Ham And Clov Conflict

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Throughout the story Clov and Hamm argue and bicker, however, always resulting in Clov bending to the will of Hamm. Clov constantly threatens to leave Hamm and the others to die alone. Some argue that this is the conflict of the work. I can concede that it is a conflict, but perhaps not the most important one. The major conflict is Hamm and Clov versus time. They are playing out the Endgame, they are living out routines day after day simply waiting for time to end their existence. Much like Godot, though, it is their choice in how they fill out the days of their lives. While time limits the days they have left, it does not decide how they fill them, thus we also are exposed to the characters internal conflicts. Their belief that life is no longer worth it prevents …show more content…

In one monologue as he argues with Clov he says “I'll close my eyes, perhaps have a little sleep, after that I'll feel better, and you'll close them. And when you open them again there'll be no wall any more. (Pause.) Infinite emptiness will be all around you, all the resurrected dead of all the ages wouldn't fill it, and there you'll be like a little bit of grit in the middle of the steppe.” This feeling of insignificance in a vast space is something people can certainly identify with. It’s also the future that Clov will face if he leaves Hamm. Abandonment: Hamm and Clov work because they both long for companionship, but it’s a relationship born more out of necessity than care for each other. Clov never leaves Hamm despite repeated threats to do so. He also in his final monologue finishes the story of the man and the son saying “You don't want to abandon him? You want him to bloom while you are withering? Be there to solace your last million last moments?” Abandonment and the necessity of other people is well presented throughout the

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