The Eiron and the Alazon in Edward Albee’s the Zoo Story (1958), Le Roi Jones’s Dutchman (1964) and Adrienne Kennedy’s Funnyhouse of a Negro (1969)
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Date
2017
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Publisher
Mouloud Mammeri University of Tizi-Ouzou
Abstract
This research paper has studied the elements underlying the absurdity of communication
between the characters in Edward Albee’s The Zoo Story, Le Roi Jones’s Dutchman and
Adrienne Kennedy’s Funnyhouse of a Negro. This issue has been addressed through three
major phases. First, the focus has been placed upon the socio-economic and racial injustices
in the American society during the 1950s and 1960s. Second, as a direct consequence of the
socio-economic disparity, the alienation experienced by the plays’ central characters has been
analyzed in the light existentialism. Third, the very absurdity of the characters’ interaction has
been interpreted in terms of the characters’ ironic pursuit for communication. Such ironic
interaction has therefore been tackled from a mythical perspective calling forth Northrop
Frye’s theory of archetypes, particularly the mythos of satire and irony. Hence, it has been
concluded that the characters’ failed communication is brought about by their ironic attack of
their interlocutors’ fake personas.
Description
56p.;30cm.(+cd)
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Citation
Drama Arts