Henry IV is one of Luigi Pirandello's most significant works, and it had a profound impact on the development of twentieth-century theater. Pirandello brought modernist themes and methods into the theater, including a rejection of linear, realistic storytelling, a deconstruction of concepts of identity and perception, and exploration of the isolation inherent in the human experience. This style would be the foundation for avant-garde playwrights and (later) for the Theater of the Absurd playwrights in the middle of the twentieth century.
Key Aspects of Henry IV (Pirandello)
Tone
The tone is tragically comedic. Although the conclusion of the play and Henry's affliction with madness are...
