Why do these playwrights have characters in their plays draw attention to the plays? What messages are they trying to convey by doing this? And, are their messages totally similar or totally different? Explain.
this is a final essay question, this is the full question:
In both Our Town and Rhinoceros, we see a character drawing attention
to the play they are in or to the author of the play they are in. The Stage
Manager in Our Town clearly makes reference to the play Our Town more
than once. And in Rhinoceros we encounter this literary self-reference in
the following dialogue:
JEAN: Instead of squandering all your spare money on drink, isn’t it better
to buy a ticket for an interesting play? Do you know anything about the
avant-garde theatre there’s so much to talk about? Have you seen
Ionesco’s plays?
BERENGER: Unfortunately, no. I’ve only heard people talk about them.
JEAN: There’s one playing now. Take advantage of it.
Question: Why do these playwrights have characters in their plays draw
attention to the plays? What messages are they trying to convey by doing
this? And, are their messages totally similar or totally different? Explain.
