I am somewhat tempted, at the risk of being highly pretentious, to write a Beckett-style review of this Beckett compendium. Fortunately, I'm not sure I really have the knack, thus sparing me from the absurdity.

I have given this two stars. I'm not sure why because I absolutely love Beckett, despite being at complete right angles to his philosophy. It could be that. Or it could be that, like modern art, one could point at it and say, "A three-year-old could have done that!" Which is sometimes true. But not generally.

Beckett's work is nihilism. It is a statement of nothing; I would say an "incarnation" or "apotheosis" of nothing, but that would be a contradiction. Don't try to read a deep meaning into Beckett's plays, because you won't find any. The reason is quite simple. There isn't any. Beckett isn't poking fun at those who think there is, as that would be to say something. I would say this is the "whole point", but there isn't any point for it to be the whole of.

However, all this is nonsense, because there is actually a lot going on. There is darkness, confusion, pain, power, cruelty, and loss. There are hints of a half-remembered past flitting away as the horror of the present presses forward into the dimness of the future, all to be consumed by the cruel tyrant of... nothing.

This is the situation in which, he claims, we all live. This is all that we have, and that "all" is nothing. We all live on that stage, in whatever absurd and dismal situation, watched by the confused who cannot see themselves in the playwright's mirror, because all they have seen hitherto is a distortion. Or perhaps they are surprised that all they can see in that mirror is nothing.

Don't go calling this, or any part of it, a masterpiece. A masterpiece is something; it is an achievement, and to call it so would give it a false meaning, as if you or your opinions were more than nothing. Don't call it genius or witty. Just call it, no more a waste of time than any of our other diversions, when it will all come to nothing.

Depressed yet? Oh, no. You wait until you start reading it...

A good way to understand that Beckett is not only Godot. In fact, above all, he is not Godot (a work that has its merits, undoubtedly). The true masterpieces of this collection are others, starting from the excellent "Endgame", going through "All That Fall", "Happy Days" and the last text of the collection, "Rockaby". These in particular will be the reasons why I will remember this collection, truly symbols - and of great strength - of what humanity has become in the last decades. Beckett presents a dehumanized, fragmented humanity, in which every man is an island unto himself, not listening or seeing those beside him. And this is all the stronger when dealing with people who are, in theory, dear (see, for example, Mrs. Rooney - who is actually much more human than him, in her own way - and her husband). There are people who speak because they can do nothing else, and people who listen or pretend to. And people, mostly passers-by, who judge. I found the Winnie of "Happy Days" moving and the desperate way in which she tries to find "something beautiful" in each of her monotonous days, without believing it. Hope is constantly crumbling. What remain are the memories, those few beautiful memories (Nagg and Nell, Krapp, the protagonist of "That Time"), which fade, however, with the passage of time and in comparison with the present, so inhuman and gray. And there is the terror, that of Hamm in feeling that there is a beetle and that "from that, humanity could be reconstituted". There is a deep mistrust, an equally deep solitude. Beckett's are ghosts of people, fragments of people.

I don't give the fifth star for only one reason: these texts were designed for a theatrical or, in any case, radio broadcast experience, and reading them only is like perceiving only a third of them.

That passed the time.

(It would have passed in any case.)

Yes, but not so rapidly.

Time seems to have its own rhythm, and sometimes we engage in activities just to make it pass.

Whether it's reading a book, watching a movie, or having a conversation, these things can help us fill the void and make the minutes and hours go by.

However, even without these distractions, time would still pass.

It's an inevitable force that marches on regardless of what we do.

The difference is that when we're actively engaged in something, time seems to pass more quickly.

We're so focused on the task at hand that we don't notice the minutes ticking away.

On the other hand, when we're bored or waiting for something, time can seem to drag on forever.

So, while passing the time may seem like a simple thing, it can have a significant impact on our perception of time itself.

I find Endgame, Waiting for Godot, and All That Fall laugh-out-loud funny, although I don't know why. These plays seem to have a certain charm that makes me burst into laughter. Maybe it's the absurdity of the situations, the strange characters, or the unexpected twists and turns in the plots. Each play presents a unique world that is both familiar and foreign. In Endgame, the characters are trapped in a small room, waiting for something to happen. Their conversations and actions are both hilarious and tragic. In Waiting for Godot, two men wait for a mysterious figure who never arrives. Their banter and bickering are comical, yet there is a sense of emptiness and longing beneath the surface. And in All That Fall, a group of people gather at a railway station, waiting for a train. The characters' idiosyncrasies and misunderstandings lead to some truly funny moments.

In good time, it finally emerged. This is a compilation of all the dramaturgy of Samuel Beckett, an intelligent, humorous, and somewhat disturbing author.

Samuel Beckett's works are known for their unique style and profound themes. His plays often explore the human condition, the meaning of life, and the nature of existence. Through his use of minimalist language and absurd situations, he challenges the audience to think deeply and question their own beliefs.

