| Summary: | 碩士 === 中國文化大學 === 西洋文學研究所 === 85 === The theater is the stepping-stone of Ionesco''s reputation,
as well as hiscrown as the "Monarch of theater." However, his
achievement in theater has res-ulted in his novel, Le Solitaire,
being overlooked. Le Solitaire, the only novel of Ionesco,
conveys the author''s pessimism toward human nature, life, and
existence, yet with the endless optimism in hischaracter.
Facing the significance of life fading away, the cowardice and
compromise in human nature, and with self-awakening and self-
confidence in themean time, the protagonist ignores the opinions
of the majority, courageouslylooking into the nature of passing
life. The book expresses the different nuances of life in its
portrayal of the tension betwenn the individual and society.
This expression covers a wide range of human drama, exploring
humanity and history, philosophy, man''s existence, and death.
The maincharacter goes through an internal transformation while
the world around himremains unchanged: Habit-
ignorance-awakening-disappointment-pain-despair-awakening-
waiting-emptiness-brightness-significance of life In
contrast, life of modern people is occupied by work and money-
making;even though sometimes there is someone who wants to go
back to the real natureof life. This will be in vain, because
the initial meaning of life haw beenoverloaded by non-stop
business-people are getting far away from the truthof life.
Different from the simplicity and singularity of his plays, this
novelis both complicated and theoretical. It succeeds in
showing the nature of life and the fragility of human nature
through one man''s valuable and unusualsearch for the
significance of life. Therefore, the value of Le Solitaire
isdefinitely beyoud the plays. In addition, studying this book,
we have to compare the protagonist''s behavior with the exterior
world bit by bit, sinceit will be helpful better understand the
essence of this novel.
|
|---|
