Biblical References in Texts For Nothing

Finally, a text I can understand that was written by the Samuel Beckett! I understood the references to all of his other works and of giving up and of dying, but most importantly, I understood the Biblical references throughout Texts For Nothing.

One of the bluntest allusions is to Jesus and his time spent in the desert. Satan tempts Jesus to jump off a cliff and prove he is the son of God by surviving. Jesus refuses, quoting the Bible that no one shall test the Lord.

“I tried throwing me off a cliff, collapsing in the street in the midst of mortals, that led nowhere, I gave up. Take the road again that cast me up here, then retrace it, or follow it on, wise advise. That’s so that I’ll never stir again, dribble on here till time is done, murmuring every ten centuries, It’s not me, it’s not true, it’s not me, I’m far” (303).

Here Beckett takes the Biblical story and rewrites it to state the ridiculousness of religion. Beckett also seems to question where God is, because “murmuring every ten centuries” is not much of a presence for an all-powerful ruler.

Beckett references Jesus bluntly a second time in “9.” He retells the story of how Jesus died and rose again because his tomb stone was rolled away and his body had vanished.

“Yes, I’d have a mother, I’d have a tomb, I wouldn’t have come out of here, here are my tomb and mother, it’s all here this evening, I’m dead and getting born, without having ended, helpless to begin, that’s my life” (325).

When Beckett states, “I wouldn’t have come out of here,” he is reminiscing on the absurdity of being born from a virgin and leaving your tomb as a live man.

I really enjoyed reading Texts For Nothing, and I think because I seem to understand some of it, I will change my paper topic and write on this interesting work.

Incessant Babble

Winnie contradicts herself throughout Happy Days, but the one instance of Winnie’s incessant contradictions that struck me as most odd was her assurance of silence to Willie.

Winnie promises quiet after Willie entertains her request of repetition. Winnie keeps bothering Willie to echo what she previously stated, and Willie repeats only the first half of the statement.

WINNIE: … Bless you Willie I do appreciate your goodness I know what an effort it costs you, now you may relax I shall not trouble you again unless I am obliged to, by that I mean unless I come to the end of my own resources which is most unlikely, just to know in theory you can hear me even though in fact you don’t is all I need, just to feel you there within earshot and conceivably on the qui vive is all I ask, … (281).

All I Ask of You -Skrillex

Winnie claims she will leave Willie alone, but while informing him of her future silence, she babbles on to him.

In fact, Winnie continues to assail Willie’s ears with her constant dribble as she swears a second time that he will enjoy some peaceful relaxation.

WINNIE: … And you have done more than your bit already, for the time being, just lie back now and relax, I shall not trouble you again unless I am compelled to, just to know you are there within hearing and conceivably on the semi-alert is…er…paradise enow (284).

Winnie's in Paradise?

Nope.

Winnie obviously comes “to the end of her resources” and is “compelled to” talk to Willie because she continues to do so throughout the remainder of the play.

Winnie has won me over, though, with her positive attitude. She would settle with knowing Willie is present instead of listening to all she has to say. The fact that this request is “all I ask” forces me to adore Winnie and her unique situation.

 

Oh, Krapp!

Krapp’s Last Tape amazes me as we continue to discuss it. The play is relatively short, yet the performance we watched was fifty eight minutes long. Because the reading is short, I troubled over what to blog about, but our exercise on Wednesday helped me.

The first thing that grabbed my attention was how Krapp’s name resembles the English word for shit, or crap. I believe that Beckett did this on purpose, especially when the tape monologues about how the light allows the darkness to accentuate Krapp.

The new light above my table is a great improvement. With all this darkness round me I feel less alone. [Pause.] In a way. [Pause.] I love to get up and move about in it, then back here to [hesitates]…me. [Pause.] Krapp (219).

Because Krapp already names himself in the previous sentence as “me,” so his name at the end sounds exactly like he is saying “crap.” For example: “I love to get up and move about in it, then back here to…me. Oh, crap.” His name at the end remains unnecessary and resembles exasperation as if he was cursing.

An "Oh, Crap! Moment

Beckett writes astonishingly because of his nouns and verbs. In the above excerpt, the strong sentences are “I feel” and “I love.” In class, we practiced this exercise of strong noun-verb sentences, and mine are not quite as sophisticated as everyone else’s in the class, but here they are.

            The floor boards surrender to Krapp’s feet.

            The rain falls in the background of the darkness.

            The desk, chair, spool, and box reflect the age of the old man.

            The memory of her causes him to cry tears of burning fire.

            He slips on the banana peel, curses, then drinks alcohol.

            He bitches about the bitch he once screwed with the moving earth, touching her thighs,

drinking to remember, and drinking to forget.