The Grotesque as a Statement of Alienation in The Ball of the Mannequins by Bruno Jasieński

This article explores the grotesque in The Ball of the Mannequins, a play by Polish-born author Bruno Jasieński, with a view to demonstrating the lapses into an apocalyptic vision of modern humanity lost in the labyrinth of misleading appearances, false promises and sham virtues. In the final monologue, the play's chief character speaks of hope and disillusionment. The analysis of the play foregrounds its interpretation as Jasieński's own admission to being alienated because, like his character, he too failed to see through the deception masked by hypocrisy, power playing and ideological slogans pledging to secure a free and equal society.