The Comic Elements in a Dystopian World - Becketts Endgame - Term Paper Example

Elements of a Dystopian World Name Course Date Table of Contents Introduction 2 Language Use and Communication 3 Suffering 4 Compassion and Forgiveness 5 Philosophical Viewpoints 6 Pride 7 Perseverance 8 Isolation 9 Life and Existence 10 Summary 11 Conclusion 11 Introduction Beckett’s Endgame is a play that presents numerous themes that uses numerous literal aspects to impress the audience and ensure adherence to the play due to the use of farce. Monotony is alleviated by all means including hyperbole (Monty 36). Each theme is centered on comic. The major themes that are exuded in a comic way include communication and language, isolation, forgiveness and compassion, defeat, pride, perseverance, suffering, consciousness and the philosophical views. This makes it appear to be funny. However, there are a number of incidences that exaggerates the fun to a level where the audience may be bored or even feel fooled. Language Use and Communication To begin with, use of language and the components of communication utilized in the play are full of fun. There is an incidence that keeps occurring in the play whereby Clov threatens Hamm of leaving him in his house (Beckett 26). When given a go ahead to do as he wishes, he hesitates; but still, Clov goes ahead to point out that there is not a single thing in the house that can make him stay. What makes it funnier is the fact that the duo at the beginning keeps on communicating in an extensive dialogue to feel relieved of their problems – each has his own problems. The classical example comes in whereby Hamm never allows the conversation to die; he keeps on bringing up issues. The communication keeps on flowing. When Clov tries to get off the hook, Hamm chides him for not being able to tolerate him together with his subjects of discussion. According to Seidel (102) this brings them to a situation whereby they speak, not necessarily for the purpose of communication or relay of information, but because they feel that they have to speak. They, therefore, speak throughout so that they can keep going and to assure the audience that the play is still going on and they are still alive. Due to this, they end up saying some irrelevant things or those blatantly out of topic in a way that is characterized by a sense of humor. The fact that the nature of their conversation has an aspect of strangeness yet they have been together for quite some time is also funny in its own way. Suffering Secondly, Endgame just as other works of Beckett portrays most of his characters as people who are suffering. All of the characters here are suffering in one way or more. Some of the sufferings are worth the audience’s pity whereas some are just full of comic. For instance, staying in a trash bin and being covered by a sheet is worth sympathy. Hamm’s parents have been in the trash bin for a long time (Orr 38). According to general knowledge, the parents are old and old people should be treated with dignity. Suffering is the order of the day here. “I once knew a madman who thought the end of the world had come. He was a painter—and engraver…” (Beckett, 14).They need to be cared for well yet they are left to stay in a trash bin. They are suffering, most probably, due to the poor hospitality practice by Ham and Clov and perhaps their cruelty. This point takes place when Ham learns of Nell’s death he does not even react. All these happen despite Nell being his mother. This weird lack of emotions when one is suffering is a farce and is able to ignite humor among the members of the audience (Beckett 28). The same occurs when Ham learns that his father is crying in the bin. Nagg is trying his best to make his wife happy by raising up funny stories, but his wife shows absolutely no reaction to the jokes. This is an action that is capable of stimulating anger and the joker may calm down in disappointment. Ironically, Nagg continues until Nell leaves the stage and gets into her trash bin. Nagg does the same and this is humorous. Ham has been made to understand that suffering is part of life and he only needs to embrace it just as it is. He was severely depressed in his mid-twenties and had a feeling that he would get better by reading Arthur Schopenhauer’s philosophy books that convinced him of the normalcy of suffering (Cordingley 102). A take-away message from the philosophy of Schopenhauer is that for one to feel better, they need not follow their desires. They should rather fight them since they are able to bring them torment and pain. In his play, Beckett praises Schopenhauer’s ‘intellectual justification of happiness.’ It is funny how the author tries to convince the audience through the actors that one should embrace their sufferings and not seek ways to solve their various problems. Suffering, as a theme in this play is characterized by top comic (Tomoiagă 39). Compassion and Forgiveness Compassion and forgiveness are also themes that are worth discussing while talking about the fun presented by this play. This theme requires a better understanding since it is not so obvious and the instances that bring out the same are not fully evident. This is because of the cruelty experienced in the play is witnessed in a lot of occasions. The cruelty gets even grosser when Clov is demeaned by Ham. Hamm hordes heaps of curses at his father for having given birth to him (Lazăr 59). Failure to show compassion and forgive one another in the play shows egocentrism and gross insubordination. They cannot stay in harmony with one another due to differences that cannot be fully accounted for. After the curses and disagreements following Clov’s threat to depart, he fails to do so (Chesney and Duncan 38). This point is supported when Nagg says to his son, “Whom did you call when you were a tiny boy, and were frightened, in the dark? Your mother? No. Me…” (Beckett 19). On deciding to stay, he attempts to revenge for the curses by being insubordinate in all ways to Hamm – even the smallest of reasons. It gets funny when one can even exploit decisions of staying with an individual who has demeaned them for a mere reason of revenging by not complying with the offender’s demands. The compassionate relationship that appears to be one-sided between Nagg and Nell is also a pointed use of comic in the play. Philosophical Viewpoints Philosophical viewpoints, as an independent theme, are also an aspect that has been used in the play with humor as a literal style used. This intense use of philosophy makes Beckett’s work be branded ‘Theatre of Absurd.’ Critical analysis of the play gives an evidence of overuse of the philosophical viewpoints with solid opinions about life (Scott 47). In accordance to this, Hamm says, “I wonder. Imagine if a rational being came back to earth, wouldn't he be liable to get ideas into his head?” (Beckett11). From this statement, Endgame uses opinions that are very complicated to stick to and may be misleading if proper guidance is not applied. These philosophical points are merely used to create a world of fantasy and excite the audience. The section of the audience that understand fully the opinion and how they are used in their favor find it very interesting every time philosophy comes up as a subject of discussion in both monologue and analogue in the play (Childress 79). It would be better if the fans would ask him if he finds the intense unimaginable opinions about life used in the play are funny. Perhaps that’s the question that would elate him. The humor that accompanies the use of philosophy when at various instances, the characters are much concerned about some of the disturbing issues that are regarded misplaced and out of topic. Sure, this is funny. This is a way in which the audience are unfair to both themselves and others in a way that awkward and funny to the audience. Another occurrence in the play that is absurd and funny at the same time is how abominable the fact that Hamm lets his own parents stay in trash bins as he shows no emotions (Jagoda et al. 201). This could amount to the reason of his mother’s death. At the same time, he speaks of issues that he prefers to talk about rather than getting concerned after his mother dies in the trash bins. Pride It is funny how most of the characters here are proud over issues that do not matter in the society. To be very particular, Hamm oozes vanity most of the times when he speaks. He tells Clov at one point, “Your light dying! Listen to that! Well, it can die just as well here, you’re light. Take a look at me and then come back and tell me what you think of your light” (Beckett, 5). During one of his dialogues with Clov, he becomes a braggart by claiming that at one point in his life he had become a monarch. As Syvertsen (58) puts it, he views himself as a leader and believes he should keep on giving orders in his state. This is alarming and funny when an individual in a humble situation – blind and bound to a wheelchair – would do such a thing. He keeps on giving orders to Clov to do all the minor and unnecessary things that he feels need to be done. The only thing he has in mind is how to give directives to people who he thinks are under him (Šorm 59). He acts as an authoritarian and has lost emotions for mankind including his own parents. It is hard to believe that Hamm at ruled at one point in his life, but still he regards himself as a king from his talks and deeds (Tworek 6). He has lost the normal desires that a normal human being would have and has not even a single aspect of passion. Is that not funny? One of his orders that are not justifiable is commanding Clov to make him a stuffed dog and he imagines the same stuffed dog is gazing at him imploringly. Perseverance Perseverance can be good or bad depending on the aspect where it is used. In most cases, success is viewed as an action or deed that results to an eventual success. The term could be altered to mean endurance rather than perseverance; all the same both will apply. Each of the characters is presented with a lot of problems that they are supposed to either handle or simply cope up with. In most cases, they overcome their obstacles in a funny way and this is considered as perseverance (Markocki 128). Each of them is trying all possible means to get out of the mess in a struggle even if it is not actually necessary. Clov has persevered and endured a lot while staying with Hamm but this been made comical in different areas of the text. The statement, “How easy it is. They said to me, that's friendship, yes, yes, no question, you've found it” (Beckett 27) indicate that all of the characters are coping up with the truth that their health and bodies are deteriorating and in the long run they will die. Even at the verge of the eventual incidences, the struggle and still hold on to the very little issues that are not worth comprehending. This is almost similar to the funny theme of defeat that attests that none of the characters is accepting defeat. It is categorical that Hamm is the most perseverant character in the play. He endures any problem that comes his way despite the fact that he is blind and confined to a wheelchair. He views Clov as an individual whose role is only to take orders and impress him. This is how he views him right from the beginning to the end. Being together with him for long does not change a thing. Clov, on the other hand is showing inertia by his lack of demonstration of endurance in circumstances. Isolation Is it funny how the characters in Endgame isolate one another? Look at Clov who desires to leave Hamm. Hamm, to be honest, does not want to be left alone. Forgetting all that he tells Clov due his ego, he needs him and does not want to be left alone (Tworek 18). This may compromise his survival. Clov wants to leave Hamm and