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English literature- an episode in the life of an author flashcard

DRAMA- Absurd Theater An Episode in the life of an author by P. Baburaj, Senior Lecturer, Dept of English, Sherubtse College, Bhutan Convention defined by contemporary critic Martin Esslin as “ striving to express its sense of senselessness of the rational approach by the open abandonment of the rational devices and discursive thoughts”. Plays in the absurdist tradition attempts to show the irrational and illogical aspects of life through absurd characters, dialogues and situations. The plays of N. F.

Simson, Harold Printer, Edward Albee fall within this category, but the form has been most popular in France because of its ties to existentialism and can be seen in the plays of Jean Genet, Eugene Ionesco and Samuel Bucket. In Bucket’s waiting for ‘ Godot’ two tramps waits interminably and in great uncertainty for someone who never arrives, who may have specify this meeting place and who may never have promised to appear at all. Four pillars of absurd theater. • • • • Irrational Illogical Non sensical Un consequential Theme of Absurd Theater • • • Meaninglessness Purposelessness Hopelessness

Features of Absurd Theater Characters • Automaton characters(mechanical) Characters mechanical Humorous, witty, cunning And has no proper reason for laughing • Present unemotional action Play begins arbitrarily Ends arbitrarily No solution Unreasonable to the audience/readers Unreasonable decisions and actions No coherence Any action takes place Every scene takes place in same place Everybody comes to same place • Minimal story line/plot No beginning (introduction) No middle No end No resolution Climax is at the end • No coherence of communication

No complete conflictNo good conversation No proper reason for their conversation • • Explore the existential theory and the causes of alienation Simple setting No interesting setting • Unconventional works No change in characters Same nature of characters Same behaviour Every characters remain as same till the end of the drama • Play starts at an arbitrary point Begins and end arbitrarily Concerned to present the vision of the present world • Audience are not given the solution to the problem presented So audiences are unsatisfied. Highest degree of realism Drama shows the reality • Plays are primarily intended to convey a poetic image or a complex pattern of poetic images it is concerned to convey its central idea or atmosphere so, it is static in nature • • • Closely reflect the preoccupation of contemporary philosophy of language. Combination of no. of ancient traditions of literature and drama. Elements of farce(comical) in utmost care of class 12 by P. Baburaj Existential theory A philosophy that emphasizes the uniqueness and isolation of the individual experience in a hostile or indifference universe.

Regardless of human existence as unexplainable and stresses freedom of choice and responsibility for the consequences of one’s acts. Existentialist believes each persons experience is unique and truly known only by that person. Existentialism A modern philosophy strongly affecting ‘ the theater of absurd’ which depicts humanity as insecure in an irrational universe. Jean Paul Sartre’s “ no exit” Presents three people locked into a situation from which there is no escape and who eventually realize that “ hell is other people. ” Existentialism and absurd theater present alienation-The loss of sustaining religious belief. The sense of anxiety and guilt. -The growing conviction that life was at bottom meaningless. Central to the existentialism. Critique of the traditional idea that within each individual has an “ essence” A universal, defining characteristics that is independent of existence, in place of this conception of humanity as a shared collective essence. The existential formula expressing this conception “ existence precedes essence” Individual as estranged from god and needing to make an absurd “ leap of faith”-SorenKirkegard. in utmost care of class 12 by P. Baburaj “ Death of god” FredrichNictzsche.

Existentialism affected in various field. • • Religious existentialism. Humanistic existentialism. Demythologize-“ The New Testament” -Celebrated the strength of human mind. -Capable of confronting the ultimate meaninglessness of existence. Extentialism in literature. in utmost care of class 12 by P. Baburaj Fydor Dostoyevsky Herman Melville Leo Tolstoy Fydor Dostoyevsky’s “ Notes from underground” is a passionate monologue by an embittered angry, selfdestructive figure definably asserting his freedom in the society increasingly controlled by technology.

Melville ‘ Bartleby the scrivener’-recounts the faith of the men. Anti -Hero A protagonist, who possess none of the qualities of a traditional 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.

Both Heidegger and Jasper’s had been influenced by the Danish philosopher, Seven Kierkegaard, but the 1st existentialist has been called the “ father to existentialism”. In fact he was the 1st to explicitly make existential question a primary focus in his philosophy –in retrospect, have also other writers implicitly discussed existentialist themes throughout the history of philosophy. in utmost care of class 12 by P. Baburaj Examples include • • • • • • The Buddha’s teaching. The Bible in the book of Genesis, Ecclesiastes and job. Saint Thomas Aquenous writings.

