Footfalls above "we would see the tracing on the stage floor of a tremendously elongated variation of the figures 8 turned on its side … the mathematical symbol for infinity." Beckett was also indebted to the French psychologist Pierre Janet for his conception of hysterical behaviour. In his overview of Janet's work, Robert Woodworth in his "Contemporary Schools of Psychology", a work Beckett read, pays particular attention to Janet's description of the "hysterical paralysis of one arm", which Beckett incorporated, into May's posture. There are a number of analogies between "Footfalls" and Janet's work with a patient called Irène: He lists
The First Time I Turned Twenty discourage it. Beginning immediately by reminding her that she is a woman and they do not want a woman in their training, they will harass morally to undermine gradually go one evening to plot a sinister Nazi symbol on her scores played during a concert, and what is even worse in her eyes ... they try to humiliate by attacking his instrument. Struggling against the discouragement month after month and use all her intelligence and patience, stimulated by her uncle, she will eventually win the admiration of part of the group of four boys. The First Time I Turned Twenty