In chess, the term endgame is used to describe the final stages of the game where the outcome is already known. The endgame in chess is parallel to the final stages of a person’s life. Samuel Beckett realized that no matter how a person plays the game and lives their life, death will always be the final outcome. Although death is the final outcome, one of the main themes in the play Endgame is existence.
Beckett shows us that existence is one of the main themes in the play by leaving no defined plot to analyze. Without a clear plot, the characters in the play can be more easily understood. The audience pays more attention to what the character is saying at that moment rather than what is going to happen. In the beginning of the play, one of the characters Clov says, "I can't be punished any more" (Beckett 2). This statement shows that Clov will free himself from his unhappiness and begin to understand that his only important task is to survive. He accepts his existence and wants to better himself which means he has to leave Hamm. However, it seems as though Hamm is delaying the inevitable end. Each time Clov tries to leave him, Hamm interrupts and asks Clov another question. Clov states, “I’ll leave you” and Hamm replies, “Have you had your visions?” (Beckett 29). Although Clov wants to leave Hamm, the two of them are dependent on each other. Clov, for example, depends on Hamm for access to food since only Hamm knows how to open the cupboard, while Hamm relies on Clov to be his eyes and to move him around. Beckett portrays the characters in this play as people who are in constant search for meaning in a meaningless world, uncertain of their identities and searching for the true importance of their existence.
I think you hit upon some very important ideas. I think it is important to remember that though this story is plotless, does not mean that the story is pointless.
ReplyDeleteSomething to think about - is death the final outcome of this story. It appears that Nell is dead, though we are not certain of that. These characters seem to be destined to repeat themselves. If this is the case - then what does this say about existence. I think when you say, "Beckett portrays the characters in this play as people who are in constant search for meaning in a meaningless world, uncertain of their identities and searching for the true importance of their existence." I think that is the best way of putting it. I think Beckett wants us to think about characters and think about our actions. And at the end of the day we should ask ourselves, "What is the point?"