The Poetic Transcedence Of Existential Experinece

Samuel Beckett is one of the greatest writers in the 20th century, whose dramatic creation has an enormous influence on the western literature in the second half of the century. On the one hand, he inherits the basic elements of classical drama. On the other hand, with great initiative and enthusiasm, he develops a unique poetic drama by pursuing a unity of form and content, rejecting traditional and narrow sense of drama aesthetics, to represent the opposite of beauty. In 1969, Beckett was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature "for his writing, which—in new forms for the novel and drama—in the destitution of modern man acquires its elevation". With the aid of his keen sensibility towards life, his deep insight into reality as well as his extraordinary artistic imagination and innovation, Beckett conveys his life experience of and his insight into human nature to a large number of readers and audiences, triggering a close query and consideration on human existence and the meaning of life.Based on Beckett's life experience, together with a close reading of his major plays, the thesis traces the historical and cultural origin of Beckett's drama, trying to illustrate its unique humanistic care and aesthetic quality. A comprehensive examination is also done into the dual characteristics of Beckett's being vanguard and classic all at once from the perspective of traditional and modern aesthetics so as to define the decisive role Samuel Beckett plays in the transition of western drama from modernism to post-modernism. This will be beneficial to the further development of drama in the 21st century. The thesis will try to avoid the conceptualized and transcendental interpretation of Beckett's plays. Instead, by means of historical, comparative, logical and poetic analysis of the vast original materials, the thesis will make a systematic combing of Beckett's life and creation in order to better understand his unique position in the history of literature and contemporary culture.Beckett lives an eventful life. He was born in Ireland from which he gets the earliest wisdom for writing. The colonial history of Ireland and the memory of wars become part of his sub-consciousness, which in turn scatters in his works. From his life experience. Beckett obtains an integrated comprehension of the relationship between self and others, man and society, man and nature, etc., which is reflected in his writing. In this way, the interaction between the writer, the times and creation is completed. The humanistic care of Beckett's plays shows his courage to face existence and to reflect on the worsened situation of human beings, which helps him surpass reality and establish a deeper connection between his surroundings and man's ultimate destiny.For Beckett, writing plays is an artistic attempt to escape existential dilemma and accomplish self-transcendence. Confronted with the literary (dramatic) dilemma in the mid-20th century, Beckett creatively introduces painting and music into modern drama. By deconstructing traditional drama, he invents the "no-word" literature, opening a new world for drama. Beckett's drama dissolves the classic tragic heroes to explore the vigorous life of arts in the rift between existence and death.Beckett's life and writing career is the very embodiment of the spirit of drama, which involves the faithful appreciation of the contemporary era, the earnest experience of life and existence, the ability to transcend conventions and present the mental state and values of modern man. The history of drama has revealed that whenever the development of drama slows down, a new aesthetic pattern will arise. Embracing the moral mission of a humanist, Beckett achieves a perfect combination of life and creation.Nowadays, Beckett's life wisdom and artistic achievements are still shining. As a successful cultural explorer, Beckett has never given up his passion for creation, his way of independent thinking and his persevering attitude to life even if the world is full of changes and uncertainties. He devotes himself to establishing a new set of dramatic discourse system. His plays reveal that man's destiny consists of two aspects which are conflicting and harmonious as well. On the one hand, life is meaning, value and exploration; on the other hand, life is nothingness and absurdity. In that specific era, Beckett keenly experiences nothingness and absurdity. In the process of experiencing and discovering, Beckett transcends existential destiny by means of drama. This is the eternal significance of Beckett and his works to the world.