A review by keneiloe
Molloy by Samuel Beckett

challenging mysterious reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

the narrative pays close attention to detail, ensuring that you’re aware that this is an old man speaking. Forgetfulness and  repetition of thoughts and phrases highlights that a lot and his desire to not say too much but continue to overthink. Molloy resembles the underground man a lot except for a few minor differences such as a lack of a superiority complex. Molloy is searching for his mother, he doesn’t know exactly where she is, but he moves forward in hopes of finding it regardless of the knowledge of the actual address. He encounters a lot of people along the way. My favourite encounter is with Lousse, their odd dynamic is quite interesting. Beckett really takes pride in the absurd, leading the audience to question things but alas, those questions will drift in the deep void of no answer. Molloy’s psyche, over analytical and introspective nature are what really intrigues me. He searches for his mother, where he came from, which feels like it’s a search for the meaning of his existence. And along the road he stumbles upon people and things that easily distract him from that search but they aren’t necessarily bad things, they just take him off course for a bit. Him being very much old might be an overall portrayal that the search for one’s meaning has no limit, it’s a yearning for all men of all ages so long as there lies consciousness. Moran and Molloy are very much unreliable narrators they utilise a lot of hyperboles when speaking and due to their very much fragile memories, their thoughts become drowned and foggy. My only concern with the book was its pacing and its super abstract nature to follow, i wasn’t prepared for it to be of that par. It’s not necessarily enjoyable but it’s fairly intriguing and mystifying. Beckett really takes pride in his absurd and ‘weird’ writing.