Customer Reviews
The Absurd - By: Falconwriter, 08 Aug 2008 
This is an interesting play. There is a contrast between dark & light. A battling conversation, which gives a sense of time passing by. Each part consist's a metaphor of some kind, including the characters all which represents the bigger picture.
The play also toys with death.
It reflects Beckett's previous marriage to some extent & demonstrates Beckett's dark humour. Though no doubt illustrates his genuis mind.
He is one of the few writers who wanted full control of his play & even revoked his play temporarily to make changes.
Some readers may find this strange ...perhaps even weird but read again & you realise never judge the book by its cover ....in this case never judge the play by its words. It is a deep book, philosophical even.
Fantastic - Beckett was a genious! - By: , 20 Mar 2002 
This is a master piece. Beckett's characters & settings may seem somewhat absurd to those who do not grasp the underlying message of the play, but when fully understood, Beckett's true meaning is frightening. His characters appear to bein a hopeless state of paralysis, both physically & mentally & their constant references to the 'end' which is drawing near is utterly depressing. Hamm & Clov's hopeless relationship is filled with disrespect, yet neither can survive without the other, while Nell's deathin her ash can is barely acknowledged by anyone other than Nagg. Their monotonous & never ending wait for death is a dreary yet eye opening insight of the world, which forces us to reasess our own existence. Brilliant!
Beckett's masterpiece, a suberb drama of fearful intensity. - By: , 12 Mar 2001 'Old endgame lost of old, play & lose & have done with losing.....'
So says Hamm, patriach & master of the stage on which the play is set. Beckett originally wrote the piecein French (Entitled 'Fin de Partie')in 1957 shortly after the death of his brother & it was first produced at the Royal Court Theatre on 3rd April 1957. The two main protagonists, the blind, crippled Hamm & his lame manservant Clov livein a perpetual state of symbiosis- despite Clov's threats to leave & diein the wilderness beyond the stage & Hamm's threats to starve Clov, neither can live without each other, & they existin a constant see-saw of pathos & hatred, love & hope. Writtenin Beckett's unique style of 'Lessness', the piece explores many themesin Beckett's own domain of contempory existence; our relationships, fears, & struggles against the dark. The play itself is wildly eloquent, the characters managing to attain hights of pathos but also a dark hallucinatory humour, oftenin the same line. As effective on paper as it is on stage, Beckett's Endgame must rank as one of the finest plays ever written, conforming to what may be described as 'modern theatre' but also expanding & exploring the genre at the same time. Beckett is one of the most important & influential writers of the twentieth century, & Endgame is his masterpiece. It is as relevant now as it ever was, & is a must read for anyone with even a passing interestin literature.
