I them, the master, myself, we are all innocent, enough. Innocent of what, no one knows, of wanting to know, wanting to be able, of all this noise about nothing, of this long sin against the silence that enfolds us, we wont ask any more, what it covers, this innocence we have fallen to, it covers everything, all faults, all questions, it puts an end to questions.
In "Malone Dies," Samuel Beckett explores the theme of innocence as a complex and somewhat paradoxical concept. The narrator reflects on a shared state of innocence, suggesting that both he and the master are untouched by unspoken truths and desires to know. This innocence does not imply purity but rather a forfeiture of deeper questions and a resignation to the silence surrounding them.
Beckett presents innocence as a protective layer, one that conceals faults and dismisses the need for inquiry. The characters seem to find solace in this ignorance, which shields them from uncomfortable realizations. Ultimately, this state of being brings an end to questioning, highlighting the tension between the longing for understanding and the acceptance of silence in life’s uncertainties.
Rate the Quote
User Reviews
Other quotes in book quote
All the things you can talk about in anyone's work are the things that are least important.
Race of Cain, ascend to heaven, And cast God down upon the earth!
