Absurd Echoes – capturing the lingering resonance of absurdist drama
Introduction to the Theatre of the Absurd The Theatre of the Absurd is one of the most radical and influential movements in 20th‑century drama. Emerging in the aftermath of World War II , it reflected a world shaken by destruction, disillusionment, and the collapse of traditional values. Writers like Samuel Beckett, Eugène Ionesco, Jean Genet, and Harold Pinter rejected conventional storytelling and instead embraced fragmentation, illogicality, and existential despair. class assignment : Origins and Philosophy Rooted in existentialist philosophy , especially the ideas of Albert Camus and Jean‑Paul Sartre. Camus’ notion of the “absurd” —the conflict between humanity’s search for meaning and the universe’s silence—became the foundation. The plays dramatize the futility of human existence, often showing characters trapped in repetitive, meaningless routines. Definition of the Theatre of the Absurd The Theatre of the Absurd is a term used to describe a style of drama that emerged in Eur...