This compilation brings together all of Beckett's major plays, including "Waiting for Godot," "Endgame," and "Happy Days." It provides a comprehensive overview of his body of work and allows readers to experience the full range of his creative genius. Whether you are a long-time fan of Beckett or new to his works, this compilation is sure to be a fascinating and thought-provoking read.

I can see the perspective from which he is coming, but Beckett is simply boring.

Yes, he is imaginative and interesting, and he was the first to write in the way he did during his time. However, when reading and watching these plays now, I personally don't believe they are canon.

I do appreciate the plays, and I have studied them thoroughly enough to understand that he is skilled in the way he writes to prove a certain point or hint at a theme or moral. But from my point of view, it's just dull.

One star. I read and studied it for university, but I didn't love it.

Maybe others have a different opinion and find great value in Beckett's works, but for me, the lack of excitement and engagement makes it a less than enjoyable experience.

Perhaps it's a matter of personal taste and what one looks for in a play. Some may be drawn to the experimental and avant-garde nature of Beckett's writing, while others, like myself, prefer more traditional and accessible forms of drama.

Nevertheless, I can't deny the significance and influence that Beckett has had on the world of theater. His works have challenged the norms and pushed the boundaries of what is considered possible in playwriting.

But despite all that, when it comes to my own enjoyment and appreciation, Beckett's plays just don't do it for me.

I'll admit, this is more of a 3.5 stars kind of book.

There is an abundance of content within its pages, and it varies significantly. Some of it is obviously genius, such as 'Godot', 'Endgame', and 'All That Fall'. These works are masterpieces that showcase Beckett's unique talent.

On the other hand, there are also some pieces that are somewhat lacklustre, like 'Roughs for Theatre' and 'Ghost Trio'.

The full-length stage plays are great, offering a captivating and immersive experience. The radio plays are stellar as well, and usually, they are much easier to read.

However, the rest of the content is pretty mixed. The film scripts and the works that are essentially a set of instructions can be a bit hit or miss.

There are some pieces that go on for five or six pages but don't seem to have much substance other than the beginnings of an idea. In contrast, there are others that are under four pages but feel completely whole.

All in all, like any writer, Beckett's total body of work is of varying quality. But most of it is definitely worth reading. Even the dross serves to make the diamonds shine even brighter.

There is so little one can say, one says it all. All one can. And no truth in it anywhere.

– Samuel Beckett

Many nights, I have dreamt of my own death. But just before dying, we open our eyes and save ourselves from death. This is the cunning of being human. But that one moment when we cross the distance between death and life – that moment is filled with a deafening silence. Every time. Where words have always been against what is being said. In that one moment, there is the anticipation of certain death, but death does not come. And then immediately we feel our heartbeat and happily lock that one moment in the box of past memories.

In many private moments of private nights, we remember that distance that remained within our breaths between the dream of death and the feeling of life. And then we ask – what does all this mean? Where are we all going?

So I read Samuel Beckett. I mean the book of all his plays – Samuel Beckett’s Complete Dramatic Works. For those who don’t know who Samuel Beckett is, they should read the post on Waiting For Godot (it’s good!).

Waiting For Godot | Play | Game of forever and always

So all of Samuel Beckett’s plays. Samuel Beckett received the Nobel Prize in 1961 for writing something in drama and literature that revolutionized existentialism and absurd writing. Samuel Beckett is one of the most successful and famous writers of the theater of the absurd. (Those who should definitely check out the terms Absurdism and Existentialism on Wikipedia and also Albert Camus’ philosophy from there.. it’s a bit different!!)

So now what is written at the top about the distance between death and life – that is the essence of each of his plays. In each play, we feel that we are close to death, around it, but not quite reaching death. Every character is a part of a game that has been going on for many years, in which the hope that death will come one day does not allow us to die, and all relationships in that game have become just voices. To the extent that many times we have become voices for ourselves. But death does not come.

The plays after Waiting For Godot gradually moved away from words and remained only on the visual. Samuel Beckett said in his later years that all his words seemed like lies to him, so he wrote an entire play without a single word. And it is very beautiful.

The writing is so beautiful that it seems to the character that at some moment we are that character. Each play talks about the game that we are seeing and living around us, for centuries, which has no meaning, and just before touching that point where we can find out if anything has any meaning, we turn away.

We have asked ourselves and then others many times what the words “what” and “where” mean. Either we have received a half-finished answer or we have been called crazy and we have punished that and gone to others with the same question. There is a play about this.

Words fail, there are times when even they fail.

Samuel Beckett

When the tune of life gets tired and goes to sleep while singing, a man in the form of our own image comes in our dreams (based on a sentence from the human code) who gently strokes our head and then leaves. There is a play about this.

We run away from ourselves and go far away. And we tell ourselves a story that a man comes to us every day and tells us a story. The fear is that one day the story will end and then that man will also leave and then we will be alone. There is a play about this.

All our relationships remain in our minds as voices. We have strangled many relationships in our minds. But some voice always remains. What if that last voice is killed? This question has been asked many times. And there is also a play about this.

We know that death will cover us like dust one day, but we live every day with the hope that tomorrow there will be happiness. There is a play about this.

