The function of derisive humor in Samuel Beckett’s “First Love”

Samuel Beckett’s works as dramatist and novelist has been the object of relevant critical studies from literary studies as well as translation studies. On the other hand, his short narratives receive little attention. Having in mind such gap, this work aims at making a brief description of the use of derisive humor in the short-story “First Love” (2004). In order to do this, we will use some notions on the comic effect by Bergson (1987) and Propp (1992) to support this study. We think that such resource seems to serve as a strategy of deconstructing usual concepts related to romantic love, as well as a reflection on human condition. This short narrative might also be seen as a precursor example of the use of derision, a characteristic by which the author has become well known.