A Study of the Critical and Reformist Approach to the Grotesque Drama in the play “On the Sea” by Slavomir Mrozek

Grotesque is a combination of hideous forms adorned with artistic attractions reflecting strange, satirical, exaggerated and incongruous shapes. What is the purpose of these hideous forms? I choose Sławomir Mrożek to research this important notion. He seeks social and political reforms by expressing critical views and reflecting hideous, strange and dreadful grotesques. In this paper, we examine the purpose of grotesque in theatre and drama. The hypothesis is “Theatric grotesque wants to function as a critique and reformist apparatus along with exaggerating and scorning social and political ugliness and deficiencies.” In “Out At Sea” drama which is chosen as the case study, Mrożek incorporates five components: 1) exaggeration (on characterization and behavior), 2) displaying monstrosities (personal relations, society and political context), 3) Mocking and scorning (linguistic domain), 4) strangeness and incongruence (the logic of time and place), 5) Fear and corruption: reflecting inferiority and domination (contextual) provides a foundation for reform in addition to critical course. This paper answers two important questions of: 1) by what elements “Out at Sea” can be recognized as a critical and reformist drama? And 2) how incorporation of dramatic grotesque components could amend personal, social, political monstrosities and deficiencies? In this study, by choosing “Out at Sea” as the case, first, some aspects of the research method, which are based on grotesque drama theories, are specifically examined. Then, I address Mrożek’s critical and reformist approach which has made his works reformist, foreboding as well as socially and politically critical. I try to get this objective by applying comparative/analytical approach using available resources and library research methods.