Modes of Communication: Essays & Studies in Modern Drama

Modes of Communication is a collection of critical essays on certain significant them3s of modern Western Drama, exhibiting extensive scholarship, acute insights and deep involvement. The first essay is comprehensive discussion of dramatic art and multidimensional language of the theatre, underlining the contributions of the great masters and defining the concept of “Total Theatre”… “Early masters of Modern Drama”… gives a brief account of significant dramatic movements in early 20th cent. And focuses on the specific contributions of lbsen, Steinberg and Chekhov. “Hell in Shaw and Sartre”… is an interesting study of Shaw’s concept of hell in Man and Superman and Sarte concept of hell in No Exit, underlining the sharp contrast in the philosophic outlook of the two authors but a basic similarity in their treatment of the Christian myth. “The Evolution of Tennessee Williams Dramatic Form”… is a close study of his five major plays revealing a gradual expansion of his vision, a constant enrichment of form and refinement of technique. The Essay on “The Seagull is a deep study of its themes and Chekhov’s artistic approach creating an overall poetic atmosphere that lends this temporal world the glow of timelessness. The Essay on the “Lower depths”asserts that Gorky maintains a delicate balance between reality and illusion, hope ad despair irony and pathos, violence and compassion and also that the play foreshadows certain trends in subsequent developments in drama. Dark World of Samuel Beckett”… traces Beckett’s dark vision in his novels and plays underlining his acute analysis of the inner world and maintains that his work is an artistic realization, even an extension of Existentialist Philosophy. “Image of Man in Absurd Drama”.. Projects haunting images of Man in absurd Drama as exemplified in the pesco, Pinter, Albee, Pedrolo and others and then makes a close study of two of then viz. Waiting for Godot and The Chairs. It also relates the vital concerns of Absurd Drama to significant trends in modern art, philosophy and culture. The last essay entitled “Contemporaneity of Prometheus Unbound” is a brilliant study of Shellay’s masterpiece as a poetic drama of remarkable originality and its perofound vision of life. It recasts a Greek myth to project a different philosophic outlook which has been very influential in 20th cent. Drama Shelley’s artistic approach to poetic drama also has inspired several modern writers. And finally Shelley’s vision of the Dawn of a new Era”… through a fusion of science, intellectual freedom, love and noble idealism”… too, it of great contemporary significance.