Nemesis (Nurul Momen play)
Encyclopedia
Nemesis is a play written by Nurul Momen
, considered one of the most successful experimental plays in Bangladeshi theatre. It is a play with only one character, written in 1944 and published as a book in 1948. Nemesis, a tragedy, set a milestone in the history of Bengali plays because of its unique feature and modern plot. National professor of Bangladesh Kabir Chowdhury explains, “Nemesis is his (Nurul Momen's) most famous work. It is an experimental drama where through dialogues the main and only character remembers his past. It shows how a promising personality falls prey to greed and loses his morality. Though it is a play based on one actor, the scope of the plot is wide and a number of other characters come in through the main character's reminiscences.”
It was also the first experimental Bengali play, as Nemesis contains only one character. This experiment was done earlier than Nurul Momen
only by Eugene O'Neill
and Jean Cocteau
in the entire history of world theater. In fact, the two plays Rupantor and Nemesis by Nurul Momen
, ushered in the modernism of theatre of East Bengal
, subsequently called East Pakistan
and finally becoming the independent Bangladesh
.
Before Nemesis only a few playwrights had attempted a one-character play, but none had the full form of a play continuing for one and a half hours without break. Nurul Momen did not only adorn the play with witty dialogues, but also made the character recite poems and even sing. His conversations over the phone, with neighbours, with his conscience and lastly with his murderer is drawn in such an ingenious way that the absence of these characters on the stage is never felt. Not for once the audience can get bored because of the unpredictable turn of the events cleverly knitted in the plot.
Written against the backdrop of Bengal famine
of the early 1940s, Nemesis depicts the moral predicaments of a middle-class schoolteacher Surojit Nandi. Surojit married Sulota, daughter of the dishonest, affluent Nripen Bose. Nripen gives Surojit an ultimatum that if he [Surojit] can not earn five hundred thousand Taka within three months, he won't accept the latter's marriage to his daughter.
Surojit is left with no other option but to undertake several unethical actions. Eventually he wants to break free from the wrong path but he is denied by Nemesis
, the goddess of vengeance.
Nurul Momen
Nurul Momen , also known as Natyaguru , was an educationist, playwright, director, humorist, lawyer, broadcaster, philanthropist and essayist of Bangladesh...
, considered one of the most successful experimental plays in Bangladeshi theatre. It is a play with only one character, written in 1944 and published as a book in 1948. Nemesis, a tragedy, set a milestone in the history of Bengali plays because of its unique feature and modern plot. National professor of Bangladesh Kabir Chowdhury explains, “Nemesis is his (Nurul Momen's) most famous work. It is an experimental drama where through dialogues the main and only character remembers his past. It shows how a promising personality falls prey to greed and loses his morality. Though it is a play based on one actor, the scope of the plot is wide and a number of other characters come in through the main character's reminiscences.”
It was also the first experimental Bengali play, as Nemesis contains only one character. This experiment was done earlier than Nurul Momen
Nurul Momen
Nurul Momen , also known as Natyaguru , was an educationist, playwright, director, humorist, lawyer, broadcaster, philanthropist and essayist of Bangladesh...
only by Eugene O'Neill
Eugene O'Neill
Eugene Gladstone O'Neill was an American playwright and Nobel laureate in Literature. His poetically titled plays were among the first to introduce into American drama techniques of realism earlier associated with Russian playwright Anton Chekhov, Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, and Swedish...
and Jean Cocteau
Jean Cocteau
Jean Maurice Eugène Clément Cocteau was a French poet, novelist, dramatist, designer, playwright, artist and filmmaker. His circle of associates, friends and lovers included Kenneth Anger, Pablo Picasso, Jean Hugo, Jean Marais, Henri Bernstein, Marlene Dietrich, Coco Chanel, Erik Satie, María...
in the entire history of world theater. In fact, the two plays Rupantor and Nemesis by Nurul Momen
Nurul Momen
Nurul Momen , also known as Natyaguru , was an educationist, playwright, director, humorist, lawyer, broadcaster, philanthropist and essayist of Bangladesh...
, ushered in the modernism of theatre of East Bengal
East Bengal
East Bengal was the name used during two periods in the 20th century for a territory that roughly corresponded to the modern state of Bangladesh. Both instances involved a violent partition of Bengal....
, subsequently called East Pakistan
East Pakistan
East Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...
and finally becoming the independent Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
.
Before Nemesis only a few playwrights had attempted a one-character play, but none had the full form of a play continuing for one and a half hours without break. Nurul Momen did not only adorn the play with witty dialogues, but also made the character recite poems and even sing. His conversations over the phone, with neighbours, with his conscience and lastly with his murderer is drawn in such an ingenious way that the absence of these characters on the stage is never felt. Not for once the audience can get bored because of the unpredictable turn of the events cleverly knitted in the plot.
Written against the backdrop of Bengal famine
Bengal famine
There have been a number of significant famines in the history of Bengal including:*Bengal famine of 1770*Bengal famine of 1943*Bangladesh famine of 1974*Bengal Famine , a movie by Bimal Roy...
of the early 1940s, Nemesis depicts the moral predicaments of a middle-class schoolteacher Surojit Nandi. Surojit married Sulota, daughter of the dishonest, affluent Nripen Bose. Nripen gives Surojit an ultimatum that if he [Surojit] can not earn five hundred thousand Taka within three months, he won't accept the latter's marriage to his daughter.
Surojit is left with no other option but to undertake several unethical actions. Eventually he wants to break free from the wrong path but he is denied by Nemesis
Nemesis (mythology)
In Greek mythology, Nemesis , also called Rhamnousia/Rhamnusia at her sanctuary at Rhamnous, north of Marathon, was the spirit of divine retribution against those who succumb to hubris . The Greeks personified vengeful fate as a remorseless goddess: the goddess of revenge...
, the goddess of vengeance.