Topics for Further Study
Samuel Beckett is frequently regarded as a pioneer of the absurdist theater movement. Read Harold Pinter’s The Dumb Waiter and David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross, then compose an essay on how you believe their writing has been influenced by Beckett.
Throughout the play, Hamm’s parents, Nagg and Nell, remain in ashbins. What statement does this make about society’s views and treatment of the elderly?
Beckett’s plays are rich with rituals. What specific rituals does Clov perform for Hamm, and what do these actions reveal about their master-servant dynamic?
Endgame incorporates several comedic elements. How do you think these elements contribute to the overall tone of the play? Why does Beckett employ comedy in this way? What is Beckett conveying about life and the essence of comedy?
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