I or Not I: Unraveling the Linguistic Echoes of Identity in Samuel Beckett's "Not I" Through Natural Language Processing

TL;DR

This paper employs advanced NLP techniques to analyze Beckett's 'Not I', revealing how linguistic patterns reflect themes of identity, memory, and existential angst, thereby deepening understanding of his stylistic and philosophical contributions.

Contribution

It introduces a novel NLP-based methodology to analyze Beckett's text, uncovering linguistic structures that mirror psychological and existential themes.

Findings

Identification of recurring motifs related to time and memory

Detection of emotional sentiments aligned with thematic elements

Analysis of rhythmic repetition revealing stylistic features

Abstract

Exploring the depths of Samuel Beckett's "Not I" through advanced natural language processing techniques, this research uncovers the intricate linguistic structures that underpin the text. By analyzing word frequency, detecting emotional sentiments with a BERT-based model, and examining repetitive motifs, we unveil how Beckett's minimalist yet complex language reflects the protagonist's fragmented psyche. Our results demonstrate that recurring themes of time, memory, and existential angst are artfully woven through recursive linguistic patterns and rhythmic repetition. This innovative approach not only deepens our understanding of Beckett's stylistic contributions but also highlights his unique role in modern literature, where language transcends simple communication to explore profound existential questions.