Samuel Beckett and the Theatre of the Witness: Pain in Post-War Francophone Drama

Samuel Beckett's representation of physical pain in his theatre plays after World War II is explored in Samuel Beckett and the Theatre of the Witness, focusing on the affective power of the human body, the doubtful capacity of language, the aesthetic and ethical functioning of the theatre medium, and the vexed question of intersubjective empathy. These plays raise troubling questions about our capacity to comprehend and respond to another being's pain, offering a starkly sceptical, even pessimistic probing of what it is to witness another's suffering.

Format: Hardback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 09 June 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Samuel Beckett and the Theatre of the Witness delves into the profound exploration of Beckett's representation of physical pain within his theatrical plays, unfolding in the long aftermath of World War II. This scholarly inquiry emphasizes the direct relevance of the issues raised by this staging of pain to the central themes of Beckett's artistic oeuvre: the profound affective power of the human body; the questionable efficacy of language as a conduit of communication; the aesthetic and ethical dimensions of the theatre medium; and the intricate and perplexing question of intersubjective empathy. In conjunction with the wartime and post-war plays of fellow Francophone writers such as Albert Camus, Eugène Ionesco, Pablo Picasso, and Marguerite Duras, this study reimagines Beckett's early plays within the framework of le théâtre du témoin, or a theatre of the witness. These plays revolve around the epistemological and ethical complexities of witnessing another's pain, rather than focusing solely on the sufferer's direct personal experience. They raise thought-provoking inquiries about our ability to comprehend and respond to the pain of others, prompting us to acknowledge the profound otherness of another's suffering, even as it encroaches upon our own emotional realm.

Through an interdisciplinary approach that draws upon existing criticism, recorded historical audience responses, theatre and affect theory, and medical understandings of bodily pain, Hannah Simpson makes a compelling argument. She posits that these plays do not present us with a straightforward or easily navigable encounter with physical suffering. Instead, they challenge us to recognize the inherent otherness of another's pain, even as it invades our own affective sphere. In lieu of any comforting transcendence or redemption of endured pain, they offer a starkly sceptical, even pessimistic exploration of the very nature of witnessing another's suffering.

This study sheds light on the profound complexities of human experience, highlighting the limitations of language and the limitations of our understanding. It prompts us to reflect on the ethical responsibilities we hold as witnesses to pain and the ethical implications of our interactions with others. Through its meticulous analysis and thoughtful exploration, Samuel Beckett and the Theatre of the Witness contributes to our understanding of the human condition, offering a profound meditation on the power of art to evoke empathy, challenge assumptions, and provoke introspection.

Weight: 470g
Dimension: 165 x 242 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192863263