30/11/2023 Dissertation: Is Theatre a Reflection of Reality?

- SAMABAC

Dissertation: Is the Theater a reflection of reality?

June 21, 2022

The theater appeared in Ancient Greece during the festivals held in honor of the God.
Dionysus; it is a genre that has developed in a diverse manner throughout the ages. If we
we compare them with the novel to poetry, we notice that it is the only one to be represented. Thus the
The public sees disguised characters evolving on stage through a plot.
We can thus ask ourselves whether theater is a reflection of reality. It has in this proposition
a paradox since this genre primarily falls under the action. This is what we will see in a
first part. Then we will question the links that exist between theater and reality.
In the end, we will see that in addition to being the in-depth org to make it understood to certain spectators.
present reality.
First of all, the aim of the theatrical performance for an audience is to come and have fun.
as Lechy Elbernon explains in The Exchange: "and he cries and he laughs, and he has no desire to leave
He often forgets his daily life and his problems at the theater 'and I know that there is the cashier there who
We know that Swipe to Wew next page tomorrow we will check the books, and the adulterous mother whose child
"They are about to fall ill" (1. 40-44).
The spectator is therefore invited to forget themselves in a story that will transport them, make them travel and will

until embodying the character: "when [Lechy] screams, [she] hears the whole room moaning" (v. 72-73).
According to Corneille, who wrote L'Illusion Comique in 1636, theater allows one to 'relax from such a...
heavy burden the spectator thus distances himself from the reality of life, from his own reality. Furthermore, theater
stages characters, places, and storylines that do not necessarily exist.
Let's take the example of Phaedra, the eponymous character of the famous classical tragedy written by Racine.
in the 17th century. Daughter of King Minos whose ancestors are Gods, Phaedra is a character derived from
Greek mythology. Greek mythology brings together fabulous tales passed down by the Greeks.
of ancient Greece. These stories often involve extraordinary characters like
of gods or demigods who do not reflect reality.
Also, in the play The Exchange by Paul Claudel from 1894, Lechy Elbernon, an actress, tells
that she plays the role of several characters that she is not: "I am the one who plays the women, the
young lady and the virtuous wife who has a vein 'it's not: "It's me who plays the women, the young lady
and the virtuous wife who has a blue vein on her temple and the deceived courtesan (1. 68-71). The reality
is not repeated? through this permanent role change. In the end, theater cannot put on
scene all reality.
In the summer, since the 17th century, Abbé d'Aubignac and Boileau draw inspiration from Aristotle's ideas and codify
the genre of theater by submitting it to different rules including those of the three unities and of
decorum. Thus, the action must take place over one day, in a single location, and must feature
a single action. It must also not shock. Thus, blood and death must not be
represented. This is why in Phaedra, the conditions under which Hippolytus died
are told and not acted.

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30/11/2023 Dissertation: Is Theatre a Reflection of Reality? - SAMABAC

