Games and Stakes in Samuel Beckett’s Plays (1906-1989)

This article analyses the thematic, semantic, and aesthetic dimensions of games and their interactions in the composition of Samuel Beckett’s theatrical art. The aim of this research is to highlight the importance and functions of games in the playwright’s dramatic strategy, both in the writing of his texts and in the staging of his performances. Games form the backbone of Beckettian dramatic architecture. They are essential elements of dramatic language, enabling the playwright to present and structure his thoughts on the human condition in a post-war context of civilizational crisis. Keywords: Games, Parodies, Identities, Angst, Play.