Strange Bedfellows Toward a Unified Analysis of Beckett and Shepard
Date of Award
2003
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Humanities
First Advisor
Myhill, Nova
Keywords
Beckett, Samuel, Sheppard, Sam, Absurdism
Area of Concentration
British and American Literature
Abstract
Critics such as Stephen J. Bottoms and Marc Robinson have labeled Sam Shepard as the heir to Samuel Beckett. This claim, however, is somewhat complicated by Shepard's refusal to admit having ever read Beckett. My thesis is first aimed at establishing and solidifying this connection. Both Beckett and Shepard share concern for mankind's search for meaning and solace in a world where religion, the social order, and science have all, in one way or another, proved lacking. Both playwrights agree: man feels isolated and superfluous in this big, silent, universe. Humanity seeks to escape itself, to transcend its individuality and loneliness, and genuinely connect with something larger than itself In their examination of mankind's quest for significance, both playwrights give special consideration to family, time, and myth. These three tropes, the playwrights demonstrate, factor prominently into humankind's search for meaning. All three are paths humans take in the quest to transcend their isolated, mundane, existences. However, it is here that the playwrights part philosophically, and my thesis takes up its second aim. While Beckett considers man's quest for meaning a fool's errand, with no possible reward save self-delusion, Shepard believes that mankind can, in fact, escape from our lonely sense of individuality into something larger and more meaningful. Each chapter of this thesis addresses one of these three paths to enlightenment, examining how each playwrights' characters seek to annihilate their subjective selves in their quest for meaning. In keeping with the playwrights' basic philosophical differences, this thesis also examines why a given character is able, or unable, to find meaning in the world provided by his/her respective playwright.
Recommended Citation
Hughes, Brian, "Strange Bedfellows Toward a Unified Analysis of Beckett and Shepard" (2003). Theses & ETDs. 3249.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/3249
Rights
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