James Joyce and Samuel Beckett

 

   

James Joyce

 

 

Samuel Beckett

 

James Joyce and Samuel Beckett

 

** James Joyce (1882-1941)

** Samuel Beckett (1906-1989)

 

# 1. How are they similar?

# 2. How are they different?

 

Similarities

They were both born and raised in Ireland

** Joyce was born in 1882

** Beckett was born in 1906

 

They both left Ireland in search of a better life in continental Europe

** Joyce left Ireland in 1904 when he was 22 years old

** Beckett left Ireland in 1928 when he was 22 years old

 

They both liked Paris. They felt at home in Paris. They lived and worked there for many years

 

They were both famous writers

 

They both had a partner in life

** Joyce lived with Nora Barnacle

** Beckett lived with Suzanne Dechevaux-Dumesnil

 

They both married the partner in life after many years without a formal marriage

** Joyce married Nora in 1931. He wanted to make sure that Nora and their two children could inherit his estate

** Beckett married Suzanne in 1961. He wanted to make sure that Suzanne could inherit his estate

 

Differences

Three examples 

The first case

Joyce was born into a poor family in a Catholic neighbourhood. His father wanted his son to have a good education, but he could not afford to pay the tuition fee.

 

Beckett was born into a middle-class family in a Protestant neighbourhood. His family did not have any economic problems. His father wanted his son to have a good education and he could afford to pay for this.

 

The second case

Joyce and Nora had two children:

** A son Giorgio (1905-1976)

** A daughter Lucia (1907-1982)

 

Beckett and Suzanne did not have any children

 

The third case

Joyce suffered from poor health. Towards the end of his life, he had serious problems with his eyes. He did not have a long life. When he died in 1941, he was 58.

 

Beckett had a good health. He had a long life. When he died in 1989, he was 83.

 

REFERENCES

 

James Joyce

by Richard Ellmann

(first edition 1959)

(revised edition 1983) 

 

Samuel Beckett

by Andrew K. Kennedy

(1989 = hardcover)

(2008 = paperback) 

 

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