Averroes school of philosophy. MullaSadra’s transcendent theosophy. William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Characteristics of the absurd theaterin utmost care of class 12 by P. Baburaj • • • • • • • Minimal story line or plot. Simple setting No coherence of communication (language a mere musical sound). No organized movement. No school of artists. Unconventional works. Presents unmotivated actions. • Play start at an arbitrary point (unreasonable actions and decision) and seems to end, just as arbitrarily. This is just a provocation to audience who returns home unsatisfied. • • •

Concerned to express only the vision of the current world. Authors do not want the audience to go home satisfied knowing the solution to the problem. Highest degree of realism. • Plays are primarily intended to convey a poetic images or a complex pattern of poetic images, it is concerned to convey its central idea or atmosphere so it’s static in nature. • • • • Closely reflects the preoccupation of contemporary philosophy of language. Combination of a number of ancient traditions of literature and drama. Automaton characters. Elements of force (comical) in utmost care of class 12 by P. Baburaj

Examples of such plays/literary works • • • • Samuel Beckkett(1900)-Anglo-Frishman waiting for Godot; End game; Happy days and play etc. Lean Genet ???? 1910)-Frenchman. The maid: The Balcony; The Blacks, etc Eugene Ionesco :(1912)-Half-French and half Rumanian. The Bald Primandonna; the lesson; the lailler, Rhinoceros, etc. • Arthur Adamov(1908)-Russco-American. Professor Tarance: Pincy Pong etc. FerandoArrabal(1932) Spaniard lives in Franch Auto mobile Graveyard, the two executioner etc. in utmost care of class 12 by P. Baburaj • Edward Albee (1928) American Dream; who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, etc -Jean Anouilh

Episode in the life of an Author What is happening in the play? In the beginning of the play we could see that Author and his wife are quarreling over a letter with “ MY OWN LOVE”. The coming of madam Bessarabo with a photographer to interview the Author and to get his concept about love. Plumbers arrived and they are unable to manage the leak and the water trickles all over the house. The Maid who has been crying continuously because she is pregnant. A telephone calls from Gustave (the friend of Author). The visits of La-Suratte (the tramp) and he demands money for gas connection and an old pair of shoes from the Author.

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. 2. 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. 3. 4. 5. 6. Ardele come on the stage in nothing but a bathrobe.

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. 7. The checking of the plumbers on the wall of the drawing room to check the water leakage. 8. The housing inspector writing report in the great floating water by keeping open an umbrella. In utmost care of class 12 by P 9. 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. 10 .

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. Examples of sub plots1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 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.

The trick played by Ardele to find out of the caller from the telephone department. In utmost care of class 12by P Baburaj The dialogue of the woman provides chance for Ardele to think that her husband is keeping relation with some other ladies. Ardele tells to the woman that she can see her ugly face through the phone. 2. The visit of La-Suratte to get help from the Author. When La-Suratte asked money from the Author to pay the gas the Author told him that he had given seven thousand francs immediately La-Suratte replied that that amount was used for potatoes.

La-Suratte says that he had found out a new place to live but he says he could not go there with his old boot. When the Author was troubled by the presence of the housing inspector La-Suratte interferes and told the Author that the gas can wait but he can’t wait for the boots. La-Suratte comments that when he had given his bayonet to save the Author from being court martialed he didn’t keep him waiting this much long. When the Author ripped off his shoes and throw to La-Suratte and asked him to get out, he took it and wore immediately then he added that “ Giving is not everythin but the way a person does is important”.

He reminds the Author that poor people are also having their dignity. The readers are surprised to see that what dignity has La-Suratte. La-Suratte asked the Author whether Author needs his old boots. Author drags La-Suratte from the kitchen and shouting at him in anger for his misbehaviors but La-Suratte replies that the Author told him to comfort her. Symbols in the play a. Falling pictures Whenever Ardele quarrels with the Author and slammed the door a picture falls down, Author goes and takes it and keeps it in order. This symbolizes in Ardele’s case her temperament (anger) in the case of the Author it symbolizes his patience. b.

