 1943and adopted by Jean Paul Sartre who,on October 29, 1945, discussed his own existentialists portion in a lecture. it was published as existentialism stands humanism, a short book which did much to popularize, existentialism. Though the label has been applied retrospectively to other philosophers for whom existence and in particular human existence were key philosophical topics. Martin Heidegger had made human existence (Dassin) the focus of his work since 1920’s, and Karl-Jaspers had called “existential philosophical” in the 1930’s.

The Mother of Author arrives and she demands for an apartment. The visits of the housing Inspector (the man in black) he enquires about the insufficient occupation of Author’s apartment. The problems of Gontran and his complaints about his wife Lucienne. The scene of Author appears mad and he tries to drive madam Bessarabo out of his

house. A telephone call comes from madam Preponminet, the wife of Leon and it troubles the interviews. The scene of the water fall and the plumbers are running away in panic. Ardele shots the Author with the pistol and Author tries to avoid the bullet and protect the body of Gontran.

Often absurd theatre presents the unsuccessful protagonist, idealist and intransigent, they are unable to compromise with the world of corruption and demoralized values so they are always in conflict. In utmost care of class 12by P Baburaj Present play is a farce (a low type of comedy). In absurd theatre men is out of harmony with the world he lives in and lack of supernatural beliefs. Thus finds himself in an exile meaningless, purposeless, helpless universe. The antihero of this literature is alienated to the extreme even from any relation to society, nation, and authority and even to biosphere.

Farce A farce is a low type comedy which evokes laughter by physical buffoonery, rough wit and creation of ridiculous situation. A farce is a comedy with improbable situation. It is a funny play for the theatre based on the ridiculous and unlikely situations and events. It is little concerned with the probability of characterization or probability of plot. This kind of play inspires hilarity mixed with panic and cruelty in its audience through an increasing, rapid and improbable series of ludicrous confusions, sexual intimation, physical disaster and these becoming the specialty of its stock characters.

A farce is an extravagant violent horse play (a rough noisy play). All the characters in the present play seem to depend on Author to rescue

them from the chaos, troubles and problematic situation of their lives. The heroes of this literature can be called an antihero because they lack some of the qualities of an Aristotelian hero so these heroes are alienated to the extreme even from any relation to the society, authority, etc. the notion of providence (God) totally disappears and living in an universe without purpose, without intention or without any interest men exists in isolation.

His existence is an ironic confusion of helpless meaningless activity. The term “ABSURD” is derived from the existentialism from Albert Camus; he is often applied to the modern sense of human purposelessness in a universe without meaning, hope or value. “An episode in the life of an Author” is a play about a very harassed Author who finds himself in hilariously bizarre and frustrating situations which pushes him to the brink of insanity. The play presents the theme of utter helplessness and confusion of human beings in the modern world.

FARCE-the term also refers to the noisy class or form of drama generally regarded as intellectual and aesthetically inferior to a comedy in its crude characterizations and improbable plots. In utmost care of class 12by P Baburaj The followings are some of the improbable situations from this farce1. Ardele and Author quarrels over a letter ending with my own love. Author talks about water trickling all over the place and how madam Bessarabo and the Author agree to each other on having undergone with the similar experiences.

Mother and Madam PreponMinet talking about a flat-both wanting a flat. The woman and Ardele quarreling about their husband on the phone.

The pregnant maid crying throughout the play due to her unwanted pregnancy. The checking of the plumbers on the wall of the drawing room to check the water leakage. The housing inspector writing report in the great floating water by keeping open an umbrella. In utmost care of class 12 by P At the end Author appears as a mad man- photographer tries to take photographs of Author-the Author starts quarrel with madam Bessarabo and tries to chase her away.

The Author tries to avoid the bullets and the water at the same time trying to protect Gontran The above mentioned comical situations and scenes prove that “Episode in the life of an Author” is a typical farce as a genre of the theatre of the absurd. Sub-plots The play deals with the problems and tensions the protagonist face on a particular hec tic day in his life. All the other characters came to solve the problems of their life without realizing the tensions and confusion of the protagonist. The main plot is about, the Author and his family. The play has a number of sub-plots intertwined with the main plot.

It increases the charm and laughter of the entire play. This sub-plot really develops the play further. This sub-plot accelerates the comical elements to the play. The visit of madam Bessarabo and their discussion. Arrival of two plumbers. The woman over the phone. La-Surrates visits. Gustave and his tensions regarding the script. The arrival of housing inspector. The mother and her flat. Gontran and his problems. In utmost care of class 12by P Baburaj An Episode in the life of an Author-is

an experimental play. -is an absurd play. -is a farce.

In this kind of play conventional communication comes as a barrier between people. Communication appears as an obstacle rather than serving a means of expression. This play tries to present the notion of God totally disappears and man exists in isolation. What are the traits of an absurd character analyze in reference to the play you have studied? or Character sketch of the Author Or Author is the real character of absurd theatre. -The play episode in the life of an Author is humorous in its absurdity and it challenges the traditional notions of plot, character development and resolution of conflicts. Play can be seen as the struggle, the protagonist goes through (Author) in his life on a particular day. -In absurd theatre the character seek order in their life, enter and leave and enter again. This entering and leaving are symbolic of seeking order in life. -The writer presents Author as a famous French dramatist, all the other characters in the play appear rely on the Author to save them from the different chaos and troubles in their problematic situation in life. -Throughout the play his action are senseless, useless and meaningless. He moves from absurdity.

Like other absurd plays our Author also finds it difficult to interpret the meaning of his life in the universe for him, life is meaningless without any purpose. -In absurd theatre the characters are using unusual dialogue, unconventional speech we could see these traits in the dialogues of the Author. -Author’s definition of love, conversation with madam Bessaraboare good examples of absurd and uncommon dialogues. -Author

is in a sea of troubles and on the road of confusion. His rail never reaches its destination. -He is in a stage of alienation (isolation) even though he is among the crowds. Author is suspicious like other heroes of absurd drama (he doubts about the letter) he is absent minded (conversation with madam Bessarabo) ill tempered (shouting La-Suratte , wife etc…). -But he seems possessive, patience, lazy, and generous and quarrelsome. -Absurd characters are unpredictable characters with an ever changing state of mind in the midst of troubles and problems. -Everyone in the play wants something or other things from him and always disturbs him. -Thus we could see that our protagonist as usual in an absurd theatre is an antihero and also a typical protagonist of the theatre of the absurd.

In utmost care of class 12by P Baburaj Comical Scenes The whole play is packed with scenes of fun, humor and laughter. 1. The woman over the telephone(Madam PreponMinet) She mistakes the Author as her first husband, whatever manner the Author tries to prove her that he is not Leon, the lady was unwilling to believe it, she asks the Author why he is disguising his voice at last the author loses his patients and says he is Leon. When the woman over the phone told her problem that she must find a flat, the Author asked his mother to talk to her as a solution to each of their problem which adds more confusion and laughter.