ARTIFACT 3: Drama Forum 2 Letter 2

Dear Ashley,

I agree that some might sympathize with Krapp, but it is very obvious that he has allowed his life to become a reflection of his name—Krapp.

As I began reading the play I wondered the same thing about the bananas. What is their significance and/or what do they represent? I think that they could represent many things that occur or that we learn about Krapp throughout the story. The following is one idea for their meaning.

First of all he takes the time, which seems like a lot of time when reading the description, to search almost blindly through the drawers to find the first banana. To me this represents his blind search through life for happiness, satisfaction, and success. Once he finds what he’s looking for, the banana, he seems to prize it when the description says, “He turns, advances to edge of stage, halts, strokes banana, peels it, drops skin at his feet, puts banana in his mouth and remains motionless…” (1658). He finds what he’s looking for, prizes it, peels away its covering (which he drops on the floor), and then uses it (eats it). But while he’s using/eating it his mind seems to be somewhere else so much that he slips and nearly falls on what he once prized—the banana’s peel, which he uncaringly dropped on the floor. To me this shows that all he wants is the good stuff, the meat of the banana, but he neglects its entirety (the banana and its peel) to get what he wants and then what he didn’t want or tossed to the floor eventually comes back to “haunt” him.

This is just one of many parallels that could be made about the significance of the banana in Krapp’s life. That was a good question!

Sincerely,

Jennifer H ENGL 202