Thematic convergence in some plays of Edward Albee, Tennessee Williams, Vijay Tendulkar and Mahesh Elkunchwar: a comparative study

Abstract

While studying the plays by American playwrights such as Tennessee Williams and Edward Albee, it was strongly felt that the issues discussed in those plays are very much similar to the issues India is facing today. It is quite natural that the sensitive mind of an artist should respond to them and reflect them through his work. It is observed that while reflecting the issues in their works, the above mentioned American and Indian playwrights exhibit a lot of resemblance in many respects. It is true that the socio-cultural as well as the political background of these two countries is quite different. Still, the issues arising out of it are very similar. It is also a common belief that India follows the foot-steps of America. That is why the phases, America has passed through in the past, India is also passing through them today. This is quite natural, on this background that the kind of drama written by American playwrights around 1950 is also found to be written by Indian playwrights little later. This was not blind imitation of form or style. Coincidently, India, had to face the similar kind of problems and pass through similar kind of crises around the same period; which got reflected in the contemporary literature of the 1960s and 1970s onwards. There is every possibility that the writers who got acquainted with the contemporary English literature were influenced by the different themes and style found in these plays and it was followed consciously or unconsciously by them. However, the characters, themes and atmosphere are genuinely Indian. It was found interesting to explore the parallels in the plays, from different points of view written by these four playwrights. The reason behind selecting the two Indian playwrights, namely, Vijay Tendulkar and Mahesh Elkunchwar is, the researcher is thoroughly acquainted with the Marathi plays by these two. V. Tendulkar is recognized as a pioneer of Modern Indian Drama, not merely as a regional playwright. Mahesh Elkunchwar began writing plays much later. He has mentioned in his interview that once he happened to watch a play by Tendulkar and it made a deep impact upon him because of its different style. Though he did not imitate Tendulkar, he was certainly inspired by his plays. Then he began writing and establishing his own style. Somewhat similar type of relationship is found between the two American playwrights. In FAM and YAM by Albee, he refers to some well-known, established playwrights.