Essay Questions

Why does Yvan try to side with both Serge and Marc?

Yvan is friends with both Marc and Serge and values their friendship immensely, it is his safe place. So when they get into a fight over the all white painting it breaks down the friendship dynamic Yvan is used to. So In order to repair the friendship in order that he will be able to have his sanctuary restored, Yvan tells both Marc and Serge what they want to hear--siding with each of them--believing that this will cause the men to drop the matter and all is well. Ironically this only fuels the fight between the men who now have more ammo to believe they are the one who is right.

Why is the play itself ironic in how it is set up?

Reza's play is about art. What is the standard of art for one person is perhaps completely different for another person. The irony of the play is that it is about two middle-aged white men arguing about what is defined as art. It narrows the focus of what fuels pompous belief systems and the reality that these arguments become the centerpiece of what fuels hatred. We don't like particular people because they have bad "taste"? This question, to me, is evoked in the content of the story, it is a byproduct of these mens unsophisticated tirades.

What is the irony of Marc not liking Serge's painting?

Serge has paid 200,000 francs for a painting that is all white with a few white lines upon it by a painter named Antrios. Marc flat out does not like it and believes it worthless. Ironically, Marc's feelings about the painting have become a personal attack on Serge who fires back; their beliefs become a reason for them to cut one another down piece by piece personally. Thus their differing taste in art has transformed into them ripping one another apart as men in order to defend their stance.