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Samuel Beckett And Edward Albee: A Literary Analysis

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The style of a writer is reflected in the words they write, whether that be for passages or plays. Samuel Beckett and Edward Albee are two writers that are widely known for their own unique writing styles; both are famous for their symbolic displays of existentialism that leave audiences either deep in thought or completely dumbstruck. With works such as “Act Without Words” and “Imagination Dead Imagine,” both pieces written by Beckett, they are easily comparable to Albee’s work such as “The Sandbox.” Between these two writers, there are several similarities and differences amongst them that are distinguishable through analysis of these popular pieces. Upon analyzing Beckett’s work in comparison with Albee’s, it’s safe to say that each hold …show more content…

Furthermore, in Albee’s play titled “The Sandbox,” the audience is faced with a similar situation; yet, in contrast to Beckett’s play, the script focuses more on modern realism rather than general realism. The audience observes a mother and father faced with the tedious responsibility of handling their grandmother. They grow tired of her, even though she had put years of nurturing into raising her daughter. The two leave her to die on a beach (“The Sandbox”), and as morning comes, the angel of death arrives with it. The play, although humorous in dialogue, is rather sad overall; both Beckett and Albee left their characters for dead. However, the purpose of Albee’s play differs from Beckett’s because it symbolises the harsh realities of the modern day; for example, more now than ever, it seems that love is only a matter of convenience rather than a genuine feeling and connection between people. Again, this connects to the bleak tone of the previous play and the existential belief in a universe that is both hostile and heartless. Lastly, in “Imagination Dead Imagine” written by Beckett, this theory is further proven within the passage’s complex and confusing …show more content…

Through their symbolic use of realism, they are capable of drawing attention to certain issues relevant to their own lives and what they observe of others. However, what was most common between the two was the present display of hostility directed towards their main character 's. Whether it’s people or the universe itself, they portrayed both as unkind and unforgiving, and although these topics are depressing to address, they are indeed relevant. Those who watch their plays or read their works can agree that even though their writing is mildly confusing,there is always a purpose to the

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