Overview
Synopsis
In a bleak house by the sea, blind and paralyzed Hamm torments his servant Clov, and his parents, Nagg and Nell. Hamm cannot stand up, while Clov cannot sit down. Nagg and Nell, who are legless and live in dustbins, cannot do either. Despite verbal abuse from Hamm, Clov is dedicated to the small family, and knows that they cannot exist without him. At the same time, Hamm realizes that Clov will have no purpose if he doesn’t serve them. Everyone threatens to leave each other, knowing that it will never happen.
Often viewed as the follow-up to Waiting for Godot, Endgame was originally written in French before being translated into English by Beckett himself. Set in a type of post-apocalyptic landscape, Endgame explores the same philosophies and theories of existence--specifically, the absurdity of life and its continuous repetitions without any meaning.
Show Information
- Book
- Samuel Beckett
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 1
- First Produced
- 1957
- Genres
- Drama, Dark Comedy
- Settings
- Simple/No Set, Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- bare house, present day
- Cast Size
- small
- Licensor
- Samuel French
- Ideal For
- one-act, small cast, french, College/University, Community Theatre, Ensemble Cast, Mature Audiences, Mostly Male Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Small Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Late Teen, Young Adult, Elderly Characters
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
An investigation of truth, existence, or morality that uses rational and logical thought
Existing or occurring after a catastrophically destructive disaster or apocalypse.
Drama which abandons conventional dramatic form to portray the futility of human struggle in a senseless world.
A play that includes both comic and tragic elements.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Cindi Calhoun
Theatre teacher, director, writer, and seamstress