E-C- 301, The Modernist Literature

By- Payal Patel

M.A.Sem-III

Roll No- 16

Bhavnagar University

Bhavnagar

2011-12

Theme of Absurdity in ‘‘The Birthday Party’’

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World War-II. Existential Philosophy. The collapse of moral, religious, political and social

structures in the twentieth century. The primary aim- to point out the absurdity of life.

Theater of Absurd:

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“Cut off from his religious, metaphysical, and transcendental roots, man is lost; all his actions become senseless, absurd, useless.” Eugène Ionesco.

A "tragic farce," - the events are often

simultaneously comic, horrifying, and absurd.

Department of English 310/10/2011

• Goldberg: What have you done with your wife?

McCann: He’s killed his wife!

Goldberg: Why did you kill your wife?

………………………………..

Goldberg: Why did you never get married?

• Goldberg: Why did you change your name?

Stanley: I forgot the other one.

Goldberg: What’s your name now?

Stanley: Joe Soap. [Act-II]

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Quick fire sequences of dialogue:

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• Goldberg: Mr. Webber, sit down.

…………………………

Goldberg: McCann.

McCann: Nat?

Goldberg: Ask him to sit down.

…………………………...

McCann: He won’t sit down.

Goldberg: Ask him again.

McCann: Sit down. [Act-II]

Department of English 510/10/2011

•I would like to thank Dr. Dilip Barad and the Department of English (Bhavnagar University) for providing such an enthusiastic atmosphere with great sum of support.

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Acknowledgement :

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