After viewing the film version of Krapp's Last Tape in lecture last week, I noticed a very important aspect of the play that I had somewhat missed while reading the text version. While watching, I payed close attention to the elements of lighting and identified the significance of shadows as well as how they add meaning that is both literal and abstract meaning.
-Firstly, I noticed that the set was lit in a specific way where most of the stage was covered in shadows, leaving the only area of illumination to be Krapp's desk. Although not physical boundaries, these shadows seemed to restrict Krapp's area of movement. He always remained in close proximity to his desk and never interacted with the shadowed areas. I felt that this lighting element added a sense of mystery and wonder to the play: is Krapp hiding something in the dark corners? How/when/why did Krapp's house become so shadowed? Etc.
-Similarly, the element of "shadows" in Krapp's life became more apparent to me as I watched the film version. Although Krapp enjoys listening to the recordings of his past, it is obvious that even the tapes reveal a sense of false happiness. His younger selves obviously hid and suppressed many of the negative aspects of their lives, which is exactly what Krapp continues to do as an old man as he records his final tape. Although comforting at the time, these figurative “shadows” haunt Krapp and leave him as the depressed lonely man we see experience in this play.
This is a good observation. The video of the play being performed also helped me understand/appreciate the play more than just the text. The precise atmospheres Beckett sets up on stage really do add to it's impact.
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