How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Line). Every time a character talks counts as one line, even if what they say turns into a long monologue. We used Donald M. Allen's translation.
Quote #7
Stage Direction: "he takes a piece of chalk out of his pocket, and writes, in large capitals: ANGELFOOD." (541)
Even the written word fails to communicate anything at the end of the play. What could this be saying about the art of playwriting as a whole? Is it possible for a playwright to truly communicate with his audience?
Quote #8
Stage Direction: "he wipes out the chalk letters, and replaces them with others, among which we make out, still in large capitals: ΛADIEU ΛADIEU ΛPΛ" (542)
Here are the last actual words Ionesco leaves us with. Once again, they are pretty much indecipherable. It's even partly in Greek – Λ, or lambda, is the eleventh letter of the Greek alphabet. Whatever the case, it's all Greek to us. Some people think the Orator is trying to write, "Adieu, Adieu, Papa." (542) ("Adieu" means goodbye in French.) Even if this is true, it doesn't exactly tell us the meaning of life.
Quote #9
Though this ending may be a little confusing, in a way it offers an explanation for the whole play. The entire piece has been a riddle. We're not sure what's real and what's not, and the characters often speak in what appear to be random non-sequiturs. The play could be saying, "Yes, it's all been gibberish, and that's exactly the point." _THOUGHT_END_ _QUOTE_START_ Stage Direction: "We hear for the first time the human noises of the invisible crowd." (542)
Here's the final hint that the invisible guests are perhaps meant to represent the audience watching the play. The last thing the audience sees is a row of chairs set up very much like their own. The last thing they hear is the sound of...an audience.