Samuel Beckett's Krapp's Last Tape is one of the most unique plays I have ever experienced. Not only is it very short but it appears to be a monologue. It is one’s reaction to your own recording. After the introductory scene with the banana I noticed that most of the play is filmed with close-up shots. Even though the tape is of a younger Krapp it appears to be another character. The reactions that the older version has to the newer one represent his feelings towards the other character or himself. I sometimes criticize my previous self, claiming to have improved. The reactions to the tape range from anger to laughter: “Hard to believe I was ever that young whelp. The voice! Jesus! And the aspirations! (Brief laugh in which Krapp joins.) And the resolutions! (Brief laugh in which Krapp joins.)” I cannot understand why Krapp laughs at what he said in the tape. There is a feeling as if, when he talks about “the voice”, he laughs at the voice he is hearing. In that case the tape could be considered another character and Krapp could have recorded it knowing he would criticize his previous self.
No comments:
Post a Comment