Samuel Beckett “First Love”

Autobiography: Samuel Beckett (1906-1989)

- an author, critic, and playwright, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1969
- wrote in both French and English
- best known for his absurd plays, especially En attendant Godot (1952; Waiting for
Godot)
- born in Dublin
- From 1923 to 1927, he studied Romance languages at Trinity College, Dublin, where
he received his bachelor’s degree. After a brief spell of teaching in Belfast, he became
a reader in English at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris in 1928. There he met the
self-exiled Irish writer James Joyce, the author of the controversial and seminally
modern novel Ulysses and joined his circle.
- He returned to Ireland in 1930 to take up a post as lecturer in French at Trinity
College, but after only four terms he resigned, in December 1931, and embarked upon
a period of restless travel in London, France, Germany, and Italy. In 1937 Beckett
decided to settle in Paris.
- joined an underground resistance group in 1941
- In 1945 he returned to Ireland but volunteered for the Irish Red Cross and went back
to France as an interpreter in a military hospital in Saint-Lô, Normandy. In the winter
of 1945, he finally returned to Paris and was awarded an award for his resistance
work.
- He wrote essays, novels, poetry, short stories and plays, which did not see the light of
the day till 1951, when first of his works, Molloy, was published.
- Beckett continued writing, but more slowly than in the immediate postwar years, plays
for the stage and radio and a number of prose works.
- He completely avoided all personal publicity, of appearances on radio or television,
and of all journalistic interviews. When, in 1969, he received the Nobel Prize for
Literature, he accepted the award but declined the trip to Stockholm to avoid the
public speech at the ceremonies.

Literary work: First Love

- is a short story written in 1946, however was published much later, first originally in
French language in 1970 and then three years later in 1973 translated and published in
English
- ‘First love’ was written during the period of the Second World War. Beckett is said to
have spent it in war-torn France rather than in neutral Ireland.
- There is no doubt that the writing and publication of First Love caused Beckett stress
and anxiety to a considerable level. Amongst the reasons critics cite for its delayed
translation and publication is the presence of too much “autobiographical” elements
and facts. First Love depicts and portrays a specific woman who apparently was in a
relationship with Beckett in 1934. Some critics suggest that the female character is

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 quite similar to a Dublin prostitute to whose child Beckett provided some financial
support.
- There might be parallels between Samuel Beckett's life and this short story "First
Love," as authors often draw from their own experiences when writing stories. Beckett
himself experienced moments of existential questioning and loneliness, which are
central subject matters in the story. However, it's essential to remember that fiction is
not a direct reflection of an author's life. While elements of an author's experiences
may influence their work, stories like "First Love" are also products of imagination
and creative exploration.

Analysis of literary work: Summary

First Love is a short narrative, told in the first person where the narrator is directly talking to
us, written in the form of a dramatic monologue. The narrator who is mentally challenged
talks about his daily visits to his father’s grave. The term “marriage” is first mentioned here
and we will talk more about it at the end. (Screen 1) He eerily talks of his fondness for
hanging around in graveyards, and his liking for the smell of the dead. (Screen 2) It was said
that Beckett enjoyed teasing the social norms, and this is quite evident in the text as the
narrator tells us of his liking towards farts and arses.

The other members of his father’s household never liked him, or barely tolerated him. They
kicked him out when his father died. (Screen 3) The narrator tells us of his discovery on a
park bench where he sleeps for following nights and is disturbed by a prostitute who later in
the story takes him in. (Screen 4) Another thing we wanted to point out is repetition, which
can be seen in multiple of Beckett’s works. After a few more encounters with Lulu during the
night, the narrator finds shelter in a country barn, (Screen 5) where absurdly writes out Lulu’s
name in cow excrement. It is suggested that he loves her but his love is unrequired. He
thought her name was not fitting for her so he renamed her Anna. (Screen 6)

He returns to the city and allows himself to be taken to her small apartment. He hears Lulu-
Anna having intercourse with clients in the other room. (Screen 7) Lulu-Anna gets pregnant.
She strips and shows him her belly and breasts swelling. (Screen 8) It is not sure the child is
narrator’s, even he himself is not sure. The protagonist realizes he must leave. One night he
hears the baby being born, the screams and the cries. (Screen 9)

He gets dressed quietly, and exits the house, but wherever he goes he still hears the baby
crying. (Screen 10) Now we want to get back to the beginning of the story where the term
marriage first appears, we think the narrator calls the “union” between him and Lulu a
marriage because he somehow feels like it is an actual marriage, even though there is no
indication that it actually is. (Screen 11 & 12)

Historical context:

- Post-war disillusionment: The aftermath of World War II left Europe shattered and
traumatized. Many people experienced a sense of disillusionment, loss, and despair
due to the devastation caused by the war.

