A detailed analyses of the play Outside the Door

They have betrayed us.
They have betrayed us in a terrible way.
A detailed analyses of the play Outside the Door
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nasrollah Ghaderi
The play Outside the Door written by the famous German playwright and short-story writer
Borchert, Wolfgang is a complex piece of work that could be analyzed from different aspects. In my
opinion the most important factor in this play is the way it describes the genre. In this article I have tried to
propose a brief analysis on this matter. We also have to consider that this play could be studied from a
different perspective including dramaturgy.
The play script itself is misleading which makes understanding the real message very difficult. That simply
means that it attracts the audience, so he/she is unable to deduce the actual meaning of the play. The
real reason for a play analysis is reaching the actual intention of it. A play is the union of components and
elements that are related to each other. First the audience has to understand the whole concept and then
the real comprehension. Therefore perception goes beyond just a simple feeling that the audience
develops towards the play. Although both understanding and feeling an artwork are essential. In fact this
is the only way that we can appreciate what the real point of the story is. This process creates a pleasing
atmosphere in which we have to create a sense of loving the story. When the audience has the ability to
feel and realize something, he/she gets thrilled which leads to his/her participation. The second important
factor that needs to be considered is method. The third step is discovering the mysteries. If the play has a
planned structure it helps the audience to understand it better. Understanding and reading a play itself is
an art. Analyzing it simply means how to read a play till we understand its real concept. Interpretation and
understanding a play is essential, besides that analyzing a play simply means that we need to reach the
message behind it.
The play Outside the Door gives the wrong impression about its real point. It is not clear whether it is a
tragedy, comedy or melodrama? In the world of theatre there is a fundamental difference between the
structure of comedy and tragedy. But after the Renaissance it became rather difficult to distinguish
between these two styles. Maybe the theory of types could somehow explain this complex matter. Band
Tukrucheh has proposed the most famous theory about this and believes that:
1. There is no boundary for different types.
2. They are constantly changing.
3. They accept the kinds that differ from them and have fundamental differences with their
principles.
2
However it is not possible to express disapproval of this theory. Maybe the neoclassical critics could be
blamed for that but even Band Tukrucheh himself in his aestheticism article tried to balance his opinions
on it and declared that if an actor, critic and philosopher cannot come to an agreement on general
classifications it is possible to use this disagreement somewhere else for another purpose.
In this theory the analyzer pays more attention to writing and interpretation rather than the work and
playwright. In other words the focus will be more on other things like writing as a task and reading as an
activity. This theory goes beyond the traditional classification of subjects. When it is said that it is not
possible to study a play without paying attention to its interaction with its audience it is emphasizing on a
totally different aspect. When plays are categorized under titles such as comedy, tragedy or farce, in fact
we are reacting to the play according to its classification. Although there are huge differences between
Shakespeare’s As You Like It, Ben Johnson’s Alchemist and The Hypochondriac from Molière, simply
indicate that although they fit in the same category, yet are deeply different. So where does Outside the
Door fit? It appears to be a tragedy, the adventure of a man who is heading toward Germany. He has
been away from his homeland for a long time and when returns he is a different person from the time he
had left his town. Now he has no country, home. Everything is depressing and miserable for him. Even
the angel of death rejects him. This simply means dejection, the fall of a man. The concept of catharsis
used by Aristotle changes here. Some think that catharsis is felt and understood in comedy much better
than tragedy. Although Aristotle has never mentioned anything about that in his writings. Catharsis might
have been even poetic in the beginning but have lost its main purpose. In a dissertation written in Roma
by an unknown author it is said that: comedy is a fallacious mimic despite of the fact that it has to be
perfect. The name of this dissertation is Tractatus Coislinianus. The question here is whether Outside the
Door could be considered comedy or not? If it is true one of the main elements of a comedy is laughter.
Analyzing the act of laughing is in fact a philosophical matter. There are two theories in order to explain
this and they are both related to medical science. The first one is Homeo Pathic and the other one Alo
Pathic.
