Understanding Power: A Study of Albert Camus and Milan Kundera

Abstract

Generally speaking, power is aimed at maintaining a strategy of getting something done by controlling the behaviour of others and pre-empting the threat of resistance. Further ramification of the term is lucidly expressed citing many examples from the plays of Albert Camus and Milan Kundera    . Besides, some other situations are referred to show the effects of power. An attempt has been made in the present work to study theatre-talk from the point of view of our understanding of the world, bedecked with power and its limitations.

The paper presents all possible forms of power-relations and power-equations in verbal interactions. Relevant conversational extracts are discussed. The data source of the current study was taken from the proposed texts and the secondary data was taken from books, some theories and explanations. Our literature review contains sufficient data and insights which we have generally made use of.

This paper provides an alternative method of looking at power form the perspectives of rethinking the stereotypes, biases and ideology and argues with Foucault (1991) that resistance is also a form of power. We have suggested that Media, Newspapers, Politics, Journalism are accused of using language manipulatively and shape public opinion.

The play Caligula is a remarkable work written by Albert Camus. The paper presents the analysis of selected conversations, drawing vividly the enigma of human existence. To us, power is a disadvantage and ends in misery .History are replete with many examples of downfall of Empire.

Jacques and his Master passed through many trials and tribulation and ultimately suffered the cruel stroke of destiny. By the quick turn of events, both the servant and the Master find themselves in unexpected situation and swallowed the bitter pill at the end. One may not feel very happy about the series of absurd situations but it reveals an artistic manipulation of characters and episodes for a literary purpose. The playwrights by these deviations try to portray the meaninglessness of human existence in an equally meaningless world.