The problems of marital life If husband and wife have no understanding between, no adjustment, no trust it will lead to unrest in family life. c. Three times Ardele speaks to the Author angrily and all these times the picture falls down but without a feeling of irritation Author picks it without showing any bad temper towards his wife. This shows that Author is a man with immense passion and tolerance. d. To add comical elements to the play Whenever Author and Ardele appear on the stage, the scene becomes more serious, but in the middle of the seriousness the falling picture provides occasion to the audience to laugh and enjoy their quarrel. . Creating confusion In the climax scene (at the end of the play) when waterfalls all over the room, from the ceiling the picture also falls down here the falling picture symbolizes the disorder and chaos in the situation. Comic situation in the play Episode in the life of an Author is a funny play for the theatre based on ridiculous and unlikely situation and events. Examples of comic scenes1. Argument between Ardele and Author (Author laughing hilariously and enjoying the argument). 2. Author talks about water leaking all over the house but madam Bessarabo says and the Author agrees each other gone through similar experiences. . Ardele comes onto the stage in half nakedness to blame the Author of having cut off the water supply. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Mother and woman on the phone talking about flat-both really need a flat. Ardele and woman on the phone quarreling over their husband. The housing inspector’s visits and the way of his behavior and the laughter provided by him. The dialogue between Ardele and Gontran about Lea. The plumbers and the leak. 9. Ardele shooting at the Author and the Author moving away from the bullet, Author carries the body of Gontran in the climax scene. Satirical situations 1.

Satirizes media – through Madam Bessarabo, satirizes television and newspaper. 2. Madam Bessarabo comes to France to interview the Author but always seems to deviate from her topic and discussing other issues. 3. The situation also shows how the media can go to any lengths to get a sensational story (when Author is in frantic situation Madam Bessarabo says the photographer to take his photographs, Author says if he takes his photographs, he will kill the photographer but without any feeling madam Bessarabo says no matter she will manage two/three photographers). . Media is appearing here even taking advantage of Author’s private affairs and weakness. Satire on Celebrities (famous people) 1. The celebrities are satirized through the Author’s character (Author appears here as an eminent and world famous writer) but think how he has been portrayed in the play. 2. Author in the play says to be calm “ LET US BE CLAM” but towards the end the Author is no more calm and behaves agitated. Character Sketch Madam BessaraboIn utmost care of class 12by P Baburaj A lady fond of flattery, pompous. She commented that verything French is extraordinary. Rumanians traditionally devoted to anything French. Bessarabo is a lady of boastfulness. She boasts that she is princess Besarabo. She is very fashionable but really practical minded. She comes to interview the Author, to question about his last play “ La-Marguerite” and clarify her doubts, to understand more about Author’s ideas of love which he had expressed in his last play. She is a typical, shrewd journalist she uses all her feminine tricks to squeeze out everything she wants from the Author, she even flatters.

Through Madam Bessarabo Jean Anouilh satirizes the flattery and boasting journalists in general. The center incident or the plot of the play is madam’s interview with the Author. In the beginning itself madam reaches there and remains on the stage till the end of the play. Plumbers Come for repairing the water leakage. Minor mistake. But make it major. The methods of repair and its results make a lot of space for laughter. Conversation between maid and plumber, maid teases the plumber. Plumbers are checking everywhere.

Cutting the water pipe – all add comical events. Plumbers’ description of number of rooms in the house, in front of the housing inspector add humor and laughter. They are real characters of absurd theatre. Ardele’s character The play brings lots of funny and absurd characters from life among them Ardele is most comical and absurd in nature. Quarrel over letter. Style of the letter and ending of the letter shows written by a male “ MY OWN LOVE”. She says that she is leaving but later stays with him. Ardele seems to be very possessive wife and loves her husband deeply.

She is quarrelsome, almost short tempered and quarrels with each other and every one. In utmost care of class 12by P Baburaj Her dialogue with Author, her attitude with mother in law, her conversation with PriponMinet all show her irritating nature. She is very sensitive and childish and at times senseless kind of lady. The way she comes out of the bath room, the way she shots her husband shows her real nature. Sometimes she proves to be very cunning and intelligent. She is shrewd enough to get the telephone number of PreponMinet from the telephone operator through a cunning trick.