The treatment of comedy displays marked Aristotelian influence, even to the point of paralleling the model
offered in the Poetics. The Tractatus is assumed to be either a version of a lost Aristotelian original or a
statement of the Aristotelian tradition. Accordingly, as with tragedy, comedy must bring about a catharsis
but through the use of laughter and pleasure. Comic plots include ludicrous mishaps, deception,
unexpected developments, and clumsy dances. Characters include impostors, self-deprecators, and
buffoons. While the language of comedy should be realistic, it may attain added comic force through the
use of puns, dialect, and word malformations.
The analogy with laughter—which, in some views, is itself a species of aesthetic interest—introduces a
concept without which there can be no serious discussion of the value of art: the concept of taste. If I am
amused it is for a reason, and this reason lies in the object of my amusement. We thus begin to think in
terms of a distinction between good and bad reasons for laughter. Amusement at the wrong things may
seem to us to show corruption of mind, cruelty, or bad taste; and when it does so, we speak of the object
as not truly amusing, and feel that we have reason on our side. Another aspect of it is overstatement
which creates the world of Grotesk which is a style of comedy in the old Roma which comes from the
name Grotesque a style is architecture and decorative art which has found different meanings for itself
including thrill. Wolfgong Kayser in his famous book, Grotesk in arts and literature wrote that it represents
an alien world. A universe which is familiar to us but at the same time strange which makes it somehow
funny or dangerous. It shows its real face during major wars in history. For instance expressionism which
is the direct result of war. Expressionist theatre is based on Grotesk.
3
Although the actual message of this play arise from Macabre but the other elements are heavily
influenced by Grotesk. Macabre means death, threat and peril and it represents this elements in a
humorous atmosphere. Beckman himself is like clowns. He looks like a scarecrow in the farm which its
main duty is to scare birds. His real personality is also scary. (page 9- Outside the door)
His glasses have been placed inside his gas mask. He has lost a leg and his clothes are hilarious. That’s
why he is asked to join the theatre. Beckman is depressed and tired and that’s why he welcomes death
which he has experienced many times. He plays with death. The death describes him as follows: He is
like a horsefly. He is wearing an old military uniform. Those who stay by the river at night are either lovers
or poets. He just disappeared. He committed suicide. Now he is gone. What’s next? Nothing…
This damned contractor who introduces himself as death and burps all the time looks at the situation from
another aspect. It’s post-war era and he is not concerned with the social situation. This atmosphere is
extremely comic. Beckman…up there, there isn’t anything I could do for you. I can no longer take it. I am
hungry. I cannot slide my leg behind me anymore. I have no bread, nothing to eat. I cannot continue
anymore. Can you understand that? Of course not. You are not as valuable as those who commit suicide.
You think because you have some issues you can be me. No, it’s not possible at all you poor man. Listen
to what I say. You want them to arrest you because of committing this illegal act, suicide. You should try
to taste life one more time. Promise me.
This scene which is named dream comes after the one that depicts the situation between the contractor
of death and the old man show the life of Beckman. The life which is awfully hard to stand. Nightmare
which is an essential part of part of Grotesk comedy makes up the social life in this play. The whole
situation is manufactured by the Beckman’s mind that occurs in an apprehensive situation. He fought
against the enemy outside the borders and now the enemy own his land and family and he has no place
to return. Because of these horrifying events the play is considered tragic instead of humorous. One of
the most significant characteristics of Grotesk is disharmony. A play based on Grotesk suffer from the
lack of harmony in other words all the contradictory elements come together and form the play.
The contractor, the old man and Beckman, Beckman and Mrs. Kramer they are all contradictory
characters. This contradiction shows itself beautifully when Beckman who himself is in love with death
questions Mrs. Kramer for killing him! Why did you kill me? You are cold blooded. I can ensure you that
you murdered me slowly. Mrs. Kramer: you with these stupid glasses. You throw yourself in the river. You
must be insane. Beckman who has lost his wife goes after the girl who has saved him and wears he
husband’s suit which is extremely large for him. It belonged to the former husband of the girl who lost his
precious life in Stalingrad in the battle field just like Beckman. He mentions that he is dying in this suit and
its strangling him slowly. The girl says that Beckman looks very unintelligent in the suit and represent
death and sadness (pages 31-32). She finds nothing funny in his personality. Then why is Beckman
having a hard time to fit in the suit. In this dialogue he clearly explain the reason: Beckman tick tack, did
you hear that? I have to survive. This is the voice of the person who is returning to Germany but is
suffering from cold and hunger. He wants to return to his homeland. But when he returns his bed, house
and everything else is already taken and he has no place in the house.
