Abstract

Samuel Beckett wrote Eh Joe for television production in 1965. He wrote this bleak play, for his friend the actor Jack MacGowran. The first production of the play was in Germany at Suddenscher Rundfunk Stuttgart on 13 April 1966, and was directed by Samuel Beckett. In both his novels and plays, Beckett paid special attention to human relationships. In his major plays cruelty is the pivot theme. In Eh Joe, Joe a solitary figure is trying to secure himself in his room in an attempt to run away from Voice who keeps reminding him of his cruelty to the girl who loves him. But the past comes to him in a form of Woman’s Voice to remind him of his selfishness and cruelty. Voice focuses on Joe’s cruelty in his relationships and continues hammering him till the end of the play. In less than fifteen minutes Beckett successfully portrays Joe’s selfishness, indifference and cruelty to women who love him.

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