The Marriage (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Witold Gombrowicz
- First Published: 1948
- Type of Work: Play
- Type of Plot: Absurdist
- Time of Work: The interwar period in Poland and World War II
- Setting: France and Poland
- Genres: Drama, Absurdist literature, War drama
- Subjects: Parents and children, Power, personal or social, France or French people, Self, World War II, Dreams, 1910’s, 1920’s, Individuality, Reality, Identity, Conformity, Poland or Polish people, Totalitarianism
- Locales: France, Poland
Characters Discussed
Henry, a son and a prince. As a Polish soldier in World War II fighting in France, Henry dreams of his lost family and family estate in Poland. Despite his resistance, Henry is swept away to the dream constructed in interwar Poland. In his dream, he finds that each of his acts and gestures results in an action that is irrevocable. Thus, when he kneels in front of his father to honor him, this act designates his father as king and Henry as prince. As prince, Henry is propelled to participate in an honorable marriage to his former betrothed, Molly, now a...
[The entire page is 890 words long]
Join eNotes
Over 3,500 study guides, question and answer forums, literature criticism, reference content, and much more!
Navigate
See Also
