This work investigates the evolution of Symbolism as the defining aesthetic force in twentieth-century drama. Maurice Valency, a scholar of dramatic literature, utilizes a historical and analytical framework to trace the movement from its origins in the works of Mallarmé to its ultimate expression in the plays of Samuel Beckett. He argues that the trajectory of modern theater is inextricably linked to the Symbolist project of representing internal reality over external action.

Scholars and theater historians frequently cite this text as a foundational analysis of the Symbolist influence on modern dramatic structure. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which provides a rigorous examination of the philosophical underpinnings of twentieth-century playwriting.