Endgame By Samuel Beckett Essay - 1144 Words

The mood and attitude of Samuel Beckett’s 1957 play, Endgame, are reflective of the year of its conception. The history that reflects directly on the play itself is worth sole attention. In that year, the world was a mixed rush of Cold War fear, existential reason, and race to accomplishment (Garraty 307). Countries either held a highlighted concern with present wartime/possibility of war, or involvement with the then sprouting movement of Existentialism. The then â€Å"absurdist theater† reflected the values and concerns of the modern society (Petty). The accomplishments of man, such as the Soviet launching of both Sputnik satellites, sparked international competition. 1957 was not a year of unification and worldly brotherhood, it was a time†¦show more content†¦In October, they successfully launched Sputnik I, the world’s first artificial satellite (Stiefel 157). As a follow up achievement, in November Sputnik II was launched, carrying a dog-named â₠¬Å"Laika† to study adaptation to space. A heavy news highlight, which could be seen as integrated meaning into the macabre situations of the characters in the play, was that Laika did not survive the â€Å"accomplishment† of space travel (Cold War). Soviet technological know-how introduced new international competition in space exploration and missile capability. The Soviet Premier, Nikita Khruschev, had emerged from the post-Stalin interregnum as the new leader, and was eager to fan the flames of American/Soviet relations. Although the missile that launched both Sputnik satellites was too primitive for military deployment, Kruschev claimed that â€Å"long-range missiles were rolling off the assembly line like sausages†, a lie that allowed US President Eisenhower’s opponents to perceive a â€Å"missile gap† (Garraty 329-332). Kruschev tried to gain control over the â€Å"gap† in a series of crises, but his motives proved faulty and in turn pr ovoked reactions in China, the United States, and Europe which hurt his own political support in the Soviet Union (Stiefel 160). Elsewhere in the world, other nations experienced tumultuous inter-relational struggles. In Arab countries, political andShow MoreRelatedEndgame by Samuel Beckett824 Words   |  4 Pages Beckett is the founder of exploring the meaning 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 predicamentRead MoreSamuel Beckett s Waiting For Godot, Endgame, And Not I2331 Words   |  10 Pagesmeaning 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 attributed to inactionRead MoreSamuel Beckett : Theatre Of The Absurd And Beckett s Use Of The Literary Concept1071 Words   |  5 PagesSamuel Beckett: Theatre of the Absurd and Beckett’s Use of the Literary Concept Samuel Beckett’s works revolve around human despair and surviving in hopeless situations. His very first critical essay was Finnegans Wake. 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