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
- A bare house, present day
- Cast Size
- small
- Licensor
- Concord Theatricals
- 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
Samuel Beckett wrote Endgame in the mid-1950s, following the success of his groundbreaking play Waiting for Godot (1953). Whereas Godot explored anticipation and the search for meaning in an uncertain world, Endgame pushed further into themes of finality, decay, and the inevitability of death. Written originally in French as Fin de partie and later translated into English by Beckett himself, the play reflects his minimalist aesthetic and fascination with stripping theatre down to its
to read the context for Endgame and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Samuel Beckett’s Endgame unfolds in a bare, dimly lit room with two small windows and a sense of decay hanging over everything. The central figure is Hamm, a blind and physically paralyzed man who rules over his confined world from a wheeled chair. His servant, Clov, is able-bodied but stiff, constantly threatening to leave yet never managing to escape Hamm’s dominance. The two are locked in a cycle of dependence: Hamm cannot move without Clov, while Clov seems unable to break free of Hamm’s
to read the plot for Endgame and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
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Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
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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
A dramatic movement emphasizing existentialism and irrationality, often rejecting traditional plot structures.
A genre that combines elements of humor and morbidity, exploring serious themes through satire or irony.
Spoken interaction between characters in a play, used to reveal relationships, advance plot, and convey emotion.
A philosophical movement emphasizing individual existence and responsibility, often reflected in modern theatre.
A system of thought exploring existence, ethics, or knowledge, often influencing theatrical movements like existentialism or realism.
Describes a genre or setting in theatre that explores life after societal collapse, often raising existential themes.
A dramatic movement featuring illogical dialogue, cyclical plots, and existential themes, reflecting the absurdity of human existence.
A genre blending elements of tragedy and comedy, often leaving audiences in emotional or thematic tension.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
THEMES
Dependency and Control
Hamm relies on
to read about the themes, symbols and motifs from Endgame and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Quote Analysis
_“Finished, it’s finished, nearly finished, it must be
to read our analysis of select quotes from Endgame and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Guide Written By:
Cindi Calhoun
Theatre teacher, director, writer, and seamstress