In Samuel Beckett's works "Krapp's Last Tape" and "Embers," the themes of memory and regret are prominent. The protagonist grapples with his past decisions and the pain that accompanies them, reflecting a deep sense of dissatisfaction with his life. The phrase "Be again, be again" suggests a longing to recapture lost moments, yet the pauses indicate the weight of that yearning and the realization that the past is irretrievable.
The mention of "all that old misery" highlights the repetitive cycle of revisiting sorrowful memories. It underscores that simply reliving experiences is insufficient for healing. The culmination of these feelings signifies that merely longing for the past fails to provide solace, emphasizing the idea that the old pain must be faced rather than escaped.