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 - Existentialism: Existentialism emerged as a prominent philosophical movement in
Europe during the mid-20th century, emphasizing individual existence, freedom,
choice, and the absurdity of human life. Beckett's exploration of existential themes in
"First Love" reflects the existentialist ethos of the time.
- Psychological impact of war: The psychological trauma inflicted by the war had a
profound effect on individuals and society as a whole. Beckett's portrayal of characters
fighting with isolation, disconnection, and inner chaos in can be seen as a reflection of
the psychological scars left by the war.
- Post-war Europe: "First Love" is set in an unspecified European city, reflecting the
broader post-war atmosphere of uncertainty, displacement, and dislocation. The
novella's urban setting and portrayal of side characters resonate with the socio-
political realities of post-war Europe.

Genre: blends elements of fiction, drama, and philosophical inquiry, making it difficult to
assign to a single genre. However, it is commonly classified as a novella or short story due to
its length and narrative form. = NOVEL

Structure = a linear narrative structure with a chronological progression of events

characterized by its brevity, minimalist prose, nonlinear storytelling and it is divided into two
parts: (short story that is not divided into clear chapters or subsections)
- First Part: features a fragmented monologue delivered by the unnamed protagonist,
where he reflects on his past experiences, including his dysfunctional family life and
failed romantic relationships.
- Second Part: shifts focus to the protagonist's present-day existence as a homeless man.
The narrative becomes more linear as it follows the protagonist's interactions with a
young woman.

Narrator: unnamed protagonist who serves as both the narrator and the central focus of the story
= 1st person – the protagonist is not reliable – more of a dramatic monologue than a story

Setting: is not explicitly stated in terms of a specific location or time period. However, the
novella generally takes place in an urban environment. (the story takes place over several
months, so we don’t know when the story started, we only know that it happens in a city)

Point of view: first-person, the protagonist's reflections and recollections are presented in the
form of a monologue

Style: minimalist, introspective, fragmentation of narrative, non-linear storytelling – no clear

dialogue (the author doesn’t give Lulu her voice, her dialogue is explained from the
protagonist’s perspective)

Tone: its direct (stating all his thoughts), absurd/questioning (expressing thoughts all the time
not knowing if he is right or not)

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 - Melancholic tone (conveys sadness or reflection of the narrator’s past actions – his
experience with death, love, and loss

Subject Matters

Samuel Beckett explores the human condition and the absurdity of existence.

The literary work reflects on meaning of existence, communication and language, and the
passing of time.

Obsession: The protagonist becomes fixated on Lulu, but his obsession does not bring him
fulfillment or happiness. The story explores the destructive nature of obsessive love.

Existential Despair: The protagonist reflects on the meaninglessness of existence and the
futility of human endeavors, leading to a sense of existential despair.

Human Relationships: The story explores the complexities of human relationships, including
love, desire, and the difficulty of truly connecting with others.

The Passage of Time: The narrative shifts between past and present, highlighting the passage
of time and the impact it has on the protagonist's perceptions and experiences.

Love and Romance: The story delves into the protagonist's past experiences with love,
particularly his intense but ultimately unfulfilling relationship with Lulu. It examines the
complexities of romantic relationships and the emotions involved.

Identity and Self-Reflection: The protagonist reflects on his own identity and past
experiences, contemplating the significance of his existence and the choices he has made.

Loneliness and Isolation: The protagonist grapples with feelings of loneliness and isolation,
both in his relationships with others and in his own sense of self. The story explores the
existential implications of these emotions

Existentialism: "First Love" delves into existential themes, including the meaninglessness of
existence and the struggle to find purpose in a seemingly indifferent world.

Themes

The main message of "First Love" is about:

- How love and longing can be both powerful and disappointing.

- Searching for meaning in life can be hard and sometimes leave us feeling lost.
- What it means to be human and how we try to find happiness

➔ You cannot trust anybody.

➔ You never know what someone is going through.
➔ Everyone's family has problems.
➔ Not everyone goes to the cemetery with innocent intentions and to grieve.
➔ A friend in need is a friend indeed.

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Main theme: Bad family relationships often lead to people's psychological problems and
dissatisfaction with life.

Characters

Main characters

The narrator

The narrator in "First Love" is someone who thinks a lot about himself and his past. He often
looks back at his experiences and judges them. He feels lonely and disconnected from others,
especially in romantic relationships. His obsession with Lulu shows that he's deeply
emotional, but he can't find happiness in love. He's a complicated character who shares his
thoughts about life and relationships with us. The narrator isn't really labeled as "good" or
"bad." He's just a person with his own thoughts and feelings, trying to understand himself and
the world around him. He's like all of us, with strengths and weaknesses, trying to figure
things out as he goes along.