The man who returns to Germany is looking for other human beings but a major makes fun of his ideas.
he returns to his homeland to find himself an occupation but the administration makes fun of him. The
man who returns to his country. Am I his murderer? We kill everyday and commit immoral acts. (page
109)
4
Another essential element of Grotesk is comic and terrifying. Horror and laughter. The contrast between
these two remains unsolved. In this style the balance between the two elements has to be kept. Grotesk
takes advantage of comedic elements as well. Although it becomes difficult to distinguish comedy from
lousy funny dramas although Outside the Door takes advantage of it very well. Beckman with that funny
look gets very close to a jokey character and this shows itself when he wears that large stupid clothes.
This along with that stupid gas mask glasses that is his only legacy from the war complete each other
very well. Horror and laughter are the two opposite elements that emerge at the same time. Beckman
himself confess that if people see him with that look they will laugh to death. And the administrator in his
response says that people will be horrified to see a person who has returned from the world of the death
and grave. (page 60-61). Grotesk comedy also contains two characteristics which are exaggeration and
extravagance. This reveals itself well in lampoon and they both portray a very horrifying picture of the
universe. Because of the sometimes Grotesk is mistaken with fantasy since they both do not follow any
specific rules in this world. However the Grotesk makes all the elements believable. Even an extra leg
besides Beckman looks very natural. Beckman, we have killed every day. At least a person a day, you
killed be, don’t you recall that? I was in Russia for three years and forced to go to Alba. Was there an
alternative? This is the story of Beckman that someone else is narrating. Beckman: Do not use this name
anymore, do not call me Beckman anymore. I want to be someone else.(page 37). This strange world is
not unrealistic at all. This is the world in which we all live. Looking at his situation creates a sense of selfesteem
in the audience. Habbes theory also emphasizes on it. It clearly indicates that laughter all of a
sudden creates arrogance and makes us even laugh at the sad events that occurred in the past. In the
play everything is ready to prepare us to laugh. However the horrifying atmosphere prevents us from
doing so. One also should remember that once the audience feels sympathy toward the character he/she
will no longer be able to express amusement. Till the end of the story it is very difficult to determine
whether we are superior to the hero of the play. We are uncertain and have a special feeling. Just like the
one that primitives had in the age of stone when they face dreadful. A feeling which we easily understand
it but unable to express and laugh. That’s simply because we have become part of the play despite the
fact that Outside the Door is considered entertaining. It is also wise to compare comedy with tragedy
since both have common traits. Outside the Door represents hopelessness, sadness, depression but still
leans towards comedy and has a dark end, although a tragedy usually enters this phase just from the
beginning of the play. Maybe that’s why in comedy is becomes easier to feel the pain gradually.
Molière expresses his disappointment in The Hypochondriac. The end of the comedy seems to be joyful,
but in fact sadness can be felt. We all know that comedy is supposed to be entertaining and full of
happiness but sometimes it has some bitterness. Although some comedies like Bernard Shaw’s My Fair
Lady have the same ending. Reactions to Outside the Door are vast. Maybe that’s one of the reasons
that makes it difficult to distinguish it from other plays. In Grotesk many different things could be put
together like comedy and tragedy, a combination of worry and laughter. In this particular situation it is
extremely difficult to anticipate the reaction of the audience. The other specification of this method is
employing several different elements in one particular place altogether. This cannot be considered a
weakness, it could be a Grotisk play that takes advantage of lampoon as well. For example in Anabella
from Mosioverdoo it is not possible to categorize the whole play as lampoon. Therefore a play could have
several contradictory characteristics. Victor Hugo the French dramatist found something different in
Grotisk. He believed that Grotisk is not unreal, but it represent a world which have to be analyzed from a
different perspective. Outside the Door clearly illustrates this idea, Kafka’s Metamorphosis is also a
Grotisk writing which causes dreadfulness once read by the reader. All elements seem to be realistic and
frightening and black, they are all apprehensive. Beckman we kill every day, we commit sins. Beckman a
murdered cannot accept to be murdered. He yells to the world and says that he is dying. The man who
returned to Germany now is on the street, collecting garbage and then his rotted body is found by a
garbage collector and ordinary people pass without even looking at it while talking and laughing.Beckman
5
a man with no place, who has lost his mother and no country all of a sudden burst and starts asking
questions that no one could answer. (page 110-11).
