World War II lasted six years and cost countless lives. Some died from gunshot wounds, others from the famine left by the war, while hundreds of thousands more were gutted by atomic fire. Total casualties from the war are estimated to be well over 60 million, which at the time represented approximately 2.5% of the Earth's population. Many forms of protest have arisen from the ashes of history's bloodiest conflicts, but few have been more unusual than the Theater of the Absurd. I have completed extensive research on this art form and am more than qualified to discuss the history of the aforementioned theatrical style. During my research, I found interesting information about how this art form has evolved over the years and how it still plays a role in modern society. However, if I can go back a little, I would like to start by telling the origin of this theatrical style. It is believed that the Theater of the Absurd was a reaction to the brutal devastation caused by modern warfare used in World War II. Most of the plots involved in productions of this style of theater have no connection to the war itself, but rather strive to capture the very feeling that the war brought about; desperation, emptiness and precariousness of life. The Absurd movement began as an experimental theater style in Paris. As a result, most early Absurdist productions were written entirely in French, even after the theatrical style was adopted by other countries. The first large-scale absurdist production was "The Maids", written by Jean Genet in 1947. This comedy is absurdity at its purest and follows two maids trapped in a 1940s mansion while their employer is away city. “When their employer, called only M...... middle of paper ......y as he once was, there is no doubt that he has had an impact on modern theatre. Through my research I have been able to explain the origin of the Theater of the Absurd, how it has evolved over the years, and how it has impacted modern theatre. While interesting, this art form has been incredibly difficult to research because there are a vast number of opinions conflicting about the purpose or true meaning of this theatrical genre. It was then that I realized that the question is more important than the answer. Anyone who has ever seen an absurd play often feels perplexed and unsure of what they have just seen , history will show that a confusion like this is often the start of timeless conversations and debates You see, no matter how unusual something may seem, there is always a meaning behind it.