Well, having already delved into Waiting for Godot, I anticipated that my further exploration of Beckett's works would carry a certain degree of melancholy. However, I was not prepared for the profound disappointment that awaited me.

Godot is truly remarkable, skillfully bringing that age-old sense of existential angst to the fore and never relenting. Endgame, on the other hand, was passable. But being positioned so closely to Godot in this collection and sharing a similar emotional core, it simply gave the impression of being a bit too repetitive.

Happy Days, on the contrary, was a standout and a delightful little tale. Regrettably, the remainder of this collection is, at best, inconsistent. I understand that Beckett was experimenting with extreme minimalism in his later years, but unfortunately, it didn't resonate with me. In fact, there were several passages that I found completely incomprehensible.

In conclusion, this collection had a strong start with Godot, but ultimately ended on a rather unappealing note.

Endgame
Happy Days

Endgame is a concept that often brings to mind thoughts of finality and conclusion. It implies the last stage or the ultimate outcome of a situation. In various aspects of life, we encounter endgames. It could be in a game of chess, where players strategize to reach the endgame and secure victory. Or in a business deal, the endgame might involve negotiations and finalizing the terms.

Happy Days, on the other hand, represents a state of joy and contentment. It is a time when everything seems to be going well, and we experience a sense of happiness and fulfillment. Happy days can be filled with laughter, love, and memorable moments. They are the times that we cherish and look back on with a smile.

Although endgame and happy days may seem like contrasting ideas, they can actually be related. The endgame of a difficult situation may lead to happy days of relief and success. For example, after months of hard work and struggle, a project reaches its endgame with a positive outcome, bringing happy days of celebration and accomplishment. In this way, endgame can be a precursor to happy days, and together they form a cycle of experiences that shape our lives.

Finally, I have delved into the captivating and profound dialogues with George Duthuit.

These exchanges offer a wealth of insights and perspectives that truly engage the mind.

Moreover, the fragment of "Human Wishes" (an abandoned early play related to Samuel Johnson) is a remarkable find.

It is like a precious gem, hinting at something deeper and more significant.

Strangely enough, it also bears the mark of a much later Beckett, adding an element of mystery and intrigue.

This connection between different literary eras and figures is both fascinating and thought-provoking.

It makes one wonder about the evolution of ideas and the influence that one work can have on another.

Overall, this exploration of the dialogues and the play fragment has been a truly enriching experience.

I do not want to share Beckett's view of the world. It is bleak and nihilistic.

There is comedy, but it is always tinged with darkness. The moments of hope and light are shrouded by the overwhelming pessimism of most of these works.

Where does that pessimism come from? Much of it is an internal writerly impotence. These plays constantly meditate upon the inability of words to capture reality, failing attempts at art and storytelling, the futility of creation.

But there is much more that addles Beckett. There is a pleasant self-awareness of the loneliness that male ambition brings, replete with painful recollections of past loves - sometimes parental, mostly romantic.

Reflections on the pain of memory, its presence when you don't want it, the even worse horror of its absence. There is much that is more canonically existential: the lack of clear meaning to human life, the absence of God.

Societal pessimism also abounds, from quotidian angst over the repetitiveness of everyday ills, to more political lenses. Some of the plays seem preoccupied with the threat of the bomb, the ecological destruction modern existence has wrought, or the evils of totalitarian regimes.

All of this, Beckett presents in unflinching fashion. His prose is sparse to the point of nonexistence, but through his silences, he creates lines that echo and images that etch.

A line like "The whole thing is comical, I grant you that" said by Hamm in Endgame comes to redound with a power because of its presentation. The slow, ominous, lapidary movement of Beckett's plays force you to linger on the words.

They slip into the mind, and set up residence. It is undeniably, at times overpoweringly, great art. Some of the later plays can feel more like cheap tricks, but the early classics -- Waiting for Godot, Endgame, Krapp's Last Tape, Happy Days, All that Fall -- achieve a rare consistency of mood and vision.

And even in the more experimental later works there are still moments that burst forth with similar power. Few writers have made me gaze off into space more, trying to work through my feelings.

Reading these plays, I kept wondering what the attraction of reading writers like Beckett is. The bleakness of his worldview is oftentimes actively deadening.

I would finish plays and look upon the world with a harsher gaze, full of spite at human frailty. But of course I kept coming back, as so many have.

Certainly part of it is identification. I know I've had thoughts of a similar tenor at many points. Beckett's presentation of them allows one to feel a sort of solace in community, while also allowing for more explicit reflection upon and working through the contents of such views.

I also think there is something valuable about getting oneself to see the aesthetic stance someone like Beckett takes towards the world. It is a philosophy of its own consistent logic, and not the type of one that you can point to Steven Pinker style arguments to "disprove."

There is a beauty in that, and I'd like to think an expansion of one's moral and aesthetic horizons. But I wary of overindulging in that, because I also am sure there are real negative consequences that come from inhabiting such a view.

I find it very hard to take the right tone in writing these thoughts. I'm prone to vacillating between thorough embrace of Beckett's weltanschauung and blanket repudiation.

Middle ground is more like unhappy compromise. Attempting to write about him without accepting his terms almost loses the point. Because within his terms, oh what a point he has!

At the very least, it is the type of work that I know I want to come back to, and I am sure sustains a plethora of readings.

The joy of Beckett's plays lies in their unsettling nature and the overall air of ambiguity that pervades them. Works such as 'Waiting for Godot', 'Endgame' and 'Act Without Words 1' (to name just a few) possess just the right level of strange comprehensibility.

The problem, in my opinion, is that some of Beckett's plays cross the line and devolve into a garbled mess. As a result, not everything in this collection is deserving of five stars. In fact, some of it is truly terrible.

