Mallarme’s poem, “The Virginal, Vibrant, and Beautiful Dawn”, and Endgame have similar themes present within. The theme thats present in both pieces of literature is that there is a symbolism of someone who is crushed by the outside world and dislikes it. This swan represents the one who has nothing to live for and thinks there is nothing out there in the world. Just like Hamm and Clov live in a world where they don’t know whats out there and choose to just exist and not find meaning in their lives. This idea of uselessness exists in both pieces of literature within the main characters. Also another theme present is an earth filled with horror and nothingness. A sort of dystopia with nothing to live for. This theme sets the idea of nihilism that is present in both texts.
⁃Preston Cheung
Preston, I like the way you connect both the poem and Endgame together by means of symbolism and someone being “crushed by the outside world and dislikes it”. This was very insightful and I found it interesting food for thought. Similarly, in Sartre’s description of The Chestnut Tree from Nausea, there is also a feeling of non-existence. He feels that while looking at the roots of the tree and then the rest of it, that he sees and describes things that could not exist. And that because of this, existence is futile and meaningless. This can easily be connected to Endgame where Hamn and Clov feel as though they are simply “being” but not truly existing. Just being present but not having true meaning as they just sit in their room, unable to venture out and unwilling to do more.
-Aly Yoon
2 responses so far ↓
j.azcue // May 5th 2017 at 11:14 am
I completely agree with Preston, regarding the symbolism of someone who is crushed. I think it is a very strong and clear way of connecting both pieces because as he stated, both the swan and the two characters of The Endgame have nothing to live for and seem to be transitioning a dramatic situation in a very hopeless way. Preston states an idea that I think it is very clever, an idea of uselessness within the main characters. I had never thought about it that way but after reading it I must say I completely agree with it. At the beginning I was only thinking in drama, negativity and pain but I now believe that the fact that all the characters were useless is the root of the negativity, the drama and the pain and not the other way around.
j.moreno1 // May 5th 2017 at 11:24 am
Aly and PJ, you both found a great way to tie in these other works of literature to Endgame. One theme that can be seen in both Endgame and the short film of “Breath” is the suffering and agony that is being felt. In “Breath” the sound that the video lets out seem to symbolize a form of being trapped. It almost sounds as if there is someone that is gasping for air and that is the sound that we hear. Similar to Endgame, were there are instances throughout the entire play of being trapped. One example could be the parents being trapped inside the trash bins. Both of these works have a theme of being trapped and there being some sort of agony.
You must log in to post a comment.