Beckett was in therapy with Bion for two years in the 1930s. After that they had no contact, yet their thoughts ran along uncannily similar lines. I try to show that to read them together is mutually enriching for the understanding of each; though given the nature of the audience, I take a knowledge of Bion for granted and concentrate on an exposition of Beckett.

At the conference where a first draft of this paper was given, many participants had seen a production of Endgame the previous evening.