Jiwoo Han:
I watched the short film “Breath” by Samuel Beckett. Overall, it was a dark and creepy film. A lot of garbage are everywhere in the room and there is a beam of light shining the garbage. And then, one breath consisting of a deep inhalation and exhalation. I believe that the theme of Endgame is loneliness so Hamm and Clov cannot let go of each other easily. I felt like no one lives in the room any longer and it is left untouched for a long time. I found loneliness from it. Regarding the light shining the garbage, it reminded me of Clov looking out through the window. I felt like both scenes represent a hope out of the darkness. Also, the deep inhalation and exhalation represents loneliness. After the deep exhalation, I felt like something reaches the end. I think that the film “Breath” and “Endgame” are connected with one theme “loneliness”.
Susanna Domosi:
I agree with the observations of Jiwoo about “Breath.” It made the normal act of breathing humans experience a thousand times a day very creepy. A theme in Mallarme’s poem is being stuck in a state. The swan being described is stuck in a state that it cannot escape. This theme can be seen in the “Endgame” as well. Clove tried to leave the home him and Hamm live in, but even during Hamm’s monologue, Clove cannot get himself to walk out the door- he simply stands there. Both the swan and Clove are held back from situations because of their environment being restrictive. The words Mallarme uses to describe the swan’s efforts are “hopelessly struggling.” This same description could be applied to Clove’s repetitive sequence of interaction with Hamm. It is up to the reader to interpret if Clove ever even left the home, and many think he did not because of the hopeless struggle that he faced of not being independent being, but just being an accessory to Hamm.
Daphne Young:
Loneliness and being trapped are two very big themes in “Endgame” as explained by both Jiwoo and Susanna. I like how Jiwoo interprets the last exhalation like something reaching its end, it is similar to the ending of “Endgame” where Clov decides to leave- letting go and accepting the loneliness.
In The Chestnut Tree, the character explores the meaning of “existing”. He explores his surroundings, thinking about what existing meant when he realizes that existing just means it’s there. Things exist but there is no meaning to why, almost like nihilism. I can also see this theme in “Endgame”. Clov and Hamm purely exist in the play, but there is no plot and no endgame. Nothing is happening but they both are existing.
2 responses so far ↓
j.devine // May 5th 2017 at 7:59 am
Susanna, your point about being stuck in all of these works is great! Clot is very obviously stuck throughout the play as the reader can see the struggle between him wanting to leave and him wanting to stay. He goes back and forth many times in this state of agony and hopelessness. I also agree that in some way similar, the swan is also stuck. The author makes it clear that the swan is stuck in its own desperation. Though it fights and fights, it cannot achieve what it wants.
yy155739 // May 5th 2017 at 10:43 am
Jiwoo, I liked the way you compared Endgame and the short film “Breathe”. Aesthetically, I think the two films were extremely similar. Both are darker and more bleak. And as you say “lonely.” I enjoyed your insightfulness in saying that the two were connected through the concept of lonliness. I think this is a very sound way to describe it.
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