Connection between Endgame, the video and the play is the theme of absurdism. The poem describes the scene where the swan trapped in the lake under the ice is hopelessly trying to exile. Even though there is a pure brightness around, “The horror of the earth will remain where it lies”. This can be interpreted in a way that no matter how hard one tries to struggle in life, some outside forces will be in his/her way and eventually one will realize that there is no sense to struggle, no sense to strive in life. In the video, at the end, this man realizes that no matter how hard he tries to get the water, there are some external forces that will prevent him from getting it. In that way he looses his interest in life and stops trying getting what he wants. Similarly, the characters in Endgame have all lost their hopes and each is stuck in the same situation and nothing changes in their lives during the whole play. (Maia)
As Maia pointed out, both the video and the play touch upon the concept of absurdism, which a central theme in Endgame. In the poem, the swan seems hopeless and although she tries many times to escape her circumstances, her attempts remain futile. This suggests the meaningless world in which the swan, who is stuck in a frozen world, lives in. The swan’s efforts are meaningless, and it is suggested that the swan will die because it cannot escape. In a similar manner, as Maia pointed out, the video “Breath” also highlights on the theme of absurdism. It is set in a vary dark, bleak room an there is no dialogue or characters present aside from a pile of garbage. There is the sound of a crying child, which indicates that life is meaningless just like a pile of garbage. Both the video and the poem relate to Endgame in that the story presents a very bleak outlook on life. Seemingly, all of the characters have lost hope in life and settle in their current situation and do not make any effort to change their circumstances. (Lauren)
4 responses so far ↓
r.bohbot // May 7th 2016 at 11:15 am
reply to Maia:
I totally agree with your interpretation of the line in Mallarme’s poem, “The horror of the earth will remain where it lies” (Mallarme 515). Your thoughts on the line representing outside forces being in the way of happiness do illustrate a sense of absurdism; the same absurdism that is present in “Breath” and “Endgame.”
s.tangirala // May 7th 2016 at 11:48 am
Reply to Lauren,
I like that you connected absurdism to the poem and Endgame. I think that your mention of the swan’s efforts could be interpreted as nihilistic as well because nothing the swan does is helping. This may ties back to the idea of life being meaningless. I also agree that the two poems shed a bleak outlook on life, and can easily be related to endgame. The unique characteristics of all of the three pieces of art may make it difficult to successfully tie in all of the individual themes, but I do think that like you said, absurdism is relevant in all.
t.thompson1 // May 7th 2016 at 11:49 am
I can see how absurdism is a common thread in the poem, video and play. However, a part of absurdism is the conflict that arises out of trying to find meaning in something that is meaningless. The meaningless in the poem is that the lake is frozen because it is winter and sun can not change that. The video shows lifeless objects but you hear breath when there there is no life around. In Endgame they speak about death as if life is not important yet they go on living.
b.martinez2 // May 7th 2016 at 12:23 pm
Response to Lauren:
I agree with your points about the negativity in the film and poem giving a feeling of absurdism and there being no point to life. The dark tones of the film with the still subjects, dark setting and crying noises are very depressing. This relates to the struggle of the swan who is hopeless and uncontent with her surroundings. There is no greater meaning to life in both the film and poem.
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