Pessimism v optimism in Beckett   I have an issue with the statment Becketts work is    deeply pessimistic about the human condition as found in the first paragraph I changed deeply to deceptively and it was immediately changed back I dont know how to contact the subsequent editor directly so Ill post this here by way of discussion  Perhaps replacing deeply with deceptively is not the best fix but as it stands the quoted statement puts forth as fact an opinion that is widley open to interpretation  Becketts writings arent just about the journey If they were deeply pessimistic would be nearly undebatable Theyre just as much about the destination or at least the goal And while he frames lifes journey as a slog through shit his ultimate implication is that the slog is worthwhile As everything from the Greek and Latin classics to the greatest of Hollywoods prowar propaganda movies have proven again and again the more monstrously you portray the obstacle the larger looms the hero who overcomes them The same is true in Beckett the obstacles are unrelenting and nearly insurmountable but the journey continues heroically The Beckett hero may be standing in the dark but hes faced towards the light distantan unattainableas it may be  The essential Beckett quote isnt I cant go onfull stop its I cant go on Ill go on  Now I may not have convinced you personally that Becketts work is more optimistic than pessimistic But perhaps Ive made a case that a flatly factual statement like Becketts work is stark    and deeply pessimistic about the human condition is a bit overstated for an article that strives to remain free of bias   Beckett himself would be the first to disagree with you He once said that if he were a pessimist he wouldnt write  Although I know that the artist is not always the most reliable source for understanding his work that ought to count for something