“Endgame” by Samuel Beckett Essay Example for Free

Endgame by Samuel Beckett EssayFinished, its finished, unspoiltly finished, it must be nearly finished Grain upon grain, one by one, and one day, suddenly, theres a heap, a subaltern heap, the impossible heap. (p. 3) Here the endgame starts. In swindle the endgame is defined as the lay out of the game when only few pieces are left on the board. The same is with the Becketts routine as there are only four people left. The endgame is a series of moves when the game is near the ending and its outcome is decided before the ceremony of the endgame occurs. Samuel Beckett is known to be a chess player and in the play the author compares the endgame with the end of life terminal as death is inevitable as the game always ends. We see that in the play the main characters are enacting repetitive rituals labeled as the part of their endgame. Despite inevitable outcome the main characters are dragging by the final moves making their routines and they are doing whatever it takes to get through the day and to see the next day. The characters learn to get through despite their game is lost.The idea of chess game is put in conformance with movements on the stage. The most vulnerable piece on the board is Hamm who utters Me to play. (p. 18) Hamm is perceived as the queen mole rat and he seems to be the most powerful. Clov is protective character in the centre of the board and Hamm often relies on him. Therefore, Clov is presented as the Queen and he is able to move easily. However, his erratic way of movement seems to be more than suitable to the movement of the Knight. Nell and Nagg are insignificant characters and they are viewed as the Pawns they appear only when the King calls for them. superstar by one the main characters are dying and one by one the chess figures are leaving the board. Nothing is eternal in the world and every game has its ending. The theme of chess play shows cyclical Universe the play ends with a stalemate. The game will be played a ll over and over again.Works CitedAdorno, Theodor W. Trying to Understand Endgame 1961, The New German Critique, no. 26, (Spring-Summer 1982) pp. 119-150. In The Adorno lector ed. Brian OConnor. Blackwell Publishers. 2000. Beckett, Samuel. Endgame and the Act Without Words. USA Groove Press, 1994.