Dario Fo's 'Accidental Death Of An Anarchist'

ASSIGNMENT

Q. Dario Fo’s play, Accidental Death of an Anarchist, is an epistemological critique of modern society. Discuss.

A. The basic entities of the modern society, be it the judiciary or the state, media or religion, or the common man himself, are susceptible to being constructed in many ways, which could be contradictory to each other. Dario Fo, in Accidental Death of an Anarchist, sets out to critique one of the constructions of the modern society, constructions built upon lies, deceit, cover-ups, corruption of power etc. He sheds light on the corruption of the disciplines which govern the society and boast of working for the welfare of its citizens. The extent to which a fascist regime would go to quash the voice of rebellion to its dictatorial rule is shown in the play and intrinsically critiqued, centrally through the voice of the Madman. …show more content…
Fo does not try to dissect whether anarchism is justified or not but looks at how the police investigates. The entire procedure is not intent upon finding the truth but in establishing power and classifying society. This is apparent right at the beginning of the play when the Madman’s apparently ‘squeaky clean’ record could be turned ‘filthy’, once the authorities were finished with him. Also, investigation in the play ‘creates’ the figure of the anarchist and then finishes it off. The disciplinary mechanism which is a component of modern society shapes the investigation to exercise power and classify individuals, which in turn perpetuates a ‘discipline’ in the society, governed by the ones who shape them. As ex-Prime Minister Ferruccio Parri once commented at a public meeting,’ the judiciary is insisting on creating a legal verdict which saves the police, because the police are the state. If the police crumble into pieces, so does the