Becketts Endgame Essay - 2792 Words

Becketts Endgame While Beckett’s works are often defined by their existentialist themes, Endgame seems to offer no solution to the despair and melancholia of Hamm, Clov, Nagg, and Nell. The work is replete with overdetermination that confounds the efforts of critics and philosophers to construct a single, unified theme for the play. Beckett resisted any effort to reconcile the problems of his world, offer solutions, or quench any fears overtly. However, this surface level of understanding that aligns Beckett with the pessimism of the Modernist movement is ironically different from the symbolic understanding that Beckett promotes through his characters and the scene. Beckett’s work does not suggest total hopelessness,†¦show more content†¦All that loveliness! [Pause.] Hed snatch away his hand and go back into his corner. Appalled. All he had seen was ashes. [Pause.] He alone had been spared. [Pause.] Forgotten. [Pause.] It appears the case is ...was not so...so unusual. (En dgame 2474) Hamm and Clov seem entirely like the madman depicted here, and Hamm’s suggestion that the condition is typical says that Hamm and Clov are experiencing this psychosis. Clov sees the same nothingness when he looks out of the window, declaring everything to be â€Å"corpsed† (Endgame 2469). Beckett also deliberately associates psychosis with art: the madman was a painter—and engraver (Engame 2474). This suggests that in the context of conflict in the post-war world, a â€Å"desert† (Engame 2467) of creativity amongst artists is especially dangerous, because we fail to recover and reconstruct a new world with some meaning. The use of storytelling to pass the time and remember the past is common in Endgame, but it never satisfies the characters and it fails to kill the sense of despair. Beckett also remarks on the power of art as Clov takes down the picture hanging on the wall shortly after Clov informs Hamm that there are no more painkillers. In this sense, art seems to supply some hope and inspiration in life. Beckett suggests that art in as far as it represents independent creation can dramatically overhaul the world. The allegory of ModernismShow MoreRelated Codependency in Samuel Becketts Endgame Essay1328 Words   |  6 PagesCodependency in Samuel Becketts Endgame Clov asks, What is there to keep us here? Hamm answers, The dialogue. In the play Endgame, Samuel Beckett demonstrates dramatically the idea of codependency between the two focal characters who rely on each other to fulfill their own physical and psychological needs. Beckett accomplishes this through Hamm, who assumes the identity of a kingly figure, and his relationship with Clov, who acts as his subject. In Endgame, this idea is establishedRead More Power Play in Samuel Beckett’s Endgame Essays2114 Words   |  9 PagesPower Play in Samuel Beckett’s Endgame In a shelter devoid of sunlight and laughter, the family in Samuel Beckett’s Endgame all struggle to find their niches within their world. Central to the play physically and emotionally, Hamm has the ability to make the others revolve around him. Clov, physically the healthiest in the family, has a power that even Hamm could not define until very late in the play. Nagg and Nell, the elderly parents of Hamm, hold the power of memories. Although some charactersRead MoreEssay on Endgame and Act Without Words1384 Words   |  6 PagesEndgame and Act Without Words Beckett: Endgame Hamm is horrofied at the notion that existence is a recurring matter and therefore is cyclic; that beginnings and endings (60- 62) may be amalgamated in the grand scheme of things and that life will start afresh again. Nevertheless, the contradictions confuse his desires. He is terrified of the flea and rat that Clov finds and wants to exterminate them in case humanity might start from there all over again, but he also suggests that heRead MoreEndgame by Samuel Beckett824 Words   |  4 Pagesmeaning of theatrical absurdity. Beckett’s effortless writings over the years, created a unique dramatic persona in his plays that won him the Noble Peace prize. After receiving one of the highest awards known to humanity, he kept a low profile. This period alludes to the satisfaction of reaching his peak. Yet, in his later work, the Endgame makes a direct correlation with the satisfaction of making your peak a plateau. He creates a philosophical predicament in the Endgame of trying to discover the trueRead More Beckett, Brecht and Endgame Essay2233 Words   |  9 PagesBeckett, Brecht and Endgame      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Irish playwright Samuel Beckett is often classified amongst Absurdist Theatre contemporaries Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus, Jean Genet, and Eugene Ionesco (Brockett 392-395). However, Endgame, Becketts second play, relates more closely to the theatrical ideology of German playwright Bertolt Brecht, father of epic theatre and the alienation effect. Through the use of formal stage conventions, theatrical terminology, and allusions to Shakespearean textsRead MoreA Connection Between Existence And Absence2238 Words   |  9 Pagesdiminished sense of self-esteem. Not until the time we lack the ability to perform the things we want, do we feel the absence and thus wish for their existence. This is so because we have a humane nature of taking everything for granted. 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Samuel Beckett gained his claim to fame in the writing community when he introduced the concept of absurdity, nihilism, and human despair to find the meaning ofRead More Technology and Beckett’s Play, Krapp’s Last Tape1167 Words   |  5 PagesTechnology and Beckett’s Play, Krapp’s Last Tape â€Å"bois seul bouffe brà »le crà ªve seul comme devant les absents sont morts les prà ©sents puent sors tes yeux dà ©tourne-les sur les roseaux se taquinent-ils ou les aà ¯s pas la peine il y a le vent et l’à ©tat de veille†[1][1] -Samuel Beckett, Untitled As an avant-garde writer and a trend starter, Beckett was intensely in touch with his own time and its most significant realities, one of which beingRead MoreSamuel Beckett s Waiting For Godot, Endgame, And Not I2331 Words   |  10 Pagespurpose and meaning in a chaotic and uncaring world, and to the playwright Samuel Beckett it is no different. In the works Waiting for Godot, Endgame, and Not I, Samuel Beckett uses elements of nihilism, pessimism, and absurdity to find humor in day-to-day existence, as well as the relationships between the self and others. Before one can analyze Beckett’s work, one must first understand the meanings of nihilism, pessimism, and absurdity in regard to Beckett himself. Nihilism is a term often attributedRead More Pitiful Human Condition Exposed in Endgame, Dumbwaiter, and The Horse Dealers Daughter1403 Words   |  6 PagesThe Pitiful Human Condition Exposed in Endgame, Dumbwaiter, and The Horse Dealers Daughter      Ã‚   The three stories, The Endgame (Beckett), The Dumbwaiter (Pinter), and The Horse Dealers Daughter (Lawrence) all deal with the themes of repression, repetition, and breakdowns in communication. The stories show us the subjectivity of language and exemplify the complexities of the human condition.    Samuel Beckett arrived on earth in Ireland on Good Friday, April 13, 1906. He then

From Childhood to Adulthood in Updikes AP Essay

From Childhood to Adulthood in Updikes AP Sammy is stuck in that difficult transition between childhood and adulthood. He is a nineteen-year-old cashier at an AP, the protagonist in a story with the same name. John Updike, the author of AP, writes from Sammys point of view, making him not only the main character but also the first person narrator. The tone of the story is set by Sammys attitude, which is nonchalant but frank--he calls things as he sees them. There is a hint of sarcasm in Sammys thoughts, for he tends to make crude references to everything he observes. Updike uses this motif to develop the character of Sammy, as many of these references relate to the idea of play. Sammy is no longer a child, but much of†¦show more content†¦Sammys play continues as he his eyes follow the three girls around the store, and he notes the way that the one he has named Queenie is definitely the leader. She would buzz to the other two, who kind of huddled against her for relief (28). Sammy sees this as a game of follow-the-leader as well as a game of hide-and-seek, because, as Queenie led them, the other two [would] peek around and make their shoulders round (27). Sammy is shallow and sexist in the way he has named these young women according to his first impression of their bodies and behaviors. Patrick W. Shaw notes that Sammy knows what is on each aisle in the store and constantly thinks of what is inside bottles, cans, and jars; but he has no idea what is inside the girls, no sensitivity to their psychology or sexual subtlety. His awareness stops with their sweet cans and ice-cream breasts (322). Sammy further demonstrates his childishness and chauvinism by commenting on the mental abilities of the girls: You never know for sure how girls minds work (do you really think its a mind in there or just a little buzz like a bee in a glass jar?) (27). This comment ironically lets the reader know more about the way Sammys mind works. Shaw agrees, suggesting that Sammys mind is even less than a bee in a jar (322). Sammy is still absorbed in thinking about the games he played as a cild and maybe even in the present. HeShow MoreRelatedEssay on John Updikes AP865 Words   |  4 PagesJohn Updikes AP Many of the events that take place in John Updikes AP would not have happened had the town lived under a Marxist society. Marxism is a socio-economic ideal where all people work for the good of the community and is characterized by not having any social class distinctions. The division of Classes in AP is very apparent, especially between Sammy, the protagonist and first person narrator, and the three girls, one of the three antagonists, who walk into the storeRead MoreA P By John Updike And Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?885 Words   |  4 PagesIn the short stories â€Å"AP† by John Updike and â€Å"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?† by Joyce Carol Oates, both authors tell of story of transitioning from childhood to adulthood. Sammy, from Updike’s story, is a nineteen year old boy whose parents got him a job as a cashier at the local AP. Connie, from Oates’ story, is a pretty, blonde, fifteen year old girl who has an almost narcissistic attitude as she has a habit of constantly checking herself and comparing herself to others. Both of theseRead MoreJohn Updike s A P1290 Words   |  6 Pageswith friends. While transitioning from childhood to adulthood there are many â€Å"disruptions† a person will face. A disruption meaning anything that strays from the norm of everyday life. Disruptions are fundamental because people do not realize how a single disruption can alter someone’s perspective on life. John Updike’s short story A P reveals how important it is to have disruptions through the character Sammy. Sammy is a cashier at a store known as the A P and it can be assumed that Sammy isRead MoreHuman Oppressiveness in Two Kinds and AP Essay2357 Words   |  10 Pagesdetailed look of Amy Tan’s â€Å"Two Kinds† and John Updike’s â€Å"AP,† you will find that this quote is entirely applicable in the context of oppressiveness and in the likeness of â€Å"coming of age.† These two stories document the different perspectives of two characters’ growing up and how the role of the invisible hand of oppression guides developing ad olescents into mature adults; without prejudice or even forethought. The characters in question are: Sammy, an AP store clerk whose time spent at work revealsRead MoreA P By John Updike2027 Words   |  9 Pagessymbolism to convey the message of choices and consequences of his characters. After reading the short story â€Å"AP† by John Updike I came to realize the strong message behind the narrative. The story focuses on articulating a teen-aged boy who becomes aware of his true inner feelings and the value in society. A boy named Sammy, who happens to be working in a grocery store as a cashier, narrates â€Å"AP†. It happens to be summer in a somewhat conservative town when Sammy sees three young girls walk into hisRead MoreANALIZ TEXT INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS28843 Words   |  116 Pagesarranged sequence of interrelated events that constitute the basic narrative structure of a novel or a short story. Events of any kind, of course, inevitably involve people, and for this reason it is virtually impossible to discuss plot in isolation from character. Character and plot are, in fact, intimately and reciprocally related, especially in modern fiction. A major function of plot can be said to be the representation of characters in action, though as we wil l see the action involved can be internal

Christmas is a good holiday for many reasons. Ther Essay Example For Students

Christmas is a good holiday for many reasons. Ther Essay e are reasons that exist that make Christmas a bad holiday, but for the most part it is a wonderful time of year. Millions of people around the world will agree that Christmas is one of the most fun and exciting holidays. Christmas is a good holiday because students get a vacation from school, people get to exchange gifts with friends and family, and people get to spend time with their families. Those three reasons, among others, help to make Christmas one of the best holidays. First of all, Christmas is a good holiday because students get a vacation from school. While not in school, students have no homework. That really helps to make the holidays more enjoyable. With no school, students have no reason to get up early so they can stay out late and sleep late in the morning. When Christmas comes around, it means that the school year is half over. If a student has done well the first semester, he or she is sure to survive the second semester. Next, people get to exchange gifts with friends and family. Exchanging gifts is always fun because people receive new things. Who couldnt enjoy something that was given to them free. Also, people get to give gifts to their friends and family. Giving gifts always gives people that warm happy feeling inside. The most enjoyable part is seeing the gifts that people gave being opened by the people receiving them. That always puts a smile on peoples faces. Last but not least, people get to spend time with family. Some of the family may not have been seen in a long time so it puts everyone in a good mood to finally see them. Being with family is fun and helps make the holidays more enjoyable. One thing that many families may find interesting is sharing stories. Telling stories always helps relieve the stress that the holidays can produce. As anyone can tell from the preceding reasons, Christmas is a great time of year. Getting a vacation from school, exchanging gifts with friends and family, and spending time with family all make the hassle of Christmas worthwhile. The reasons that make Christmas a bad time of year are just not good enough to out- weigh the good ones. Christmas is the best holiday!

