Group items tagged

In what is known as one of Beckett's most infamous works, it appears that what occurs on stage and even between the actors and audience is a game. In his review of the work, Atkinson boldly claims that it was "Impressive in the macabre intensity of the mood", making it a close contender with Beckett's "Waiting for Godot". While the argument of the article may not be relatively easy to pick up, upon closer inspection of the critique it may seem as if Atkinson has no opinion on the matter due to the highly interpretive and almost incomprehensible manner in which Beckett's works are put forth. Atkinson even states "Don't expect this column to give a coherent account of what--if anything-- happens. Almost nothing happens in the sense of action." So what exactly can be said about the work? Clearly Beckett has found a knack in creating a feeling of nothing, in "Endgame" as well as in "Waiting for Godot", the settings are never clearly described, and what little details are given out may in fact be seen in infinite number of ways. For example the author, Atkinson, has seen the other works of Beckett before reviewing his latest, this article being published the day after the debut in new york on Jan. 29, 1958, which would indeed give him a bias as to how he would experience the work. If someone were to review the play who had never seen anything of Beckett's before, it may be almost certain that most of what is said would be confusion, and misunderstanding about the purpose of the play. I feel that Atkinson, having had the experience, accurately portrays the works in his article/review. Beckett is a modern writer who plays out work in an old style. His two plays mentioned before are both considered comedies, but not in the laugh out loud sense, but the classical interpretation of what comedies where meant to be. Yet still creating an almost post- apocalyptic environment while maintaining an elevated psychological approach to the viewing experience.

Presenting a new perspective on the minimalism in Beckett's works, Dr. Bai explore the ways we find existentialism within "Endgame". Specifically, Bai dissects the work to show how the stage directions, stage setting, and self-reflective dialogue. Ironically, it is the smallest details of the work which in this case present the greatest amount of information. Because the nature of Beckett's plays are so deeply minimalistic, sometimes to the point of nothing, it would seem that in fact the only place to find the deeper meaning of the plays he has written would be in the only things present, which in this case are the self-dialogue and stage directions. For instance, Bai uses the interaction between trash bin ridden Nagg and Nell to help show that their inability to kiss and touch further exemplifies how the tragic comedy of the play comes to focus. The comedic presence as both struggle to reunite, even though there is literally maybe a foot between the two bins. In this case, "so close, yet so far" would accurately describe the situation. Basically, existentialism is the ideology of human nature, and what better way to explore these thoughts and tendencies than through a work such as "Endgame" that breaks the stage down to a meta-physical and psychological presentation.