However, the high-quality works more than compensate for the experimental failures. Out of the thirty-two scripts, there is a great deal that is worth reading. Beckett's unique vision and innovative approach to drama shine through in many of these plays, making them a fascinating and rewarding exploration of the human condition.

Despite the flaws, the collection as a whole offers valuable insights into the mind of one of the most influential playwrights of the 20th century.

I dedicated my graduate studies to Beckett. Despite being widely regarded as a rather depressing author, his understanding and perception of the human condition are truly profound.

Beckett's works often explore themes such as isolation, futility, and the absurdity of life. However, within these seemingly bleak portrayals, there lies a wealth of wisdom and truth about the human experience.

By delving into his writings, one can gain a deeper understanding of the complex and often contradictory nature of being human. His unique style and use of language add an extra layer of depth and richness to his works.

I would highly recommend taking the time to engage with Beckett's literature. It may not be an easy read, but the rewards are well worth the effort. You may find that his insights into the human condition resonate with you on a profound level and offer a new perspective on life.

Maledetto sia il giorno in cui notai che per soli tre euro in più potevo avere non solo Aspettando Godot, ma anche alcune altre opere di Samuel Beckett.

It has been five months since I had this comment in my head, but I said to myself: "Go ahead, don't let it go, surely there will be something good and you will give it at least three stars." Instead, no.

The sad truth is that Beckett's works only make sense if they are contextualized. Especially the last ones in the collection. If the first ones (Aspettando Godot, Finale di partita, Tutti quelli che cadono) have something concrete in them to which the reader can cling (dialogues, settings, characters), the others are random words, plays of light, infinite monologues, repetitive gestures, pauses. In short: nothing.

Certainly it has more of an effect on stage. At the end of the reading, apart from a very distant "how beautiful" for Aspettando Godot, there is only the feeling of having taken a great weight off; with all that the last hundred pages I read in a hurry, without stopping on any possible subtexts (but there won't be any, and if there were they would be in the whole, not in the single parts of the dialogue), for the pure pleasure of getting to the end.

My Edition: Einaudi 1968, Hardcover

This particular edition, published by Einaudi in 1968, is a hardcover copy. It holds a certain charm and significance. The year 1968 was a time of great change and upheaval in the world, and this edition may have captured some of that essence. The hardcover binding gives it a sense of durability and permanence, making it a valuable addition to any collection. It could have been a much sought-after item when it was first released, perhaps attracting the attention of avid readers and collectors alike. Over the years, it has likely passed through many hands, each person leaving their own mark on it. Whether it was read and cherished, or simply stored away, this edition of Einaudi 1968, hardcover, has a story to tell.

Samuel Beckett is a renowned playwright with a plethora of works that have left a significant impact on the world of theatre.

\\n  Waiting for Godot\\n
rating: tbd/5

This play is perhaps one of his most famous, exploring themes of waiting, meaninglessness, and the human condition.

\\n  Endgame\\n
rating: tbd/5

It presents a post-apocalyptic world where the characters are trapped in a cycle of despair.

\\n  Happy Days\\n
rating: tbd/5

Despite its title, this play delves into the complex emotions and struggles of its protagonist.

And the list goes on with many other works such as \\n  All That Fall\\n
rating: tbd/5

\\n  Act Without Words I\\n
rating: tbd/5

\\n  Act Without Words II\\n
rating: tbd/5

Each of these plays offers a unique perspective and challenges the观众's perception of theatre and life itself.

The ratings for these plays are yet to be determined, but it is certain that they all have the potential to be masterpieces in their own right.

Beckett's works continue to be studied, performed, and admired around the world, leaving a lasting legacy in the history of theatre.

Closing with a - [brief laugh] - yelp to Providence.

This statement seems to convey a sense of finality and perhaps a touch of irony. The use of the brief laugh within brackets might suggest a hint of amusement or a sardonic tone. It's as if the person is making a light-hearted yet somewhat desperate appeal to Providence.

The yelp could imply a sudden outburst or a cry for help. It might be that the individual has reached a point where they feel they have no other recourse but to turn to a higher power.

Overall, this sentence leaves the reader with a sense of mystery and curiosity. What led to this closing moment? What was the situation that prompted this unique combination of a laugh and a yelp? It invites further exploration and interpretation.

As I penned in my extremely concise review of Beckett's magnificent play Endgame,

I simply stated: no more words - just read the plays!

Beckett is an essential modern master whose works have had a profound impact on the world of theater and literature.

His unique style, characterized by minimalist language, absurd situations, and profound philosophical themes, challenges the audience's perception and forces them to engage with the text on a deeper level.

Endgame, in particular, is a tour de force that explores the human condition, the meaning of life, and the inevitability of death.

By reducing the dialogue and action to the bare essentials, Beckett creates a sense of tension and claustrophobia that is both captivating and thought-provoking.

Reading his plays is not only a literary experience but also a journey of self-discovery and enlightenment.

He is a master. His plays are like precious gems that sparkle with unique charm and profound meaning. Among all his works, "Endgame" is my favorite play of his.

"Endgame" presents a complex and thought-provoking world. The characters in the play are vividly portrayed, each with their own distinct personalities and inner struggles. The plot unfolds in a mysterious and captivating way, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats from beginning to end.

The language used in "Endgame" is also remarkable. It is rich in imagery, symbolism, and metaphor, adding depth and layers to the story. The dialogue between the characters is sharp and witty, revealing their true nature and emotions.

Overall, "Endgame" is a masterpiece that showcases the master's incredible talent and creativity. It is a play that not only entertains but also makes us think about the human condition, the meaning of life, and the nature of existence. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves great theater.