Challenging Absolute Truth: Fluidity and Transience in Patrick Marber's 'Closer'

Fiction & Literature, Literary Theory & Criticism, British
Cover of the book Challenging Absolute Truth: Fluidity and Transience in Patrick Marber's 'Closer' by Olivia Frey, GRIN Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Olivia Frey ISBN: 9783640694440
Publisher: GRIN Publishing Publication: September 1, 2010
Imprint: GRIN Publishing Language: English
Author: Olivia Frey
ISBN: 9783640694440
Publisher: GRIN Publishing
Publication: September 1, 2010
Imprint: GRIN Publishing
Language: English

Seminar paper from the year 2010 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1,0, University of Vienna (Institut für Anglistik und Amerikanistik), course: Literature Seminar, language: English, abstract: 'There are many ways of interpreting this play. Is it on the Anouilhesque theme of how innocence and the rare ability to love never goes unpunished in this world? Is it about how no relationship lasts, and how everyone ends up alone or with somebody else in a worse kind of aloneness? Or is it about the noose of time tightening around everyone's neck, closer and closer? Or is this the Eliotian theme about our not being able to bear very much reality, and that the truth ultimately kills?' (Simon par. 5) A reflection on the title after reading the play immediately conjures up the question 'Closer... to what?' Due to the variety of themes dealt with in Closer the title first seems to be highly ambiguous. It might refer to the characters' desperate longing and unsuccessful quest for love, sincerity as well as physical and emotional intimacy in happy and fulfilling relationships. It could just as well describe their failing attempt at knowing each others' identity fully, while at the same time playing hide-and-seek with their own. Alternatively, the title possibly alludes to their way of seeking the truth about reality and the perception of time, while facing the transience of human existence, with death coming closer each minute. However, on closer examination, the answer to the initial question is to be found in exactly this polysemy, unified by a common thread: the search for ultimate truth about all these issues. According to Marber, '[i]t is the best possible title for the play because the play is always aspiring to get closer to some kind of definite truth about things but knows it can't' (qtd. in Rosenthal xxiii). In view of this statement, a question mark should actually be put after the title. For the individual characters do not succeed in gaining absolute knowledge or experiencing complete truthfulness. Truth in Closer seems to be a temporary and volatile condition, and thus, the red thread running through the play are the motifs of fluidity and transience on different levels: time, location as well as the characters' identities and relationships.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Seminar paper from the year 2010 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1,0, University of Vienna (Institut für Anglistik und Amerikanistik), course: Literature Seminar, language: English, abstract: 'There are many ways of interpreting this play. Is it on the Anouilhesque theme of how innocence and the rare ability to love never goes unpunished in this world? Is it about how no relationship lasts, and how everyone ends up alone or with somebody else in a worse kind of aloneness? Or is it about the noose of time tightening around everyone's neck, closer and closer? Or is this the Eliotian theme about our not being able to bear very much reality, and that the truth ultimately kills?' (Simon par. 5) A reflection on the title after reading the play immediately conjures up the question 'Closer... to what?' Due to the variety of themes dealt with in Closer the title first seems to be highly ambiguous. It might refer to the characters' desperate longing and unsuccessful quest for love, sincerity as well as physical and emotional intimacy in happy and fulfilling relationships. It could just as well describe their failing attempt at knowing each others' identity fully, while at the same time playing hide-and-seek with their own. Alternatively, the title possibly alludes to their way of seeking the truth about reality and the perception of time, while facing the transience of human existence, with death coming closer each minute. However, on closer examination, the answer to the initial question is to be found in exactly this polysemy, unified by a common thread: the search for ultimate truth about all these issues. According to Marber, '[i]t is the best possible title for the play because the play is always aspiring to get closer to some kind of definite truth about things but knows it can't' (qtd. in Rosenthal xxiii). In view of this statement, a question mark should actually be put after the title. For the individual characters do not succeed in gaining absolute knowledge or experiencing complete truthfulness. Truth in Closer seems to be a temporary and volatile condition, and thus, the red thread running through the play are the motifs of fluidity and transience on different levels: time, location as well as the characters' identities and relationships.

More books from GRIN Publishing

Cover of the book American Indian English: Background and Development by Olivia Frey
Cover of the book Molson Coors to launch 'clear beer for women' by Olivia Frey
Cover of the book National Diversity in Organisations: A study about integration between host and international students by Olivia Frey
Cover of the book Death in Don DeLillo's 'White Noise' by Olivia Frey
Cover of the book Beyond Archangel - The Archangel Theme in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein by Olivia Frey
Cover of the book Die Auswirkungen der Unternehmensteuerreform 2008 auf kleine und mittlere Unternehmen by Olivia Frey
Cover of the book Georg Friedrich Händel - ein kosmopolitischer barocker Starkomponist by Olivia Frey
Cover of the book Classical Social Contract Theory by Olivia Frey
Cover of the book Metaphor or the war on words - a critical analysis of the theory of conceptual metaphors by Olivia Frey
Cover of the book Narrative Complexity in Christopher Nolan's 'Memento'. Narrative Structure, Unreliability, Fabula Construction and Cinematography as Key Elements for the Spectator's Manipulation by Olivia Frey
Cover of the book Synthesis of chitobioses with different N-protecting groups by Olivia Frey
Cover of the book Finance-Growth Nexus: Evidence from Indian Economy using Causality Co-Integration Test based on Error Correction Model by Olivia Frey
Cover of the book Business Analysis Project Solar Industry by Olivia Frey
Cover of the book James Joyce's 'Finnegans Wake' and the Aesthetics of the Grotesque by Olivia Frey
Cover of the book Relationship Marketing in International Marketing/Sales Channels by Olivia Frey
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy