Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot

715 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The absurdity of waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett

"Waiting for Godot" represents one of Samuel Beckett's most popular pieces of work. It was firstly published in French in 1948, but after that Beckett translated it into English. It is a tragicomedy in two acts, illustrating the following characters: Vladimir, Estragon, Pozzo and Lucky, representative characters for the human behaviour, Godot, the divine power, and the Boy, Godot's servant. This play pictures in symbolic terms the human condition and help the reader understand the sequence of events of his life and suggests the fact that human life is determined by chance.

This idea of chance in a human life is captured in the references to the Bible that appear in the play, more exactly when Vladimir reminds of the parable of the two thieves from the Bible: " One of the thieves was saved. It's a reasonable percentage.”. In this way, he draws the attention of the reader upon how our fate is determined. More than that, even the Bible itself reduces our existence to a simple matter of fortune and chance and the person is powerless to change the decision. The entire play represents a silent request of all humanity for answers, for meaning, answers that never come from God ( Godot), picturing a divine power which is absent. Godot is either absent or he does not show his power. In this way, Godot seems to be the accomplice of the Universe, an unpredictable universe in which human life is left to hazard.

The setting of "Waiting for Godot" is a simple but confusing one, the play beginning in the evening and presenting a road and a tree, capturing once again the idea of passing of time. The tree is associated with Godot, that's why Vladimir and Estragon choose to wait for Godot near the tree. The tree can be seen as the feeling of hope...

... middle of paper ...

...hat has happened, even anticipating that the Boy will come and say to them the same thing: that Godot will not come that day and that he will come tomorrow. This part represents the climax of the tragicomedy, being the most tragic one in which Vladimir gets into depression and he considers death the ultimate alternative. Moreover, he even takes into consideration the idea of committing suicide but the lack of courage prevents him from accomplishing his plan.

In conclusion, "Waiting for Godot" makes us wonder if our life is meaningful or not. All the symbols illustrated from the very beginning, such as the elements of setting, the position of the characters and their attitude, convey the thought that life should not be lived so superficial. People should not make false illusions, be realistic and have a flourishing existence, fake distractions being only temporary.

Show More
Related

  • Production History of Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot

    1410 Words  | 3 Pages

    Samuel Beckett was forty-two years old and living in post-war Paris when he wrote Waiting for Godot as an exercise to help rid himself of the writer's block which was hindering his work in fiction. Once he started, he became increasingly absorbed in the play, and scribbled it almost without hesitation into a soft-cover notebook in a creative burst that lasted from October 9, 1948, until he completed the typed manuscript on January 29, 1949. After some revision, he offered the script to several producers, but it was refused. Although Beckett himself gave up hope with the script, his wife was more persistent, and, acting as his agent, she continued to approach producers. Finally, she met with actor/producer/director Roger Blin, who had produced a string of four under-funded and under-attended productions of Synge and Strindberg. Blin was immediately delighted with the piece. Unfortunately, money to produce the play was difficult to come by. Years passed between the writing and the actual production of the work.

    Read More

  • Comparing the Human Condition in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and Waiting for Godot

    1328 Words  | 3 Pages

    In ‘Waiting for Godot’, we know little concerning the protagonists, indeed from their comments they appear to know little about themselves and seem bewildered and confused as to the extent of their existence.  Their situation is obscure and Vladimir and Estragon spend the day (representative of their lives) waiting for the mysterious Godot, interacting with each other with quick and short speech.

    Read More

  • Freedom to Choose in Waiting for Godot, Slaughterhouse-Five, and Iraq

    1484 Words  | 3 Pages

    abandoned the conventions of the classical play to concentrate on his important message to humanity. Using his pathetic characters, Estragon and Vladimir, Beckett illustrates the importance of human free will in a land ruled by science and technology. He understood the terrors of progress as he witnessed first hand the destruction caused by technologically-improved weapons working as a spy during WWII. In his tragicomedy, Estragon and Vladimir spend the entire time futilely waiting for Godot to arrive. They believe that this mysterious Godot will help them solve their problems and merely sit and wait for their solution to arrive. Beckett utilizes these characters to warn the reader of the dangers of depending on fate and others to improve one's existence. He supports this idea when Estragon blames his boots and not himself for the pain in his feet, and Vladimir responds, "There'...

    Read More

  • Importance Of Symbolism In Waiting For Godot

    804 Words  | 2 Pages

    Humans spend their lives searching and creating meaning to their lives, Beckett, however, takes a stand against this way of living in his novel ‘Waiting for Godot’. He questions this ideal of wasting our lives by searching for a reason for our existence when there is no one to find. In his play, he showcases this ideology through a simplistic and absence of setting and repetitive dialogue. Beckett’s ability to use these key features is imperative to his ability to convey his message of human entrapment and existence. The play opens with very general stage directions “a country road, a tree, evening”.

    Read More

  • Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot and Tony Kushner’s Angels in America

    1423 Words  | 3 Pages

    From the moment that the curtain rises, Waiting for Godot assumes an unmistakably absurdist identity. On the surface, little about the plot of the play seems to suggest that the actions seen on stage could or would ever happen. At the very least, the process of waiting hardly seems like an ideal focus of an engaging and entertaining production. Yet it is precisely for this reason that Beckett’s tale of two men, whose only discernable goal in life is to wait for a man known simply as Godot, is able to connect with the audience’s emotions so effectivel...

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Alan Schneider's Waiting For Godot

    1132 Words  | 3 Pages

    When Alan Schneider put the first American performance of Waiting for Godot, he asked Beckett who Godot is or what is Godot, Beckett said: “If I knew, I would have said so in the play.” This is a useful warning to anyone who is coming to the Beckett’s play with the intention to find the key to understand and accurately identify the meaning. However, it is not surprising that the plays written in this unusual and mysterious manner are perceived as if there is a particular need to disclose their secret meaning translated into everyday language. Does Godot mean the intervention of supernatural forces, or does it symbolizes the mythical foundation of life? Does Godot’s arrival change the situation? In any case

    Read More

  • Time and Repetition in Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett

    999 Words  | 2 Pages

    Life is made up of different routines and schedules that are followed by the ordinary human being daily. In ‘Waiting for Godot’, Samuel Beckett uses time and repetition consistently throughout the play to demonstrate how these routines and habits are key elements in the course of life itself. The three main devices Beckett uses are the illogical pass of time, the lack of a past or a future and the absurdity of repetition in both dialogue and actions within the main characters and their surroundings.

    Read More

  • Samuel Beckett’s Waiting For Godot: A Critical Allegory of Religious Faith

    1043 Words  | 3 Pages

    It is made clear to the audience through conversation like this that neither Vladimir nor Estragon has any evidence that Godot even exists; yet they spend their time waiting for him to come. They simply believe in him without proof. They have faith that he is real and that faith gives them hope. It gives them comfort. Relate Godot to God and the same is true. No living person has ever seen God or has evidence that he even exists. But despite these uncertainties, masses of people believe in him and dedicate their lives to following him. There is nothing wrong with people needing to believe in something or someone else. For many people, God fulfills that necessity.

    Read More

  • Use of Time in Waiting for Godot and Mrs. Dalloway

    657 Words  | 2 Pages

    "Waiting for Godot" is a play written by Samuel Beckett, in which two characters by the names of Vladimir and Estragon anticipate and eagerly wait for the arrival of someone by the name of Godot. Time in "Waiting for Gordot" presents a lot of problems to Vladimir and Estragon whether its waiting for someone everyday, doing the same things, and going through the motions which shows that time is cyclical. From the title we are automatically given the central idea of the play of which it is centered around time, being waiting, ironically which is in the title of the play. Vladimir and Estragon throughout are seen to be wasting the whole days anticipating the wait of Gordot who eventually never shows up. “VLADIMIR: Hand in hand from the top of the Eiffel Tower, among the first. We were respectable in those days. Now it's too late. They wouldn't even let us up. (Estragon tears at his boot.)What are you doing? / ESTRAGON: Taking ...

    Read More

  • Christianity in Waiting for Godot

    975 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout the tragicomedy, the pair anxiously awaits the arrival of Godot. Vladimir and Estragon’s loyalty to Godot is evident within the first act of play. During a conversation between the two, Estragon asks Vladimir, “And if he doesn’t come?” to which Vladimir answers “We’ll come back tomorrow” and the go on to continue this dialogue: “Estragon: ‘And then the day after to-morrow.’/ Vladimir: ‘Possibly.’/ Estragon: ‘And so on.’/ Vladimir: ‘The point is—‘/ Estragon: ‘Until he comes’” (Beckett 10). In the New Testament of the Holy Bible, John 3:16 states that “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (King James Version, John, 3.16). This biblical verse is used frequently in the Christian church to represent the idea of salvation. However, the Bible never gives an exact time frame on salvation, leading Christians to wait for God’s impend...

    Read More

  • Summary of Samuel Beckett’s Waiting For Godot

    865 Words  | 2 Pages

    Soon they are done talking and try to find another topic for discussion. Vladimir finds Lucky's hat and tries it on. He and Estragon spend a while trading hats until Vladimir throws his own hat on the ground and asks how he looks. They then decide to play at being Pozzo and Lucky, but to no avail. Estragon leaves only to immediately return panting. He says that they are coming. Vladimir thinks that it must be Godot who is coming to save them. He then becomes afraid and tries to hide Estragon behind the tree, which is too small to hide him.

    Read More

  • Futility in Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot

    1415 Words  | 3 Pages

    This is seen again later on in the play when Lucky dances although he is given the freedom to dance, he doesn’t dance to his potential, because there’s nothing to be done about the net of expectations that traps him – unless he gives up all reason. Beckett explores a number of themes throughout Waiting for Godot, several of which have been discussed above. Whilst numerous techniques are employed in order to develop and influence the audiences understanding and perception of themes he deems important, perhaps the most significant tool, which Beckett utilizes, is the motifs and certain characterization. The play can be considered highly minimalist and therefore the dynamics that exist between the characters are essential in order to demonstrate and explore the theme of futility. Ultimately, the theme of futility and the effect it has on relationships and attitudes can be considered the most significant and widely explored by Beckett.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Time In Waiting For Godot

    1270 Words  | 3 Pages

    Vladimir is the only one to notice anything different from the day before. Vladimir is the only one with some memory, probably why they wait for Godot every day. Everyday Godot never shows up, so the constant cycle continues. It is the most useless cycle, but they still have a little hope. That one day Godot shows up and saves them.

    Read More

  • Waiting for Godot: Who is Godot?

    577 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot two characters, Estragon and Vladmir are waiting for ‘Godot’ in which Beckett does not explain. Along with Estragon and Vlamir comes Lucky and Pozzo another two figures who add a bit of nonsense into the play to distract the reader from the real issue, waiting for Godot. Simply who or what is ‘Godot’, is the question that Beckett’s play raises. It is easy to say that Godot is a Christ figure or God, hopefully Beckett would not make it that easy. So who/what is Godot? One may say that the characters are just waiting for someone or something to make sense of the world that they are in. The characters hopelessly wait day after day for this ‘Godot’ to come, and yet it never arrives. One must look into each character to find out who it is that Godot is searching for.

    Read More

  • Waiting For Godot Analysis

    1289 Words  | 3 Pages

    Although Samuel Beckett's tragicomedy, Waiting for Godot, has no definite meaning or interpretation, the play acts as a statement of hopelessness regarding human existence. Debate surrounds the play because, due to its simplicity, almost any interpretation is valid. The main characters, Vladimir and Estragon, are aging men who must wait for a person, being, or object named Godot, but this entity never appears to grace the men with this presence. Both characters essentially demonstrate how one must go through life when hope is nonexistent as they pointlessly attempt to entertain themselves with glum conversation in front of a solitary tree. The Theater of the Absurd, a prevalent movement associated with Waiting for Godot, serves as the basis for the message of hopelessness in his main characters. Samuel Beckett's iconic Waiting for Godot and his perception of the characteristics and influence of the Theater of the Absurd illustrate the pointlessness and hopelessness regarding existence. In the play, boredom is mistaken for hopelessness because the men have nothing to do, as they attempt to occupy themselves as, for some reason, they need to wait for Godot. No hope is present throughout the two-act play with little for Estragon and Vladimir to occupy their time while they, as the title indicates, wait for Godot.

    Read More

More about Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot

Open Document