Theatre of the Absurd Essay -- English Literature

Theatre of the Absurd Essay. The Theatre of the Absurd originated from experimental Arts of the avant-garde in the 1920’s and 30’s. It highlighted the meaning of life and came about as a result of the Second World War. It was also a result of absurd plays having a highly unusual, innovative form, aiming to startle the viewers. In the Second World War, in the meaningless and godless post Second World War world, it was no longer possible to keep using traditional art forms and standards that had ceased being convincing. It openly rebelled against conventional theatre. It was very anti-theatre, coming across as surreal, senseless and plotless. Samuel Beckett and Harold Pinter were known as the ‘absurd’ play writers. They both share the views that man inhabits a universe with which he is out of key. ‘Come and Go’ by Samuel Beckett is a very simplified; basic play based on three characters talking of the old days and their friendship. Beckett was born 13th April 1906 near Dublin. He was awarded a Nobel Prize for literature in 1969. ‘Black and White’ by Harold Pinter is the core of a minimalist set with very little communication between the characters. The play bases the two old women in a milk bar. It comes over as a plot less play with very little meaning. These two plays ‘Come and Go’ by Samuel Beckett and ‘Black and White’ by Harold Pinter both seem to carry very little meaning. On a surface level, both plays are short. ‘Black and White’ is a non-trusting play with evidence of emptiness. Both plays send out a message to the audience. This is shown particularly where there are silences throughout the plays. Theatrical techniques used in ‘Come and Go’, show at the start of the play, clearly how the... ...nce to finish the play, here the audience probably feel although the play is referring to an old friendship that maybe once hung about the three characters and they are bringing back memories between them. In the Theatre of the Absurd, the two plays ‘Come and Go’ by Samuel Beckett and ‘Black and White’ by Harold Pinter carry many similarities and differences. They are both plays which carry no meaning and characters have no identities. ‘Black and White’ is much longer than ‘Come and Go’. ‘Black and White’ is set in a more realistic modern way, of two women sat in a bar having a typical talk, watching the day go by. ‘Come and Go’ gives a more 1800’s feeling with the characters having 1800’s names and the setting being very abnormal to a normal more modern play. ‘Come and Go’ is a more atmospherically, tensional play with the characters being more active.