However, in daily life, everyone can face situations such as the death of a
near or an accident. Also, in one day, we find ourselves in different places
like at the office or at home and we are inevitably faced with several problems. These
rules are not representative of real life. Therefore, we have seen that different reasons
lead one to think that theatre does not reflect reality. Indeed, this genre involves characters who
to think that theatre does not reflect reality.
In this genre, characters, places, or plots are involved and are subject to
rules that distance him from this reality. Moreover, a theatrical representation allows the spectator to
to escape and forget one's daily life and therefore reality. Can we go so far as to say that theater
totally opposes reality? Contrary to what some viewers may think, the
theater can be a reflection of reality. It is true that certain rules in theater make it diverge from
the reality, but there are those who, on the contrary, bring it closer, such as the rule of probability.
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Thus, there is a barrier between the spectator and the actor called the 'fourth wall' that designates the
boundary between fiction and reality. The actor can neither communicate nor interact with their audience.
The author of the play must use stratagems so that the audience can get an idea about the
character of the characters. Thus, in Dom Juan written in 1665, Molière, to present the
the eponymous character creates a scene of exposition in which Sganarelle paints a portrait of his
master through a dialogue with the servant of Dom Juan's wife.
The character did not address the audience, yet the latter is informed PAGF of Dom.
Juan. The character did not have to address the public, yet they are informed. This
rules in theater reflect reality because in daily life, no one knows the thoughts of a
other. Moreover, it is impossible to create a play from every angle, as it would not have
no coherence.
The author will always have to draw inspiration from some real elements for their theme even when they
write a play in a genre very far from reality like the theater of the absurd. Let’s take the example
by Eugène Ionesco, famous author of The Bald Soprano written in 1950. He creates a true world
parallel in which the statements are incoherent, and the spatio-temporal references no longer exist,
however, it draws inspiration from the absurd phrases of a method for learning English (The
Assimil method) which exists.
Even if the characters portrayed have not existed or do not exist, their feelings,
their actions or their stories can bring them closer to the viewer's reality. Thus, the latter
one can identify with the character as is the case in La Curée by Emile Zola. Renée sees through
the play Phèdre and more specifically through the eponymous character, the story of her
couple, of his infidelity. Thus the viewer sees the reflection of the eponymous character, the story of his
couple, of his adultery.
Thus the spectator sees a reflection of their own reality. Let's also take the example of Harlequin, one of the
characters of the play by Marivaux, The Island of Slaves, written in 1725. The latter has washed up on a
island with its master Iphicrate. One day, Harlequin became the master of Iphicrate because the
inhabitants of the island exchanged roles. At the end of the play, an explanation between the two

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30/11/2023 11:15 Dissertation: Is Theatre a Reflection of Reality? - SAMABAC

characters take place and Iphicrates discovers the feelings of an injured, wounded slave. These feelings
were shared by all the servants of the time.
We have therefore seen that theater reveals itself to be a reflection of reality. Indeed, Hauteur is forced
to appeal to elements of reality, to comply with the rules of verisimilitude. Moreover, it can
create characters whose feelings or stories are similar to those of the viewer.
Thus, reality is represented through these elements. In addition to reflecting reality, theater it
exceeds to make it understood by the viewer. As seen previously, the viewer can
identify oneself with a character.
According to Ionesco, in his essay titled Notes and Counter-Notes from 1966, the speech of the theater
is amplified to be "brought to its peak" (1. 8). Furthermore, the
gesture plays an important role on the audience: "Just as speech is continued by gesture, the
game, the pantomime, are they substituted? she, the scenic elements can amplify it in turn.
These elements will create a sense of compassion for the character in the viewer, he will
to embody and then understand a reality.
For some, this reality can be similar to a daily life, thus the viewer can have a grasp.
of conscience. This is the case in The Kill. Renée has identified with the character who is living a story
similar to hers and becomes aware of the impacts caused by Phaedra's adultery. She understands
while her adultery will end badly if she does not react. The spectator can understand a reality but
also the world thanks to committed theater. Let us take the example of Antigone, the famous tragedy by Jean
Anouilh, published in 1942.
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Piece from the dark years, when France experiences defeat against the Nazi armies and falls.
under occupation. The play then conveys a message: The theme does not seem to be its action,
to provide a burial? his brother, but rather Antigone's desire to rebel against the established order.
The funeral rites for her brother, but rather Antigone's will to rebel against the order.
established. The confrontation between Antigone and Creon symbolizes the obligation to follow the established order.

(Creon) and the desire to rebel (Antigone).

To conclude, we first recalled that theater is a performing art that serves
first and foremost to entertain, involving characters that do not necessarily belong to the world
real and that respects rules that make it depart from reality. But a more careful reflection
allowed us to understand that there are other rules to which the pieces are subject, the fact that they
borrow necessarily real elements and the feelings experienced by the characters make for
theater a reflection of reality.
This reality is all the more profound as it can create a sense of awareness about the
spectator or even make him understand the surrounding world through a given message. This art
is also the meeting between the author and the director who has his own vision of reality and
Ariane Mnouchkine, a famous director, said: "The theater is responsible for representing the
movements of the soul, of the spirit, of the world, of history.

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