Essay Questions

How does Samuel Beckett use the spotlight to appeal to the sense of sight?

There is no definite chatty discourse inside the urns between characters because they are enthusiastic to speak their inner monologues as people do. The spotlight is used to signal the time each character should speak and stop. The spotlight moves from one face to the other and each character knows exactly when to voice his expressions. Speaking is done in impassive monotones. When the spotlight moves away, the character stops speaking. This technique is repeated systematically to alert each character on when to converse. Through the spotlight, the reader can see and visualize how the characters inside the urns are conversing.

Samuel Beckett metaphorically uses the phrase “smelling the rat.” Briefly explain.

There is suspected adultery in the play in which a woman is deducing that her husband is having a side mistress but she does not have evidence to prove that. Through the dialogue, the reader can see that the man is having an affair but this has not been revealed in the real conversion. Therefore, the woman is in a doubting mood and she needs to get evidence to prove her allegations. The author has used smelling the rat metaphorically to refer to the woman’s suspicion of her husband’s cheating behavior and unfaithfulness.

How does Samuel Beckett use the literary device of simile in his work?

The way of conversing in the entire play is dependent on proper language. It becomes an uphill task for one to understand those who speak out of context. The author says, “Understanding out of context message is like dragging a great roller, on a scorching day.” The reader can understand the impossibility of comprehending inappropriate language during conversation.