BIBLICAL MARKS IN IONESCO’S AND BECKETT’S DRAMA
BIBLICAL MARKS IN IONESCO’S AND BECKETT’S DRAMA

Summary/Abstract: The “light” experience lived by Ionesco, determined his early interest for mystical writings dedicated to the search of sacred, interest that influenced the subject for his writings as well as “the birth” of characters. The symbols of a biblical aspect geminated in the projection of the feminine characters are perfected by the onomatological signification that reminds also of biblical signs. The most often encountered names are Marie, Mary referring to Virgin Mary (The bold singer, The Lesson, Exit the King, Improvisation at Alma’s). The characters Marie-Madeleine and Madeleine (Hunger and Thirst, Victims of duty, Amédée or How to get to rid of) are the echo of Marie Magdalene. Marthe, the little girl from Hunger and Thirst and Air pedestrian brings Marta, Lazarus’s sister, to our mind. The lover of the protagonist from A hell of a mess!, Agnes, has as a onomatological signification the sacrificial lamb. The name Margareta, with the English version Daisy\ Dany, can be encountered in the Ionesco’s plays Exit the King, Rhinoceros or The Killer without Reason. Also in Samuel Beckett’s plays the characters sometimes appear as a continuation of ancient biblical images. The onomatological signification of the characters is opening, as in Ionesco, to several sources, the main source being the Bible.

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