Winnie, a middle-aged woman, is the central character of the play, Happy Days. For some unexplained reason, she is buried in a mound. In Act One of the play, Winnie is buried up to her waist. Her partner, Willie, is buried in a hole behind her and speaks only a few words. Winnie whiles away her time cataloging the contents of her bag and peering at the words printed on her toothbrush. The first act of the play conveys a sense of optimism and cheer. It portrays Winnie’s indomitable spirit, to rise above the odds.
A startling development takes place in the second act when we see Winnie buried up to her neck. All she has is her words. Perhaps Beckett wants us to listen to her in a way that Willie never does. In an uninterrupted monologue, Winnie reflects on language and its meaning, the pleasures of repetition, the reassurance of habit, and the desire to be heard. She recalls half-forgotten quotations, traumatic events from childhood, early sexual encounters, and all the while laments on 'how words fail.' The act is symbolic of unreciprocated feelings. Happy Days explores the nature of contemporary marital relationships. It suggests that a lack of communication and unresolved issues lead to stress and strife in a marriage.
The contents of Winnie's bag keep deteriorating and highlight the futility of her optimism. The toothbrush is worn and has few bristles left. The toothpaste and lipstick are about to run out. The medicines are over. The parasol is burnt. The presence of the revolver indicates the inevitability of death and decline.
Beckett chooses to end the play on an ambiguous note. It raises several questions. Does the black tuxedo symbolize an impending funeral, or does it represent a sense of existential frustration? Does Willie use the gun on himself, or is he 'dressed to kill' Winnie? The audience is left to draw their conclusions.