And you, she says, what’s the idea of you, she says, what are you meant to mean?

All the characters in all the plays are struggling with words. They want to reach the meaning, but the words push them into the darkness. So what remains? That is shown in Beckett’s plays. Something that will go very deep.

We have often hidden our eyes the most, run away the most so that no one can see. We have denied the mirror in the room, God, every thing that can make us feel that someone is watching. We have torn the photos of the past so that there is no past. We are, only we in this moment and no one is watching us. And we have gone to sleep with our eyes closed to run away from ourselves. But every time we open our eyes, we know that we are the ones who see ourselves. Our being is to see ourselves – we cannot escape from this game.

So if you want to read something really different and a little deeper, then read Samuel Beckett’s plays. And except for Waiting For Godot, all the other plays are not more than 3 or 4 pages. So if you think that each play is very big, then you are wrong – one play is only 35 seconds long. The rest are all like this, 5 to 10 minutes long. But yes, you have to read at least twice, one word at a time because in Beckett’s writing you will find out – words deceive… Pay more attention to the voice.

Updated Review of Waiting for Godot (2021-07-09)
After re-reading this play, my opinion has almost undergone a 180-degree change. I now truly see its greatness.

I think this change has been gradual. Frankly, my original review was rather snarky. Recently, I read a book about French avant-garde playwrights, including Jarry, Cocteau, Apollinaire, and others. The only major French avant-garde play not included was Waiting for Godot, so I decided to read it as well.

Seen from the perspective (and tradition) of those writers, Beckett's play is indeed a masterpiece. It stands tall above those works. And upon re-reading, I continued to discover new depths, meanings, and confluences. Although it may not be the greatest play of the 20th century and has led to countless bad imitations, it offers a unique and profound perspective on the human condition.

I don't think the points I made in my original review were wrong, but I wasn't looking at the play as a whole through the right lens.

The play is profound in its nihilism, humorous in its sorrow, and poetic in its despair.


My Original Review (2011-06-11)

Unlike most people, I take Beckett at his word. The play is not an allegory for anything. They are not waiting for God, salvation, Irish freedom, the Id, it's not an allegory for the Cold War, Jungian personalities, or Christian repentance, nor is it homoerotic, autobiographical, or existential.

The play is essentially a nihilistic work that signifies nothing other than its own nihilistic point of view. It's that simple. It is neither moving, funny, hopeful, nor dramatic. It is nihilistic. It promises nothing and delivers nothing. It takes no stand, preferring neither good nor evil. Never before has nihilism been given such a stark platform as in this play, and I suppose that is the source of its power.

Many critics cite the play's humor and poetry, but by any standard definition of humor or poetry, I can hardly find them. It does include degradation, hopelessness, and violence, if that's any consolation. To me, it is a work of a particular time and place that is otherwise unremarkable. (If you want nihilism presented in a more compelling and artistic manner, see King Lear or Hamlet.)

Catastrophe *** -- I've changed my mind about Waiting for Godot, but the rest of Beckett's plays seem overly earnest in their attempt to be "artistic" or avant-garde. This is mildly interesting, and I suppose if you look at it really hard, it has some kind of comment about authoritarianism. (2021-07)

***

I just listened to the old Caedmon LP recording featuring E. G. Marshall and Bert Lahr, and it is fantastic. Very, very good. You can hear it here: https://archive.org/details/lp_waitin... (09/21)

I have only read 'Waiting for Godot' and could not finish 'Endgame'. However, I have to say that Godot is a truly unique thing, much like a fable.

The more you think about it, the more you understand its profound meaning. It seems to hold a certain mystery and charm that keeps drawing you in.

I firmly believe that it should be regarded as a reference book for everyone, just as the Bible is for some people.

It has the power to启迪 our thoughts, make us reflect on life, and perhaps even find some sort of truth or wisdom within its pages.

Although I haven't completed all of Beckett's works, 'Waiting for Godot' has already left a deep impression on me, and I look forward to exploring more of his literary world in the future.

The extreme dissemination of modernism, beyond which there is nothing more. Modernism is a revolutionary artistic and literary movement that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It challenged the traditional norms and values of art and literature, and sought to create new forms and expressions that reflected the changing times. The extreme dissemination of modernism means that it has spread to every corner of the artistic and literary world, and has had a profound impact on almost every aspect of our lives. However, some people believe that modernism has gone too far, and that it has lost touch with the real world and the needs of the people. They argue that we should return to a more traditional and conservative approach to art and literature. But whether we like it or not, modernism is here to stay, and we must learn to live with it and adapt to its challenges.

My opinion here is that the link https://youtu.be/rV32YDPua1E might lead to some interesting content.

Perhaps it could be a video that offers valuable insights, entertainment, or educational information.

It's always exciting to explore new links and see what they have to offer.

However, it's also important to be cautious when clicking on links from unknown sources.

One should ensure that the website is legitimate and safe to visit.

Overall, while I'm curious about what the link might lead to, I'll approach it with a degree of caution.