Molloy (novel)

Molloy is a novel by Samuel Beckett, first published in French in 1951 and later in English in 1955, translated by Beckett himself. It is the first novel in Beckett's trilogy, followed by Malone Dies and The Unnamable. Molloy is considered a key work of modernist and post-modernist literature, and a significant example of the Theater of the Absurd when considering Beckett's broader oeuvre.

The novel is divided into two distinct parts. The first part is narrated by Molloy, an aging, physically deteriorating man who is on a quest to find his mother. His narrative is characterized by rambling thoughts, digressions, and contradictions. He travels a road of increasing ambiguity, experiencing encounters and reflections that lack clear meaning or resolution. His physical state is a prominent feature, with struggles related to movement, disability, and basic survival.

The second part is narrated by Jacques Moran, a private detective assigned to find Molloy. Moran's narrative mirrors, in some ways, Molloy's, but begins with a greater sense of order and control. As Moran pursues his mission, he experiences a gradual descent into a state of physical and mental decay, mirroring Molloy's own decline. His journey becomes increasingly bizarre and detached from its original purpose.

Molloy is notable for its exploration of themes such as language, identity, memory, the absurdity of existence, and the disintegration of self. The novel's unconventional narrative structure and fragmented style contribute to its challenging and thought-provoking nature. The ambiguities and contradictions within the narratives resist straightforward interpretation, inviting readers to grapple with fundamental questions about meaning and being.