Murphy

Murphy is an interesting example of Beckett's early writing. During the late 1930s and early 1940s the author was struggling to find a distinct literary style. His heavy reliance on the techniques of James Joyce, due to an enormous fascination for Finnegans Wake, was the main reason for the failure of his first prose work, Dream of Fair to Middling Women. Although Murphy shows the first sings of...more

Murphy is an interesting example of Beckett's early writing. During the late 1930s and early 1940s the author was struggling to find a distinct literary style. His heavy reliance on the techniques of James Joyce, due to an enormous fascination for Finnegans Wake, was the main reason for the failure of his first prose work, Dream of Fair to Middling Women. Although Murphy shows the first sings of an idiosyncratic style, it nevertheless contains two important aspects that are uncharacteristic of Beckett's later work. First of all, with its many, many (explicit) intertextual references, Murphy truly is "a pedant's paradise". Secondly, the book is noticeably concerned with geographical realism, which is not without purpose of course. All in all, Murphy adds up to an unbalanced account with many highs, but a fair share of lows as well. Not the ideal introduction to Beckett's work, but a necessary read for those interested in the author's struggle for literary independence.    hide

Murphy is the perfect introductory work to Beckett. The humor of Murphy can be overlooked, especially when compared to his overtly absurd play "Waiting for Godot." Beckett's characters reside in their own world, the novel. Many gaps exist in the logic of this book, that to understand the novel one must retire their own familiar system of "logical" thought, and submit to absurdity. (Count...more

Murphy is the perfect introductory work to Beckett. The humor of Murphy can be overlooked, especially when compared to his overtly absurd play "Waiting for Godot." Beckett's characters reside in their own world, the novel. Many gaps exist in the logic of this book, that to understand the novel one must retire their own familiar system of "logical" thought, and submit to absurdity. (Count scarves on page one). From the acceptance of absurdity, the humor in Murphy's arises. Out of the laughter spurred by sad character's like Neary, for example, one sees life through the eyes of Samuel Beckett. One sees the hopelessness and pathetic nature of life cannot be explained the logical systems of philosophy or theology, but laughter.    hide

Beckett's first novel. Hmmm. Can't say that I loved it, but didn't dislike it, either. In fact, I wanted more of the Murphy character, whose departure seemed to come before we got a chance to know him well enough. Several delightfully Beckettian turns of phrase.

Possibly the greatest opening sentence to any novel in the English language.