Explore this scene
Scene Overview
Note: We are not able to display the full text for this scene.
- Female: 1
- Male: 1
More Scenes
Context
The Professor and his Pupil are having a math lesson as part of her studies to attain her “total doctorate.” Just as they are about to begin, the Professor’s maid interrupts, and ominously urges the Professor to remain calm. The Professor brushes her off, and starts quizzing the Pupil on simple addition. She seems to be a mathematical genius, until they get to subtraction, which she does not understand at all. The Professor gets increasingly frustrated as he tries different methods to get his
to read the context for this scene from The Lesson and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Text
Note: We are not able to display the full text for this scene. However, to assist users who already have access to the script, starting and ending lines are presented below. Please visit our scenes database to find scenes that include text.
Start: PROFESSOR: She exaggerates. Her fears are stupid. But let’s return to our arithmetical knitting.
PUPIL: I’m following you, Professor.
PROFESSOR: [wittily] Without leaving your seat!
PUPIL: [appreciating his joke] Like you, Professor.
[... … …]
End: PROFESSOR: … It is by mathematical reasoning, simultaneously inductive and deductive, that you ought to arrive at this result - as well as any other result. Mathematics is the sworn enemy of memory, which is excellent otherwise, but disastrous, arithmetically speaking! ...That’s why I’m not happy with this… This won’t do, not at all…
PUPIL: [desolated] No, Professor.
For full extended scene, please refer to the script edition cited here: Ionesco, Eugene, The Lesson, Samuel French, 1958, pp. 51-59.
Videos
Sorry! We do not currently have videos for this guide.
Links
Related Products
Related Articles
Related Learning Modules
All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners.
Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.