Happy Days: Analysis of Major Characters
"Happy Days: Analysis of Major Characters" explores the profound depth of character portrayals in the play, focusing particularly on Winnie and Willie. Winnie is depicted as a resilient woman, approximately fifty years old, who finds herself buried in earth, symbolizing her entrapment in a desolate situation. Her enduring optimism stands out starkly against her grim circumstances, showcasing both bravery and tragedy. She engages in daily rituals, clinging to her possessions and the memories they represent, which serve as her lifelines in a world of despair. Her dialogues and monologues reveal a complex character wrestling with sadness and regret, particularly emphasized through her singing of a poignant duet.
Willie, her husband, remains largely hidden throughout the narrative, only emerging in the second act. His appearance is laden with ambiguity; he is dressed elaborately but struggles to maintain his strength while attempting to reach Winnie. The dynamics between Winnie and Willie raise questions about their relationship and the nature of their struggles, leaving audiences to ponder the implications of his actions at the end of the play. Overall, the analysis invites a deeper understanding of the characters' psychological landscapes and the themes of hope, despair, and the human condition that permeate the narrative.
Happy Days: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Samuel Beckett
First published: 1961
Genre: Play
Locale: A barren plain of scorched grass
Plot: Absurdist
Time: Unspecified
Winnie, a woman described in the play as “well preserved” and “plump,” with a “big bosom.” She is about fifty years of age. In the first act, she is buried up to her waist in earth. By the opening of the second act, she has been sucked, or sunk, downward so that only her head is visible. Winnie can best be characterized by her abundant optimism, which lies in sharp contrast to her desolate situation. Such an attitude to life is both courageous, because Winnie keeps her spirits high, and tragic, in that she is in an impossible situation. Consistent with her desire to appear cheerful, Winnie takes great pride in her personal possessions. Each one is endowed with a special meaning, even Brownie, the revolver she keeps in her bag. Winnie delights in seemingly banal conversation that helps her through the day, from the bell that wakes her to the bell for sleep. Following in a set pattern, almost like a ritual, Winnie cleans her teeth and glasses, applies lipstick, brushes and combs her hair, perhaps trims her nails if necessary, and then talks to her husband, Willie, who is beside her. Consequently, Winnie's language is vital as she clings to her words and memories, which, especially in the second act, are almost the only things left for her. Despite Winnie's attempts at remaining optimistic, many of the quotations that occur throughout her long monologue betray sadness and regret. This is most apparent in her singing of the Waltz Duet from Franz Lehar's The Merry Widow.
Willie, Winnie's husband. Willie remains hidden for the majority of the play, with only his bald head visible behind the slope. Unlike his wife, Willie is mobile. At the end of the second act, he appears on all fours to crawl up the mound toward Winnie. This appearance shows Willie “dressed to kill” in top hat, morning coat, and striped trousers, holding white gloves in his hand. He climbs a little way toward his wife but, unable to sustain the effort of looking up at her, he drops his head to the ground. Slowly, Willie climbs to the summit of the hill. With a hoarse cry to his wife (“Win”), he gazes at her, with an outstretched arm. It is not clear why Willie makes this effort. It may be to embrace Winnie for a last time, or it may be to kill her, himself, or both of them.