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University of Iceland

Theatre of the Skull. Rough for Radio II by Samuel Beckett

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

This B.A. thesis examines Samuel Beckett’s portrayal of the artistic mind and the process of creativity in his radio play “Rough for Radio II”. The play as a piece of performance for radio will be briefly discussed. Then how Beckett highlights four different parts of the artist’s mind, turning each one into a separate character with a very specific function; Fox is the subconscious, the inner voice of creativity; the Animator is the self conscious, the critical part; the Stenographer the memory; and Dick the suffering the self conscious has decided is a necessary part of the creative process. All four characters are examined as well as the role each one plays within the play. The grotesque relationship between the characters is discussed and how each participant is involved in the tortuous act of creativity. The method used in the play to inspire creativity and its effect on the characters is explored. Also, how the play parodies the tortured artist, who constantly struggles with his art, and his difficulties in producing a piece of creative work. Essentially “Rough for Radio II” is a monodrama that parodies the creative process.

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Sigurlaug Sturlaugsdóttir 1975-
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Háskóli Íslands

Subjects

dc:subject × 5

Rights

Language dc:language.iso
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Handle dc:identifier.uri
http://hdl.handle.net/1946/7369
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:skemman.is:1946/7369

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of Iceland
Base URL
skemman.is/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-27
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Sigurlaug Sturlaugsdóttir 1975-. Theatre of the Skull. Rough for Radio II by Samuel Beckett. 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/1946/7369