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A review by spyralnode
Endgame by Samuel Beckett
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
'Endgame' is certainly original, and that's also where my enjoyment of it came from. It's a one act play featuring characters, a family, that emerge from dustbins, and a character that helps them stay connected to the outside world, by providing commentary on what is happening outside the apartment or bringing them certain items. It's very much the type of book that inspires commentary, it is not on the nose in the slightest, but the kind of philosophical read where you can take every sentence apart and figure out what they've meant.
And this means that my interpretation is very much that - an interpretation. I was trying to figure out where these characters in dustbins where in their lifetime - even answer the question of are they alive or dead. And that stems from the fact that frequently they ask the same question of their helper regarding the other characters.
To me, it read like the meditations of people in purgatory, but in reality it becomes clear that they have no pulse. The father tells stories to his son, with the message of how human nature works in the real world. How do people connect with nature, with each other, what hope is there for a world as a better place, are humans intrinsically good or evil?
It's a very short read of about 100 pages, amd while I couldn't say I found the narrative/dialogue that interesting, the form was. I had to check multiple times if I was reading things correctly, because especially the physical placement of the characters and objects, and their existence, pushed my belief.
And this means that my interpretation is very much that - an interpretation. I was trying to figure out where these characters in dustbins where in their lifetime - even answer the question of are they alive or dead. And that stems from the fact that frequently they ask the same question of their helper regarding the other characters.
To me, it read like the meditations of people in purgatory, but in reality it becomes clear that they have no pulse. The father tells stories to his son, with the message of how human nature works in the real world. How do people connect with nature, with each other, what hope is there for a world as a better place, are humans intrinsically good or evil?
It's a very short read of about 100 pages, amd while I couldn't say I found the narrative/dialogue that interesting, the form was. I had to check multiple times if I was reading things correctly, because especially the physical placement of the characters and objects, and their existence, pushed my belief.