Lulu

Lulu is portrayed as enigmatic and mysterious in "First Love" by Samuel Beckett. Lulu is a
mysterious woman who catches the protagonist's eye. We don't know much about her, but she
seems to intrigue him. She works as a prostitute, which adds to her complexity. Overall, she's
a captivating figure in the story. Lulu is like a symbol of what the main character wants but
can't really have. She represents his desire for something more in life. Her character helps
show how lonely and disconnected he feels.
Lulu (Screen 13)

Side characters

Family Members: The narrator mentions family members, such as parents or siblings,
providing insight into his upbringing or familial relationships.

Clients or Associates of Lulu: As Lulu is a prostitute, there may be brief interactions or

mentions of her clients or associates, providing context to her profession and social
environment.

Strangers or Passersby: The narrator might encounter or observe strangers or passersby in

his reflections, adding depth to the setting and atmosphere of the story.

Although these characters appear only briefly, they help us understand the main characters
better. They give us clues about the narrator's past and the world he lives in. So, even though
they're not the focus/ are not the center of attention, they still add to the story.

Literary terms: solipsism, quietism, and existentialism

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Solipsism is the idea that only your own mind is sure to exist. It's the belief that you can only
be absolutely certain of your own existence, and everything else, including other people and
the external world, might just be creations of your mind or not really there at all.

In "First Love," the main character's solipsism shapes his personality. He is self-centered,
viewing the world and others mainly through his own experiences and thoughts, leading to a
significant detachment from people around him. This detachment reinforces his existential
isolation, making him question the reality of his relationships and external events. His
solipsistic viewpoint makes him skeptical of the nature of reality, including his own
experiences of love, highlighting a deep inward focus and a struggle with existential
uncertainty.

Quietism is a belief that emphasizes a state of inner calm and peace, suggesting that the best
way to live is by being passive and not trying to change or control the world around you. It
often involves the idea that true happiness and understanding come from quieting the mind
and detaching from desires and worldly concerns.

Through the lens of quietism, the main character of "First Love" emerges as a figure
characterized by inner calm, passive acceptance, and introspective reflection. His demeanor
reflects a quietist attitude towards life's challenges, prioritizing inner peace and acceptance
over active striving or emotional engagement. This interpretation offers insights into his
personality and behavior, enriching the understanding of his character within the context of
the story.

Existentialism is a philosophy about freedom, responsibility, and finding meaning in life. It

says you can create your own purpose instead of following what others tell you. It's all about
personal choice and being true to yourself.

Analyzing the main character of "First Love" through existentialism, we see him wrestling
with freedom, meaning, and responsibility. He's on a quest to understand his existence and
battles with anxiety and isolation in an uncertain world. His actions reflect his struggle to find
purpose and make sense of life among its complexities.

Symbolism:
The House: The protagonist's childhood home symbolizes imprisonment, familial
dysfunction, and emotional repression. It represents a place of both physical and
psychological imprisonment from which the protagonist seeks escape.
- a place of safety and isolation for the unnamed protagonist; he doesn’t leave the house
for several months, and Lulu delivers what he needs into his room
The Park Bench: The park bench where the protagonist spends much of his time symbolizes
his isolation and disconnection from society. It becomes a solitary refuge where he can
contemplate his existence and fights with his feelings of despair and disillusionment.
- it can symbolize the protagonist's view of the relationship with Lulu – it is not a long-
term relationship- when you like someone enough to keep seeing them, but not enough
that you want to lock it down with them

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The Protagonist's Namelessness: The protagonist's lack of a name symbolizes his
anonymity and universality. By remaining nameless, he becomes a symbol of everyman,
representing the universal experience of human suffering and existential angst.
The Father's Corpse: The discovery of the father's decomposing corpse symbolizes the
protagonist's confrontation with mortality and the unavoidableness of death. It serves as a
reminder of the instability of life and the uselessness of human existence.
Father - fatherly figure – someone to whom a person can look up– strong emotional influence
– can be both caring and harsh – depending on the character’s relationship with family
members
The River: The river that runs through the city symbolizes the passage of time and the
relentless flow of life. It becomes a metaphor for the temporary nature of human existence, as
well as the protagonist's own journey towards self-discovery and acceptance.
Flowers
- hyacinth (can have different meanings depending on what kind of color they are – the color
is not stated in the story – purple: sorrow, desire for forgiveness, death – white: love and
prayer – pink: playful joy)
- violet flowers (represent faithfulness and loyalty in a relationship (can be seen in the way
that the protagonist is not sexually or romantically interested in other women while he lives
with Lulu – even though she is a prostitute)

