The Two Executioners by
Fernando Arrabal - Summary
Fernando
Arrabal’s The Two Executioners is a disturbing and tragic play that portrays
the cruelty of oppression, the abuse of authority, and the destruction of
family relationships through fear and violence.
The
play centres on a young man named Paco, who lives with his mother and father in
a society controlled by fear and political oppression. His father has been
arrested and imprisoned by the authorities because of his political beliefs and
his opposition to the ruling system. However, Paco’s mother refuses to accept
her husband’s innocence. She believes that he is a dangerous criminal who
deserves punishment and strongly supports the authorities responsible for his
arrest. Instead of showing sympathy for her imprisoned husband, she attempts to
convince her son that his father is guilty and that the authorities are right
in their actions.
Paco,
on the other hand, cannot understand his mother’s attitude. He loves his father
and believes that he has been unjustly treated. He tries to defend him and
persuade his mother to recognise the injustice that has been committed.
However, his mother remains stubborn and becomes increasingly hostile towards
him. She is so deeply influenced by fear and blind obedience to authority that
she considers her own husband's suffering necessary and justified.
As
the conflict develops, the mother’s hatred and cruelty become more apparent.
She treats her son’s sympathy for his father as an act of disobedience and
betrayal. Rather than protecting her family, she becomes an instrument of the
oppressive system. The two executioners, who represent the brutal power of the
authorities, enter the situation and reinforce the atmosphere of terror. Their
presence reveals how violence and intimidation have become accepted instruments
of maintaining power.
The
situation gradually becomes unbearable for Paco. He finds himself trapped
between his love for his father and his mother's unquestioning submission to
the authorities. His mother's behaviour demonstrates how political oppression
can destroy not only individual freedom but also the natural bonds of love and
affection within a family. The home, which should have been a place of security
and understanding, becomes a place of fear, hostility and violence.
The
conflict finally reaches a tragic conclusion when Paco becomes the victim of
the same cruelty that has destroyed his father. His mother's actions contribute
to his downfall, showing that the power of oppression can turn even the closest
family relationships into sources of suffering. The play ends on a horrifying
note, leaving behind an image of a society in which fear has destroyed
humanity, compassion and moral responsibility. Through the tragic experiences
of Paco and his family, the play presents a world where blind obedience,
violence and cruelty have replaced love, justice and freedom.
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