Strategic Analysis Dell Inc

Question: Discuss about the Strategic Analysis Dell Inc. Answer: Introduction Dell Inc. is an American multinational, founded in the year 1984. The company is into computer and related products. Dell is also moving into new areas such as cybersecurity and data center design and management, and letting those new units operate more autonomously. The company has a revenue of $54 billion and it has close to100000 employees. Dell Inc. is in the elaboration stage of organizational lifecycle. In this stage part of the organization many split or be reformed such as Dell is doing (Bull Jobstvogt, 2016). Since this is so, this explains the process Dell is going through by seeing there are problems and producing formal solutions and controls to safeguard the organizations. Dell has its subsidiaries in various markets. The objective of this paper is to discuss the strategic analysis framework for one of the subsidiary of Dell Inc. The paper would discuss various internal and external factors that affects Dell Inc. in Indian market. It would include the factors like PEST, SWOT, etc. Based on the strategic analysis, the paper also discusses some of the recommendations for Dell Inc. in Indian market. Strategic Analysis Framework The decision to return Dell back to the companys entrepreneurial roots by affording divisions a level of autonomy similar to start-up companies could be seen as a wise move based on strategic decision making by founder Michael Dell. The PEST analysis for Dells subsidiary in Indian market can be discussed as: PEST analysis The factors under the PEST analysis can be discussed as: Political Legal: The political and legal factors are positive for Dell Inc. as governments want that the companies in computer and IT sector to grow as it would mean more job opportunities in the region (Cricelli Greco, 2013). India is a developing country and current government is pro development. The Indian government has opened its arms for foreign players. Economic: The economic factors are positive and it is expected that the economy of developed and developing nations would continue to grow at decent growth rate. It is expected that Indian economy would continue to grow at a CAGR (Compounded Annual Growth Rate) of 6% (Kiron Kruschwitz, 2013). Social: Today, laptops have emerged as a necessity for different people. Therefore, the social factors can be termed as positive. In India, the laptop has become a necessity product for high class people, students and upper middle class. It is expected that the penetration of laptop would further increase in the Indian market. Technological: There has been several advancements in IT industry. The technology factors are positive for players in this industry. However, the only factor of concern is the low product life. India has seen various technological advancements and it is expected that the technological factors would remain positive for Dell in India market. SWOT analysis The SWOT analysis for Dell Inc. India subsidiary can be discussed as: 2.2.1 STRENGTHS The ability to provide customized laptops with minimum lead time. The effective and efficient supply chain that helps Dell to optimize its cost of operation be it in any part of the world The strong legacy of Dell and its brand name in the market The cost leadership advantage that Dell has in various markets 2.2.2 WEAKNESSES It seems to me that Dell, Inc. is an organization in the midst of what Daft (2015) described as the elaboration stage. One of major weaknesses of Dell is its internal bureaucracy. Another weakness of the company is limited visibility of mid-level management in the organizations. 2.2.4 THREATS The biggest threat for Dell is the threat from competition like HP and Sony. HP and Sony are big name in Indian market and captures a good amount of market. There also exists threat from the external factors like legal factors in different regions, the government regulations, fluctuating market conditions, etc. There also exists some threat from the suppliers as they can increase the cost of raw material (Cricelli Greco, 2013) Another threat is the low switching cost of customers. Indian consumers are price sensitive and they have less brand loyalty 2.2.3 OPPORTUNITIES Huge opportunity of standard products in emerging markets: When Dell first come out it only offered products that were custom built and had to be ordered direct from Dell. Although this strategy worked well at the onset, consumers often do not want to wait and are happy with the off-the-self model that could be found in their local area at retailers even it is a limited selection as it competitors have. Porter five forces analysis The five forces analysis for computer and electronics industry can be discussed as: Bargaining power of suppliers: The bargaining power of suppliers is average. The companies like Dell has the options to choose from number of suppliers. At the same time, there also exists some threat from the suppliers as they can increase the cost of raw material. Dell does not have its suppliers base in India. However, it has to source materials form its international supplier base. Bargaining power of buyers: The bargaining power of buyer is high as customer switching cost is very low. Indian consumers are price sensitive and they have less brand loyalty. They would easily switch to HP or Sony or any other brand, Threat of new entrants: The threat of new entrants is average. The entry barriers are limited. However, it is difficult to achieve the scale of large companies like Dell and HP (Colombo, 2016). Threat of substitutes: The threat of substitute is high in this industry. In recent times, the tablets and mobile phones have emerged as biggest substitute to laptops. The mobile penetration is very high in Indian market. There are few segments Indian consumers who would often want to have mobile phone or tablet with an Internet connection rather than a laptop. Industry rivalry: The industry rivalry is high in the industry. The competition is really in this industry. HP and Sony are big name in Indian market and captures a good amount of market. Four corner analysis Porter's four corners model is a predictive tool designed by Michael Porter that helps in determining a competitor's course of action. The four corner of Porters four models can be discussed as: 2.4.1 Motivation Drivers This helps in determining competitor's action by understanding their goals and current position. A gap between these two would mean that competitor is likely to reach to the external threats. A narrow gap could mean that competitor would have a defensive strategy (David David, 2014). In Indian context, the gap is high as HP is one of the largest player in Indian market. 2.4.2 Motivation Management Assumptions This corner focuses on perception of competitor about its strengths and weaknesses, culture, belief and goals, etc. (Landoni Dell'Era, 2016). Dell India is a known player in Indian laptop market; however, it cannot ignore the competition as competition is high. 2.4.3 Actions Strategy It means the strategy with which the competitor is operating in the market. It could be cost leadership strategy, product differentiation or any other strategy. The players like Apple and Sony focuses on product differentiation in Indian market. The players like HP, Lenovo focuses on cost leadership in Indian market. 2.4.4 Actions capabilities It means the ability of competitor to respond to external threats and external forces. The competitors like HP, IBM, Apple are big names that can address external threats very swiftly. These companies have deep pockets and high risk appetite to keep continue in the Indian market (Gormley, 2010). Value chain analysis The value chain for Dell Inc. can be shown as: Dell being in the elaboration stage; which is a do or die stage for most organizations. As they are pressured to adjust to the industry overall as a whole the organizations have taken a major hit on the side of profitability. In this stage of elaboration this is critical because of the moral of the company. Management may be challenged to adjust to a more organic style of management, which would be great however, it may be too late for Dell, Inc. However, they could try the collectivity stage where its the responsibility of leaders and marketing managers to take all the people together (Purkayastha, 2016). It is important to mention that revisiting the vision and the mission may require if Dell changes its product lines. The marketing activities at Dell can also change based on the vision and mission and this can only be successful if top level management are open to the input from its lower level employees. Recommendations The key recommendations for Dell Inc. can be discussed as: Dell should certainly increase its focus in the emerging markets. Trying a new market such as corporate mighty be a good experience however, with HP as a competitor its going to be difficult to keep up (David David, 2014). Dell India is doing good and it is recommended that Dell Inc. should increase its focus on its Indian subsidiary. It is recommended that Dell India must continue its path of cost leadership. The customers in the Indian market are cautious about the pricing of the product. Therefore, a good strategy for Dell India in Indian market would be to use the cost leadership strategy. Dell must invest on its research and development. In this industry, the product lifecycle is low and every year there are new and upgraded products in the market. It is critical to keep an eye on the emerging markets and then develop the firm level strategy (Abraham, 2013). Conclusion The above paper discusses the strategic analysis for Dell India. The Dell Inc. scenario is a good example of a company that had great performance when the personal computer was introduced. However, it appears that the company was having internal struggles with the demands regarding the growth of the computer industry. The paper highlights that firms must have a control over its internal factors and a close watch over the external factors. Dell, Inc. by seeing this lack of alignment between its structure and process, decided to be flexible by changing its structure. That might be the best chance Dell has to get ahead of its larger tech rivals like HP. 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