The Amazing Adventures of Archibald Esq.
Samuel Beckett’s Houndishness
Samuel Beckett was born near Dublin in 1906. He wrote narrative prose, poetry, drama and criticism in both English and French.
As a young man in Foxrock, Beckett kept a Kerry bitch, and he mentions her at some length at least three times in his writings.
Beckett would go on long walks, up to 10 miles, with his Kerry to find peace and inspiration. This picture shows Beckett with one of his mother’s Kerry Blues — though not the one remembered in Krapp’s Last Tape, whose death he grieved so much.
Krapp’s Last Tape is a semi-autobiographical work. One imagines it is the Kerry that plays prominently in the book, although no pedigree name is mentioned.
–bench by the weir from where I could see her window. There I sat, in the biting wind, wishing she were gone. (Pause.) Hardly a soul, just a few regulars, nursemaids, infants, old men, dogs. I got to know them quite well– oh by appearance of course I mean! One dark young beauty I recall particularly, all white and starch, incomparable bosom, with a big black hooded perambulator, most funereal thing. Whenever I looked in her direction she had her eyes on me. And yet when I was bold enough to speak to her– not having been introduced– she threatened to call a policeman. As if I had designs on her virtue! (Laugh. Pause.) The face she had! The eyes! Like . . . (hesitates) . . . chrysolite! (Pause.) Ah well . . . (Pause.) I was there when–(Krapp switches off, broods, switches on again)– the blind went down, one of those dirty brown roller affairs, throwing a ball for a little white dog, as chance would have it. I happened to look up and there it was. All over and done with, at last. I sat on for a few moments with the ball in my hand and the dog yelping and pawing at me. (Pause.) Moments. Her moments, my moments. (Pause.) The dog’s moments. (Pause.) In the end I held it out to him and he took it in his mouth, gently, gently. A small, old, black, hard, solid rubber ball. (Pause.) I shall feel it, in my hand, until my dying day. (Pause.) I might have kept it. (Pause.) But I gave it to the dog.
From Samuel Beckett’s Krapp’s Last Tape
When the Kerry bitch he grew up had to be destroyed at the age of 12, Beckett was plunged into a deep gloom. Beckett also mentioned the Kerry in two other short stories published in More Pricks Than Kicks.
Superwoof to Samuel!
Awoof! Archie
Posted 16 Apr 08
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