This is the ultimate disappointment. The more disappointment the more comedy in the play. Beckman is
represented in different forms during the play. He is lost, but has found himself in a totally new situation.
Thomson believes that in Grotesk these contradictions arise from the mind of the playwright. This view is
very modern and can be seen in Outside the Door vividly. It has two different aspects which are both
negative and positive. Clay Burou develops four artistic forms by using Yonge’s theories which are
Progressive, Regressive, Positive and Negative. Regressive comes from unconscious mind on the other
hand progressive comes from conscious mind. Regressive in other words represents nightmares and
worries. That’s exactly what Beckman has been surrounded by. The nightmare of a mother which he
never had, or might have been murdered. Positive is the one that this elements are not struggling with
each other and show reality. However negative shows something opposite. Both negative and regressive
could be considered as Grotesk. In this type nightmare and dread are the two primary elements just like
Outside the door that all the nightmares actually belong to the playwright himself. Henri-Louis Bergson
French philosopher writes the following:
Imagine characters in your mind . I had remained up to that time wholly imbued with mechanistic theories,
to which I had been led at an early date by the reading of Herbert Spencer. . . . It was the analysis of the
notion of time, as that enters into mechanics and physics, which overturned all my ideas. I saw, to my
great astonishment that scientific time does not. . . that positive science consists essentially in the
elimination of duration. This was the point of departure of a series of reflections which brought me, by
gradual steps, to reject almost all of what I had hitherto accepted and to change my point of view
completely. Beckman says that he can no longer take it. The situation is completely unacceptable for him.
He clearly complains about his physical problem with the leg and then about the woman, in fact his wife
who left him. Until now the situation is considered tragic and as a result of that Beckman commits suicide.
But after being rejected by death his position and situation changes too. He returns to life and starts a
relationship with a girl. At this time he is in the situation of another who used to live in that place and he
experience events that happened to that person. When the man who has only one leg asks him what he
is doing in this house he simply says that he asked the same thing who was sleeping beside his wife last
night and was wearing his clothes. His reaction to that was closing the door, leaving the door and turning
off the lights. (page 32).
We witness a strange situation here which repeats itself in different forms. The man standing in front of
him represents his own characteristics which makes the situation comic. What is the identity of that man.
Is that Beckman himself? Is that a nightmare? In addition to that we face a humorous character.
In this situation Beckman has been converted to a robot. A machine who no longer is a human being.
What he says about himself is interesting. Beckman: this is my glasses with these colors and stupid frame
which makes me look like a machine. This is in fact a gasmask (page 117). But seeing a machine and a
human being integration is comic as well. Its mechanical reaction and Beckman’s character makes the
situation hilarious. He wears a uniform which belongs to the second world war and his got short hair and
has no hat to wear. He looks like an undertaker wearing military uniform. His dirty and messy
appearance is comical. His character also shows how flexible society could be. Beckman a person who
cannot even live anymore has no place in this world which is difficult to believe. But in the frightening
world of Grotesk even laughter is a forbidden element in this situation. However we should also consider
that this play is not in fact tragedy although the audience might fit that into that category.
Black comedy indicates that comedy could have a sad ending and could present the truth.
6
Bergson in his famous dissertation writes that comic is related to an absolute sense and should be in
contact with other senses as well (page 32). On the other hand it challenges out intelligence. The
manufacturing of imagination in comic that in most cases is wise is similar to dreaming. Dreams are the
reflection of things that individuals experience and recognize. This imagination which is arises from the
real life and art has a lot to say about the art and life itself. (page 21-22). With regards to comedy we have
got an incorrect perception which needs to be corrected. As Beckman says they have betrayed us in a
terrible way.