Allusions:
Dante's Inferno: Beckett alludes to Dante's "Inferno" when the protagonist describes his first
encounter with his father's house as entering a hellish environment, reminiscent of Dante's
journey through the circles of Hell.
Biblical Allusions: such as the story of Adam and Eve, particularly in the portrayal of the
protagonist's parents and their dysfunctional relationship. ANOTHER STORY: Cain and
Abel: the protagonist reflects on his relationship with his brother, which echoes the biblical
story of Cain and Abel, emphasizing themes of jealousy, rivalry, and violence within family
dynamics.
Franz Kafka: Beckett's work is often compared to that of Franz Kafka, and "First Love"
contains echoes of Kafkaesque themes, particularly in its depiction of alienation, absurdity,
and the search for meaning in an indifferent universe.
Literary Romanticism: Beckett's portrayal of the protagonist's obsessive love and existential
angst echoes themes found in Romantic literature.

Mythology: reference to Greek mythology and myth

- Journey of Orpheus: In the protagonist's description of his encounter with his father's
house he compares the experience to entering a realm of darkness and despair, like the
underworld in Greek mythology. This echoes the journey of Orpheus into the
underworld to retrieve his beloved Eurydice. In Greek mythology, the underworld is
depicted as a kingdom of shadows and suffering, where the dead reside. Similarly, the
protagonist's father's house is portrayed as a place of emotional darkness and

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 psychological turmoil, evoking the themes of loss and existential despair found in the
myth of Orpheus.
- Greek myth of Narcissus: The protagonist's fixation on his inner thoughts, his sense of
isolation, and his inability to connect with others parallels the self-absorption of
Narcissus, who was so amazed by his own image that he could not see beyond
himself. Like Narcissus, the protagonist seems trapped in a cycle of self-reflection and
introspection, unable to break free from his own internal world to engage
meaningfully with the outside world.
- Cupid and Psyche: The protagonist compares his love for the girl he meets to Cupid's
love for Psyche. This comparison highlights the intensity and irrationality of his
feelings.

STUDY QUESTIONS

Briefly summarize the plot of the short story:

 See notes above
Name and characterize the major characters:
- See notes above
Are there any strange attributes about the man? What do we know about him and his
life?
 He appears emotionally detached and describes feeling disconnected from his world.
His perceptions and experiences are often surreal and disorienting, contributing to the
overall atmosphere of the narrative. The protagonist’s obsession with Lulu and his
willingness to endure bizarre and uncomfortable situations in pursuit of her affection
highlight his erratic and unstable nature.
 The protagonist is a young man estranged from his family. He provides insights into
his past, revealing that he left home after an unspecified incident involving his father
and his mother’s death. He describes feeling disconnected from society and struggles
with feelings of alienation and loneliness. The protagonist’s narrative is characterized
by introspection and self-reflection as he grapples with his own identity and the
meaninglessness of existence. Throughout the story, he recounts his strange and surreal
experiences, offering glimpses into his psyche and his search for connection and
purpose in a seemingly absurd world.
Comment on the way he narrates his story. Is he a reliable narrator? Why/why not?
 His perceptions and experiences are often surreal and disorienting, contributing to the
overall atmosphere of the narrative.
To whom is the man talking?
- The narrator, the young man, addresses an unspecified audience or reader.
Are there any elements in the story that may shock the reader? (violating the cultural
code)
 Obsession with Lulu and his willingness to endure discomfort and degradation;
unresolved ending; bizarre encounters

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Comment on the role of the title. What did you expect before reading the story? Were
your expectations fulfilled? What do we usually imagine under the expression “first
love”? In your opinion, did the man love the woman?
- Irony = the title may be ironic, as the protagonist’s “first love” is far from idealized
or romantic
- Literal meaning = the protagonist’s obsession with Lulu (Anne)
Why does he leave the house and thus his family at the end of the story?
 Feeling of isolation, inability to find meaning or connection to his family – may be the
feeling of trying to escape this life and his association with Lulu (Anne)
Analyze the man’s personality using the following concepts – quietism, solipsism, and
existentialism:
- Quietism = Characterized by a passive acceptance of the world and withdrawal
from engagement with it – only observing (that way he find himself in bizarre
situations)
- Solipsism = the protagonist is experimenting with the world only in his mind,
makes no actions to actively participate
- Existentialism = the protagonist is struggling hard to find meaning in this bizarre
world