She is one of the most amusing and comical characters of the play. In utmost care of class 12by P Baburaj The maid (Leonie) The pregnant house maid of the author. Throughout the play we find her in tears. She is very young and beautiful. She always looks like a tragic character in a comic play. Throughout the play she appears like an absurd character always seems crying without any logic or proper reason (at the end of the play only we come to know the reason for her tears). She is a very careless young girl build up affair with a tramp.

All the characters in the play produce laughter by their comic appearances, absurd reaction, partial manners, on the other hand the maid makes us laugh with her tears filled eyes. She also doesn’t have any shame to” monkey” with La-Suaratte in the kitchen. She is a contrast (a foil) to the other characters in the play. Mother Mother is an elderly woman in the play, quarrelsome, senseless and always interested in trial and judiciary and changing her apartments time and again. She is an affectionate mother but a cruel mother in-law.

Always wickedly treating Ardele. She doesn’t have any value of money and no idea of money. Always comes as a nuisance to the author. She is a fashion loving lady and very energetic old woman. She appears in the scene with flowery outfits. Childish in behavior. Expressing her extreme excitement for her desire of flat, unusual in behavior and a lady with funny thought. “ Aren’t you going to kiss me”- shows her exaggerated behavior to her son by her motherly affection. She is a flatterer; she knows how to flatter people in order to achieve her wishes.

Her telephone conversation with madam Preponminet produces or brings a lot of fun and laughter. She is insensible; she discloses the details of their flat in Arsiness without being realizes the presence of the housing inspector. She is affectionate to her son but provoking and quarrelsome to others. Housing inspector (Man in Black) Episode in the life of an Author is full of funny characters and improbable situations. Among all the funny characters housing inspector appears to be the great comedian who provides a lot of thought provoking funny situations.

Housing inspector enters on the scene to enquire a complained lodged against the Author about the insufficient occupation of the premises and surplus accommodation. He seems silly and foolish but always pretends serious looking, dedicated and dutiful. His funny behavior and humorous comments/opinion turns him to be one of the comical characters of the play. His questions, the way he takes down whether necessary/unnecessary, preparing reports under the waterfall. All these prove that his presence in the play adds to the comic elements to the play and provides lots of fun for the audience.

He is a typical absurd character. Gustave Director Paul Zed suggests yet another ending, he says for Canada and channel islands it would be better if she turns religious and goes into a convent. This shows that he is a writer of business mind, a real representative of modern commercialized business kind of people because his concern is to sell better his creative expressions finally Gustave decides to support Paul Zed, Author also recommends for a happy ending. This makes Gustave very angry and he calls the Author “ UNAMBITIOUS, CABRATES TURN”. Gustave is projected as a worried man seeking solution for his problems.

Gustave appears to be a man of pride, a man of character and a man of identity; this clearly shows when he denies the Author’s idea. Gustave seems to be insensible and selfish person not able to understand Author’s problem, he disturbs the Author with his constant call and absurd involvement. Gontran A huge man with a very sensitive heart, heavy body and soft mind. Very emotional in behaviours and cries like a child. Presents himself as sincere husband who complaints about his wife Lucienne’s dishonesty. He is a cheater. He cheats his wife by falling in love with Lea.

When Ardele accuses off Lea by calling a stock, a prune and a lady without hairs-he quarrels on the spot. La-Surette Plays the role of a tramp. Makes a lot of fun and add comical effects to the play. While they were in military service Author misplaced his bayonet somewhere, he was supposed to undergo court martial. La-Surette gives entertainments to everyone through his dialogue and actions. He is really an absurd character and presented as a parasite, immoral, careless, and unambitious and a lazy fellow. Even though he is a tramp with no income of his own he makes up unfair relationship with maid. ********************

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AssignBuster. 2022. "English literature- an episode in the life of an author flashcard." August 30, 2022. https://assignbuster.com/english-literature-an-episode-in-the-life-of-an-author-flashcard/.

1. AssignBuster. "English literature- an episode in the life of an author flashcard." August 30, 2022. https://assignbuster.com/english-literature-an-episode-in-the-life-of-an-author-flashcard/.


Bibliography


AssignBuster. "English literature- an episode in the life of an author flashcard." August 30, 2022. https://assignbuster.com/english-literature-an-episode-in-the-life-of-an-author-flashcard/.

Work Cited

"English literature- an episode in the life of an author flashcard." AssignBuster, 30 Aug. 2022, assignbuster.com/english-literature-an-episode-in-the-life-of-an-author-flashcard/.

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