Combating Language: Monologue use in the theatre of Yasmina Reza

In 1977, Roland Barthes presented a theory during a lecture at Collège de France: language is fascist. Language obliges us to speak rather than enables us to speak. Language houses power, and it is the duty of the intellectual to challenge the powers that be. Barthes posited that literature, for various reasons, including its constant shifting and transformation, allows for a writer to challenge the system of language within the written word. In 1987, Yasmina Reza’s first play premiered in Paris. In this analysis, I examine Reza’s theatre canon, which includes eight plays to date, looking particularly at her use of monologue, within the context of Barthes’ theory. Monologue is often a significant moment in theatre, however Reza employs monologue in seemingly nonsensical ways. In this analysis, I examine how Reza’s use of monologue challenges the system of language, both within her texts and within the sphere of performance.