…j’estime beaucoup les oeuvres
d’ARRABAL et j’aurais eu plaisir à parler de
lui dans le Cahier que vous préparez. Malheu-
reusement, cela me paraît impossible: je ne peux
pas vraiment faire quelque chose d’élaboré sur
Arrabal, ce qui à présent ne m’est plus possible.
Soyez sûr que je le regrette.
Veuillez croire, cher Monsieur,
à mes meilleurs sentiments.
J.P.SARTRE
________________
(18- 9- 1979)
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« PICNIC » Arrabal’sKiev Ucrania
« Picnic on the Battlefield » written by Fernanado Arrabal
The play « Picnic on the Battlefield » also known as « Pique-nique en campagne » is indeed a representative of the theater of Fernando Arrabal:
- The combination of tragedy and comedy.
- The topic of life as a meaningless journey.
- The inevitability of feelings of loss, purposelessness, and bewilderment.
- The nonsense of reality; disjointed,…
In this particular play, life is questioned from the perspective of War. The theme of war is questioned, in turn, for its lack of real common sense. What does war achieve in the end, and is it worth risking one’s life for this purpose? War is a matter of philosophical belief.
However, it is the treatment… Here we have a soldier getting ready to engage in a battle during the War, and suddenly here come his parents to give him a surprise visit and a picnic.
The picnic actually takes place and with as much neutrality as if bombs were not exploding in the distance, or as if they were not actually inside a ring of fire- and they indeed were. Hence, we see how Arrabal is mixing the horror of war with the idyllic nature of a comfortable and cozy family visit.
As tragedy is sure to occur, the play continuously shifts in mood and atmosphere, creating a certain chaos which also makes the play distinguish itself from the traditional plot. This theater is characterized for its separation from traditionalism.
Therefore, in conclusion, the themes it touches, the way the dramatist treats the themes, the realism of the situation, the satirical and sad mix of emotions, and the philosophical questions of life are all included in « Picnic on the Battlefield », making it a representative of the theater of Arrabal..
