Philosophical influences on the work of Samuel Beckett

Abstract

Proust stands at the very outset of Samuel Beckett's literary career and inevitably throws light on his future work. Beckett's own philosophy is evident in this critical monograph and a close study of it reveals the first statement of his :future philosophical preoccupations. It also reveals why his endeavours have since been focussed on a limited area of experience. Most Beckett critics have noticed the importance of Proust but they have made little use of it in their criticism. For a start. it demands some familiarity with Proust himself. It has been asserted that Beckett's Proust is more Beckett than Proust - just as Gide's Dostoievsky is more Gide than Dosto1evaky.l The statement, however, has never been corroborated through a close study of Proust and Beckett's study has never been adequately compared with general Proustian criticism. Anybody already familiar with Proust is bound to think that Beokett's study is very limited in scope.