Nagg because he also needs to survive. Ironically, none wants to accept the fact that they will feel isolated (Moldřík 48). Statement, “yes, one day you'll know what it is, you'll be like me, except that you won't have anyone with you, because you won't have had pity on anyone and because there won't be anyone left to have pity on you” (Beckett 12) shows that Clov cannot leave Hamm even after all the empty threats. It is evident that he feels isolated and it is not his wish for it to be so. There is a clear competition on who feels isolated in the whole play. Critically thinking, Hamm will be more affected by isolation than Clov will. Hamm blatantly tells Clov that he can leave according to his wish claiming that he will not be affected in any way. It is actually a sense of humor. He says that it will not be necessary for him to have a servant in order to survive. The suspense created makes the audience have fun by making personal guesses on how the play might end were the suspense not created. It is the failure of isolation to occur in this play that makes it continue for a long while. They also prefer death to isolation. Life and Existence Consciousness, life and existence can be merged as a clear humorous theme in this play. Look at how Beckett portrays life and its worthlessness in the play. The agenda trying to be exuded here is how life should appear alongside obstacles and friction from those close to an individual. In such occasions, it is shown how life becomes irrelevant and hope is killed (Jerome 63). Some conversations and dialogues in the play portray mankind as a preference to other creatures and a dignified one altogether, the play equally criticizes mankind, their way of life and how unlucky one is to become a human. Nell says, “Yes, yes, it's the most comical thing in the world. And we laugh, we laugh, with a will, in the beginning (Beckett, 7). It is because, according to their views, there are some people who struggle a lot, put all their efforts to become successful and they still fail to live dignified life. Beckett clearly explains to his audience that humanism is a nasty underbelly. The examples given are those who are mistreated. They include servants and those who are mistreated by fellows who they seek to please. Some people are also struggling to create a world that nicely suits them and their loved ones. This is funny. All these are not possible in the universal world. Those who cannot cope up with life as it presents end up suffering and dying of numerous troubles. At the same time, Clov and Ham do not want to make their lives relevant to them. It is obvious that if they put their efforts to better their lives, they will ultimately improve their conditions (Kimble 39). Summary Beckett has put a lot of effort in trying to please his audience by putting a smile on their face and making them laughs occasionally. The story is based on fiction and not fact. People with the nature of the characters in this story seem not to exist in the contemporary society. Their efforts are misplaced. All they can do is talking all day, blame others for their conditions and make other people have a negative attitude towards their lives as well. The fun created makes the audience able to cope up with the play that seems to be longer than the usual ones. They can enjoy the scenes even if they appear as farce and create endure the lengthy play. After all, the audience always views the plays with a chief agenda of enjoying themselves and having fun. If it were not so, some would walk out just after the beginning due to the vivid exaggerations and hyperbole. Comic can be applied in reality or in fictitious situations. It depends on how an author intends to ensure the audience finds his works interesting. Some of the scenes, however, deserve to be scrapped off. It is not entirely criticism, but a bad example for the young and developing individuals to emulate as an example. The emulators will feel no guilt in doing the same since the scene could have been interesting to most and there are not life’s lessons that appear towards the end of the play whereby one can learn that what previously occurred is uncalled for (Chun 139). Conclusion In conclusion, Beckett’s Endgame has been used to present how some people in the society view their lives and how they treat people in their environments. However, this is presented to the audience in an extremely comic manner that would not allow them grab knowledge from the presentation. Some of the scenes can also affect the society in a negative way with an aim of making them enjoy as they get bad examples from the circumstances. It is true that Beckett has employed intense use of comedy; the farce becomes non-beneficial to the society since fun has been made the chief agenda. If it were possible, it would be better for a proper revision to be done to the play to make it reach a preferred caliber. From the analyses above, Becket use of comedy remains multifaceted. On the surface it is easy to make amused, which will help in keeping readers interested in plays which in the real essence could otherwise become dull. We find that in most of the texts, humour is one aspect of a statement which either by its implied meaning or content has a deeper importance for the meaning of the play, for lives of readers. Works Cited Beckett, Samuel. Endgame: With a Revised Text. Ed. Stanley E. Gontarski. Grove Press, 1992. Beckett, Samuel. In-Between Words: Late Modernist Style in the Novels of Henry Green, Ivy Compton-Burnett. Diss. University of Toronto, 2012. Chesney, Duncan McColl. "Beckett's Worldly Inheritors." Journal of Irish Studies 29 (2014): 32-41. Childress, Marcus D. "Utopian and Dystopian Futures for Learning Technologies." Learning and Knowledge Analytics in Open Education. Springer International Publishing, 2017. 99-107. Choudhury, Murshed Haider. 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