LONELINESS AND LACK OF COMMUNICATION IN ABSURD PLAYS

Jihad Jaafar Waham

Abstract


Loneliness and lack of communication are common themes in absurd drama. This paper explores the portrayal of loneliness and lack of communication in absurd drama through an analysis of selected works of Samuel Beckett, Harold Pinter, and Eugène Ionesco. The method employed in this research is a qualitative analysis of the texts, examining the characters, settings, and language used to convey the themes of loneliness and lack of communication. The findings reach that these themes are central to absurd drama, reflecting the existential condition of modernity. The conclusion proposes that the portrayal of loneliness and lack of communication in absurd drama is a critique of the modern world, highlighting the need for connection and communication in a fragmented and isolated society. Through a close examination of the characters and their interactions, the article argues that these plays offer a critique of modern society's tendency towards isolation and lack of meaningful communication. The article also explores how the techniques of absurdism, such as non-linear plot structures and exaggerated, nonsensical dialogue; this research can contribute to the portrayal of these themes in the selected works. Overall, the article demonstrates the enduring relevance of these plays in illuminating the human condition and the challenges of social interaction in a modern world.

Keywords


absurd; communication; loneliness

Full Text:

PDF

References


Akim, M. S. (2013). Absurdism as a tendency in theatre: Ranging from Aristophanes to Beckett and Pinter. Lapis Lazuli-An International Literary Journal, 3(2), 50-59.‏

Beckett, S. (2011). Waiting for Godot. Grove Press.

Caruana, N., White, R. C., & Remington, A. (2021). Autistic traits and loneliness in autism are associated with increased tendencies to anthropomorphise. Quarterly Journal of Experimenta Psychology, 74(7),1295-1304.

Chepkwony, K. (2022). The philosophy of dissimilation, meaninglessness and isolation in theatre of the absurd: Evidence from John Ruganda’s two plays. East African Journal of Education Studies, 5(1), 77-84. https://doi.org/10.37284/eajes.5.1.563

Cozma, R. D. (2021). Loneliness and alienation in Harold Pinter's the birthday party. Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Brasov.

Eagen, E. C. (2021). The singing self: An exploration of vocality and selfhood in contemporary vocal practice (Doctoral dissertation). City University of New York, New York, United States. ‏

Esslin, M. (2004). The theatre of the absurd. Vintage Books.

Gindin, L. R. (2021). Loneliness, isolation, and failed communication in the absurdist plays of Edward Albee. Journal of Theatre and Performance.

Ionesco, E. (1950). The bald soprano. Grove Press.

Keretli, G. S. (2019). An ontological approach to existentialist theatre and theatre of the absurd in the works of Jean Paul Sartre and Samuel Beckett. International Journal of Cognitive and Language Sciences, 13(7), 1032-1036.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3346732

Laing, O. (2016). The lonely city: Adventures in the art of being alone. Picador

Pinter, H. (1957). The birthday party. Grove Press.

Pinter, H. (2000). The caretaker. Faber & Faber.

Randell, D. (2014). Loneliness, communication, and the failure of language in the plays of Samuel Beckett. Modern Drama, 57(4), 455-475. https://doi.org/10.3138/md.57.4.455.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.30743/ll.v7i1.6972

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Fakultas Sastra 
Universitas Islam Sumatera Utara (UISU), Medan
Jl. Sisingamangaraja Teladan Medan 20217
Telp. (061) 7869911, e-mail: language_literacy@sastra.uisu.ac.id