In Samuel Beckett's "How It Is," the narrator reflects on the nature of childhood, expressing skepticism about their own past experiences. They grapple with the idea that their supposed childhood feels distant and hard to believe, as if they have always been burdened by the weight of old age. The memories seem elusive, casting a shadow over the innocence typically associated with youth. This introspection leads to a profound sense of disconnection, where the narrator feels as though they were born old, carrying the heaviness of life’s struggles from the very beginning. The contemplation evokes a bleak awareness, suggesting that the joys of childhood are overshadowed by a deep-seated existential weariness.

In Samuel Beckett's "How It Is," the narrator reflects on the nature of childhood, expressing skepticism about their own past experiences.

They grapple with the idea that their supposed childhood feels distant and hard to believe, as if they have always been burdened by the weight of old age.