Theatrical Criticism and the Empty Audience

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Questions and Answers

What is the subject of the play, according to Ionesco?

The failures of life

The absence of people (correct)

The message

The Old Man and the Old Woman

What is the theme of the play, according to Martin Esslin?

The failures of life

Nothingness (correct)

The absence of people

The unreality of the world

Why did Ionesco make the Old Man and the Old Woman old?

To emphasize their wisdom

To make them more relatable

To emphasize their experience of all of life (correct)

To make them seem more authoritative

What is the significance of the Old Man and the Old Woman in The Chairs?

They represent all mankind Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the Old Man and the Old Woman's actions and reactions in the play?

To create the invisible characters Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of the theatre of the Absurd, according to Ionesco?

The use of language as 'dialogue, words in combat, in conflict' Signup and view all the answers

Why is excellent acting crucial for the effectiveness of The Chairs in the theatre?

Because the play relies on the actors to create the invisible characters Signup and view all the answers

What does Ionesco parody in The Chairs?

The custom of asking old people about their long lives Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of language in theatre according to the text?

One element among many Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of carrying language to its paroxysm in theatre?

It stretches the language to its utmost limits, making it almost explosive Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the Old Woman's use of the imperative tense in the play?

It represents her maternal instincts Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of Ionesco's use of words like 'who', 'what', and 'where' in the play?

To indicate the Old Man's inability to remember Signup and view all the answers

What is the main theme that Ionesco explores in the play?

The difficulty of expressing one's thoughts Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the appearance of chairs on the stage in the play?

It is a dramatic event that creates tension Signup and view all the answers

How does Ionesco's use of language reflect the characters' inability to communicate?

By using fragmented and disjointed language Signup and view all the answers

What is the main critical method of The Chairs according to the text?

Transforming condition into dramatic action and structure Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Play Analysis: The Chairs by Ionesco

The play has a strong element of tragedy, where the message being delivered is meaningless, and the audience consists of empty chairs.
The theme of the play is the absence of people, the absence of the emperor, the absence of matter, and the unreality of the world, highlighting metaphysical emptiness.

The Old Man and the Old Woman

The Old Man and the Old Woman are representative of all mankind, made old to emphasize that they have experienced all of life.
Their actions and reactions create the invisible characters and serve to people the stage.

Language and Theatre of the Absurd

Ionesco uses language as a characteristic of the theatre of the Absurd, where language is not an end in itself but merely one element among many.
Language can be treated freely, making the action contradict the text, or letting the language of the characters disintegrate altogether.
The author can "carry language to its paroxysm" by stretching words to their utmost limits, making them almost explode or destroy themselves.

Development of the Play

The play begins with the Old Woman giving orders to the Old Man, treating him like a child, indicating the search for a mother figure.
The Old Man struggles to express himself, failing to remember what he saw in the past, highlighting the difficulty of communication.
Ionesco uses words like "who, what, and where" to show the Old Man's inability to remember and communicate, highlighting the struggle to begin and end thoughts.