It seems that the Theatre of the Absurd is not considered as civil theatre and that means that there must be big differences between the drama we know from Shakespeare or other famous authors and the work of Beckett and his companions. This work is going to define the differences between a classic drama (a comedy) and a modern drama (theatre of the absurd) and it will make them clear using examples from both “The Importance of Being Earnest” and “The Birthday Party” written by Oscar Wilde and Harold Pinter, respectively.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Comedy- an overview
2.1 The Importance of Being Earnest
2.2 The aspect of comedy
3. Theatre of the absurd- an overview
3.1 Harold Pinter – the Birthday Party
4. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This work aims to define and analyze the fundamental differences between classic comedy and modern Theatre of the Absurd, using Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest" and Harold Pinter's "The Birthday Party" as primary case studies to explore stylistic and thematic contrasts.
- Comparison of dramatic structures in classic and modern theatre.
- Analysis of Wilde’s use of satire, social parody, and autobiographical elements.
- Examination of Pinter’s themes of menace, isolation, and the irrational.
- Evaluation of the role of emotion—specifically love versus angst—in both genres.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Theatre of the absurd- an overview
The statement that a play should make sense does definitely not fit with the theatre of the absurd. This sort of writing leads to a lot of questions, because there are no explanations in it.
The absurd plays have a pessimistic and irrational basic position and the action seems to be a bit naturalistic. As I mentioned before, there are no explanations and therefore does this kind of theatre live from the implicit.
The theatre of the absurd is trying to move away from the old style of the civil form of writing.
It demonstrates the destruction and atrophy of the human being.
According to the Metzler Literatur Lexikon it is abstract and like a parable, which are quite short. There is no psychologically motivated and easily understandable action and the way of speaking is different from the usual drama-speech.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Outlines the objective to contrast classic drama with the Theatre of the Absurd using the works of Wilde and Pinter.
Comedy- an overview: Defines the historical origins of comedy and the specific characteristics of the "Comedy of Manners" genre.
The Importance of Being Earnest: Explores how Wilde incorporates elements of his own life, social satire, and structural symmetry into his play.
The aspect of comedy: Analyzes the satirical techniques, the use of absurdity, and the contradictory character development within Wilde's work.
Theatre of the absurd- an overview: Discusses the rejection of rational structure in absurd drama and its focus on human alienation and irrationality.
Harold Pinter – the Birthday Party: Investigates Pinter’s use of menace and the destruction of the individual in an environment void of clear explanations.
Conclusion: Summarizes the commonalities and key differences between the two plays, specifically regarding their handling of emotion, structure, and intent.
Keywords
Theatre of the Absurd, Comedy of Manners, Oscar Wilde, Harold Pinter, The Birthday Party, The Importance of Being Earnest, Satire, Menace, Angst, Individuality, Victorian era, Drama, Dramatic structure, Parody, Alienation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the differences between classic comedy, represented by Oscar Wilde, and the Theatre of the Absurd, represented by Harold Pinter.
Which two plays are analyzed in this study?
The study analyzes "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde and "The Birthday Party" by Harold Pinter.
What is the primary objective of the author?
The primary objective is to highlight the contrast between traditional, coherent dramatic forms and the irrational, implicit nature of the Theatre of the Absurd.
What scientific approach does the author take?
The author uses a comparative literary analysis, examining themes, characterization, dialogue, and historical context within the selected plays.
What aspects of drama are covered in the main body?
The main body covers the definition of comedy as a genre, the biographical parallels in Wilde’s writing, the structural characteristics of absurd plays, and the role of menace in Pinter’s work.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Theatre of the Absurd, Comedy of Manners, satire, angst, menace, and dramatic structure.
How does the author define the "Theatre of the Absurd" in relation to civil theatre?
The author describes it as a rejection of the civil theatre style, favoring abstract, parabolic content over psychologically motivated, logical action.
What role does the character Lady Bracknell play in the author's analysis?
Lady Bracknell is analyzed as an inconsistent, contradictory figure who serves as a tool for Wilde to parody Victorian conventions and social norms.
Why does the author consider Pinter’s play more depressing?
The author feels that Pinter’s focus on the emotion of "angst" and the destruction of the individual's soul and body creates an overwhelming sense of depression.
- Quote paper
- Julia Pastak geb. Kupfer (Author), 2005, Pinter's 'The birthday party' and Wilde's 'The Importance of Being Earnest' - a comparison, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/49451
