38 pages • 1 hour read •
The Lesson
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Book Brief
130
Play • Fiction
1951
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
In The Lesson by Eugène Ionesco, an 18-year-old student visits a senior professor's home for a lesson to prepare for her oral exams. As the lesson progresses, the student becomes increasingly weak, while the professor grows more aggressive, ultimately leading to a violent and disturbing climax. The play explores themes of language, power, and control. The play depicts physical violence, sexual assault, Nazi imagery, and mentions of suicide.
Unnerving
Challenging
Dark
Mysterious
Suspenseful
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Eugène Ionesco’s The Lesson is praised for its absurdist humor and incisive critique of authoritarianism. Reviewers commend its clever dialogue and surreal atmosphere, yet criticize its obscure symbolism and occasional difficulty in accessibility. Despite its challenges, the play's unique style and thought-provoking themes are distinctly impactful.
Who Should Read The Lesson?
A reader who enjoys the absurdist and satirical elements in Eugène Ionesco’s The Lesson would likely appreciate Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot and Harold Pinter’s The Homecoming. This reader relishes dark humor, critiques of authority, and a keen examination of language and power dynamics.
The Young Pupil
The Young Pupil
An eager and bright 18-year-old girl seeking to further her education with tutoring from the professor. She already holds degrees in science and the arts and possesses a "great thirst for knowledge."
The Maid (Marie)
The Maid (Marie)
A stable character aged 45 to 50, and the only one of the three to have a name. She has a caretaker role and shows more concern for the professor’s well-being than for his academic activities.
Eugène Ionesco's The Lesson is a hallmark of the "Theatre of the Absurd," a movement known for its satirical treatment of existential themes that challenge traditional narrative structures.
The play premiered in 1951 at the Théâtre de Poche in Paris and has been continuously performed at the Théâtre de la Huchette since 1957, making it one of the longest-running plays in history.
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Ionesco was inspired by the limitations and absurdities he perceived in language and communication, which is a recurring theme throughout the play.
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130
Play • Fiction
1951
Adult
18+ years
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