Le
Professeur Taranne (Professor Taranne) – 1953
by
Jean Arthur Adamov
(Key Facts)
Full
Title
Le
Professeur Taranne (Professor Taranne)
Author
Jean
Arthur Adamov
Type
of Work
Drama
(Play)
Genre
Theatre
of the Absurd / Psychological Drama / Tragicomedy
Language
French
Time
and Place Written
Early
1950s, France
Date
of First Publication
1953
Publisher
Originally
published in France (exact publisher varies by edition; commonly associated
with French theatrical publishers such as Éditions Gallimard)
Tone
Disturbing,
absurd, tense, ironic, and increasingly oppressive
Setting
(Time)
Indeterminate
/ Modern (mid-20th century atmosphere)
Setting
(Place)
Unspecified
location, symbolic of a generalized urban/social environment
Protagonist
Professor
Taranne
Major
Conflict
Taranne
struggles to defend himself against persistent and irrational accusations while
trying to preserve his identity and sanity.
Rising
Action
Taranne
is accused of indecent exposure.
Multiple
accusers and witnesses come forward with conflicting testimonies.
Authority
figures begin questioning him.
His
attempts to defend himself fail, increasing confusion and pressure.
Climax
Taranne
is pushed into a moment of extreme humiliation where he must attempt to
physically prove his innocence, leading to complete psychological breakdown and
loss of dignity.
Falling
Action
Taranne
becomes increasingly confused and uncertain.
His
identity collapses under social pressure.
The
distinction between truth and accusation disappears.
Themes
Crisis
of identity
Guilt
vs. innocence
Oppression
of society
Breakdown
of reality
Failure
of communication
Loss
of dignity
Motifs
Repetition
of accusations
Interrogation
and questioning
Unreliable
memory
Public
scrutiny
Symbols
Exposure/Nudity
→
vulnerability and loss of identity
Clothing
→
social identity and protection
Crowd
→
collective societal pressure
Absence
of evidence →
instability of truth
Foreshadowing
Early
accusations and hints of misconduct foreshadow Taranne’s eventual humiliation,
psychological breakdown, and loss of identity, as the initial doubt gradually
evolves into overwhelming and inescapable condemnation.
 – 1953 by Jean Arthur Adamov (Key Facts)){kind=link}
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