38 pages 1 hour read

Eugène Ionesco

The Lesson

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1951

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Before You Read

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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.

Reviews & Readership

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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 this

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.

Recommended

Reading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre

Play: Comedy / Satire

Topics

Education

Trauma / Abuse / Violence

Themes

Society: Politics & Government

Identity: Language

Period

Absurdism

Post-War Era