Balcony

Miss Irma is the owner of a luxurious brothel called Balkon, a house of illusions. The prominent people of the society come to his house, they want to get rid of their pathetic poverty, feel that they are strong under the guise of arrogance and false cruelty, and escape from the outside world. However, all balances are suddenly turned upside down with an uprising in which Chantal, who was expelled from this brothel for being too emotional, becomes the symbol.
Miss Irma has now turned into a queen and the world has turned into a real brothel.
Jean Genet, who said in an interview with him that the truth can only be expressed in art, argues that deceptive appearances are more real than the phenomena we call "real". The main theme of Balkon is this illusion, symbolized by the mirrors in the decor.
From the very beginning of the play, Genet shows that he wants to melt reality and falsehood in a pot. In the first painting, although a religious environment is created thanks to the main character and accessories, the behavior and clothing of the very young and overly adorned Woman deny the religious image and integrate it with sinfulness; Moreover, this duality makes itself felt very clearly in every area throughout the play.
To what extent is the unrealistic existence of the three characters in the play, the Bishop, the General and the Judge, who belong to three institutions, the church, the army and the judiciary, which we can call the cornerstones that ensure the order of society, real in "real life"? Is "real life" very different from what happens in this brothel?
Isn't the life we live and accept as real actually a set of illusions?
As a result, Balkon is a masterpiece of underground literature that destroys all established thoughts and beliefs and reflects Genet's rebellious spirit, questioning personality, and his view of theater and life. As its author desired, it is a glorification of form and reflection.



Number of Pages: 128

Year of Printing: 2014


Language: Turkish
Publisher: Details Publications

First Printing Year: 1997

Number of Pages: 128

Language Turkish