Final answer:
The Theatre of the Absurd is characterized by nontraditional structures, meaningless dialogue, and existential themes that reflect on the randomness of life and the human condition post-World War II while attempting to provoke audiences to confront absurdity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The characteristics of the Theatre of the Absurd are quite distinct and arose as a reaction to the aftermath of World War II, particularly in Europe. The plays within this genre tend to abandon traditional plot structures and instead often employ a circular narrative to convey the senselessness of the human condition. The dialogue is typically marked by its apparent lack of meaning, and the settings can be minimalist. Playwrights like Samuel Beckett and Eugene Ionesco are central to this movement, with works exhibiting a departure from logic, reflecting the existential philosophy that life is inherently meaninglessness and is ridden with unavoidable solitude. Edward Albee is noted for his contributions to this style in the U.S. theatre scene.
The primary goal of the Theatre of the Absurd was to shake audiences out of complacency and challenge their perceptions of logic and the human condition. Through confronting the audience with the absurdity and lack of coherent narratives, these plays aimed to liberate the viewers, provoking a realization of the fundamental randomness and meaninglessness of life.