# Tell me what I’m missing about Beckett

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-i-m-missing-about-beckett/975771>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Tags:** theater-stage-dance\
**Created:** [November 30, 2022, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-i-m-missing-about-beckett/975771 "2022-11-30T02:03:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [November 30, 2022, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-i-m-missing-about-beckett/975771/1 "2022-11-30T02:03:09Z")

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I just don’t get Samuel Beckett.

I’ve seen some of his plays, I’ve read about him.

I just don’t get the acclaim.

I walked out of _Endgame_ at the intermission. It was boring.

Why is he so highly revered?

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**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\
**Post date:** [November 30, 2022, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-i-m-missing-about-beckett/975771/2 "2022-11-30T07:50:14Z")

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How do you feel about existentialism in general?

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**Author:** ![Moonrise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonrise/32/14764_2.png) [@Moonrise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonrise)\
**Post date:** [November 30, 2022, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-i-m-missing-about-beckett/975771/3 "2022-11-30T09:20:37Z")

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Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you dearly wished something, anything would happen but got nothing ?

Extrapolate to your whole life. Pointlessness is the point.

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-i-m-missing-about-beckett/975771/4 "2022-12-01T03:51:23Z")

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> [@MrDibble](#):
>
> How do you feel about existentialism in general?

It has never had any relevance to me.

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-i-m-missing-about-beckett/975771/5 "2022-12-01T03:51:36Z")

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> [@Moonrise](#):
>
> Pointlessness is the point.

How sad.

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**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-i-m-missing-about-beckett/975771/6 "2022-12-01T04:12:57Z")

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> [@Moonrise](#):
>
> Pointlessness is the point.

Somebody owes me A LOT of money.

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**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-i-m-missing-about-beckett/975771/7 "2022-12-01T04:35:15Z")

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> [@Northern\_Piper](#):
>
> It has never had any relevance to me.

If that’s how you feel, then Beckett is not for you, basically.

Personally, I find his plays extremely cathartic.

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**Author:** ![Moonrise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonrise/32/14764_2.png) [@Moonrise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonrise)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2022, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-i-m-missing-about-beckett/975771/8 "2022-12-01T08:13:29Z")

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It depends on how you see it. It can be a relief in a way. Just letting go of all illusions.

Besides, not all art has to be happy.