Eugène Ionesco’s
Le Roi se meurt[literally
The King is Dying, often translated as
Exit the King] was first performed at the Alliance française in Paris on 15 December 1962, directed by Jacques Mauclair. Whilst retaining many of the features associated with the Theatre of the Absurd, it is a serious and challenging reflection on the inevitability of death, and an investigation into the reactions of a powerful leader and his entourage as he comes to terms with his own end. Set in an imaginary realm with an imaginary king, it combines symbolism with realism, comedy and tragedy, in a sometimes disconcerting way.
The name Bérenger, given to the king, was frequently used by Ionesco to represent an Everyman figure. In this play he is surrounded by two queens, Marguerite and Marie, a guard
1535 words
Citation: Forman, Edward. "Le Roi se meurt". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 17 January 2012 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=33125, accessed 21 November 2024.]
