Article Dans Une Revue Laconics (1999-2016) Année : 2001

Strange Interlude and the Quest for Truth

Résumé

In Strange Interlude, one of O’Neill’s challenging works, the playwright addressed the question of truth when he staged the epic story of Nina Leeds. Starting from Nina’s rejection of lies, he displayed a multi-faceted quest for truth. Its very nature was questioned by characters who - confronted with self-delusion, human frailty and their lack of freedom - gradually realized the complexity of their relationship to truth. In this uncommon play inner monologues, together with Freud’s theory enabled O’Neill to pursue further his reflection on truth, to the point of eventually calling into question the relevance of accepted western philosophical perspectives.

In nine-act Strange Interlude, act one corresponds to an opening scene in classical drama. It serves as an introduction to the conflicts later developed in the play, among which is Nina's loathing of a society that prevented her from becoming a woman. Her revolt results from what she characterizes as a basic social abhorrence of truth. Nina violently states the causes for her rejection, and the intensity of her bereavement gives further weight to her claims according to which people's lives are plagued by their adherence to a fundamental misconception of what life should be: [...]

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Dates et versions

hal-02478734 , version 1 (14-02-2020)

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  • HAL Id : hal-02478734 , version 1

Citer

Thierry Dubost. Strange Interlude and the Quest for Truth. Laconics (1999-2016), 2001, 0 (1999-2005), [5 p.]. ⟨hal-02478734⟩
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