The Frontier of Existence in Beckett’s Waiting for Godot and Ionesco’s Rhinoceros
analytical Essay
2044 words
The Frontier of Existence in Beckett’s Waiting for Godot and Ionesco’s Rhinoceros
‘I feel that I had been at the frontier of existence, close to the place where they lose their names, their definition, the place where time stops, almost outside History’ (E Ionesco).
This essay will explore the frontier of existence in Beckett’s Waiting for Godot and Ionesco’s Rhinoceros
The title Rhinoceros is formed from the ancient Greek Rhino meaning nose and Keros meaning horn. However, in this play I take rhinoceros to mean an animal that is thick-skinned and ugly. The people who become rhinoceroses become as thick skinned as the rhinoceroses they turn into. On first viewing of Rhinoceros one journeys with the characters on what appears to be something of a mystery tour. One cannot be sure if a rhinoceros really exists. It is this sense of unknowing that makes for a lack of definition in the characters themselves. There is Jean’s first announcement of ‘Oh a rhinoceros’ (Act I:I P.14) as he points off stage is tantalising as one can only hear noises. One tries to define the situation and the characters by questioning their imagination and sanity. Much that one might expect to be told about the characters and their situation is denied to us. One only gets little snippets of information about their society for example a couple of revelations from Jean to Berenger: ‘there’s been no zoo in our town since the animals were destroyed in the plague…ages ago…’ (I:I P.20) and ‘You know perfectly well that the Council banned all travelling performers from the district…There haven’t been any since we were children.’ (I:I P.20). Council has a capital ‘c’ and there is no mention of God anywhere which is a striking opposite from Waiting f...
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...ific tyranny or exile; perhaps the Nazi occupation of France or separation from one’s homeland. But one does have choices as definition does not have to be of a single entity. Emphasis could be put on defining what happens while Vladimir and Estragon are waiting rather than notions of termination
Works Cited
Beckett, Samuel, Waiting for Godot
Cohen, R., Back to Beckett
Coe, Richard N., Eugène Ionesco: A Study of His Work
Hayman, Ronald, Eugène Ionesco
Ionesco, Eugène, Rhinoceros, The Chairs and The Lesson
Lamont, Rosette C., Ionesco: A Collection of Critical Essays
Lamont, Rosette C. and Friedman, M.J., The two faces of Ionesco
Lazar, Moshe., The Dream and the Play: Ionesco’s Theatrical Quest
Lyons, C., Samuel Becket
Lewis, Allan, Ionesco
Pronko, Leonard C., Eugène Ionesco
Worth, K., Beckett the Shape Changer
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how rhinoceros is a thick-skinned and ugly animal, which makes one question their imagination and sanity.
- Analyzes how the logician calmly works out the pros and cons of the bizarre situation. he tries desperately to define and have control over everything.
- Analyzes how berenger is regarded as a hopeless alcoholic. he lacks self-control through his drinking and his emotions, and is confused by the complexities of life.
- Analyzes the 'humanising' feature of the rhinoceros that creeps into the play — the feelings of admiration for mrs boeuf are dangerous.
- Analyzes how in waiting for godot, there is no separation between mundane and imposing subjects. daisy is forever making food and drinks and not batting an eyelid at the rhinoceroses that are banging at her door.
- Opines that godot could be interpreted as a single definable entity, not only as god, but as liberator from some specific tyranny or exile, perhaps the nazi occupation of france or separation from one’s homeland
- Analyzes how they felt at the frontier of existence in beckett's waiting for godot and ionesco’s rhinoceros.
- Analyzes how waiting for godot explores life's constant struggle between maintaining one’s individuality and succumbing to force.
Related
- analytical
- Samuel Beckett’s Waiting For Godot: The Theater of The Absurdanalytical essaySamuel Beckett was Nobel Prize winning author, a modernist, the last true modernist according to many.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how vladimir and estragon compliment each other perfectly and offset the lonesomeness and personality of each one.
- Analyzes how beckett uses specific and comical ways to get ideas of symbols across through stage directions. estragon's seemingly endless struggle to take his boot off symbolizes life and his constant attempt to find nothing.
- Explains that samuel beckett's waiting for godot: a reference guide was published by greenwood publishing, westport, ct in 2005.
- Explains that samuel beckett's "theater of the absurd" was a term coined by matin esslin to show the idea that mans lifetime was meaningless and that our universe and creation was inexplicable.
- Analyzes how the relationship between vladimir and estragon and pozzo and lucky can be categorized as essential.
- Analyzes how beckett's "tragicomedy" is a mix of two distinct types of literature, one being tragedy and the other being comedy.
1661 wordsRead More - Samuel Beckett wrote Waiting for Godot between October 1948 and January 1949. Since its premiere in January of 1953, it has befuddled and confounded critics and audiences alike. Some find it to be a meandering piece of drivel; others believe it to be genius. Much of the strain between the two sides stems from one simple question. What does this play mean? Even within camps where Waiting for Godot is heralded, the lack of clarity and consensus brings about a tension and discussion that has lasted over sixty years.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the other searches for the contrary of saved.
- Opines that vladimir is one out of four. of the other three, two don't mention thieves at all.
- Opines that only one speaks of a thief being saved.
- Describes the horrors of world war ii, and human fear of an even more horrific war.
- Opines that his works are a proof of the absurdity of humankind's beliefs in religion.
- Opines that the spectators and readers of shakespeare's plays benefited from his existence on the other hand.
- Opines that the king will reply, ‘truly i tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of.
- Opines that he will reply, ‘truly i tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of.
- Opines that the righteous will have eternal life.
- Opines that the lack of any solid form to anchor the rose makes it appear to fl oat.
- Analyzes how the tree in waiting for godot becomes increasingly objective as the show moves forward. they question whether it is actually a tree.
- Quotes gunther anders, who compared the plight of didi and gogo to a concept similar to one nietzsche described.
- Analyzes how beckett argues against nihilism and the inability of man to be one.
- Opines that those who come to believe in this other world are, he.
- Analyzes the three predominant interpretations of the play, including anti-christianity, existentialism, and nihilism.
- Analyzes how gatsinzi basaninyenzi views waiting for godot as an anti-christian text. his sticking point is the discussion about the two thieves during the crucifixion of christ
- Explains that of the four evangelists, only one speaks of a thief being saved.
- Argues that basaninyenzi believes that waiting for godot is an inherently anti-christian text based on these two similarities. shobeiri provides a reason as to why beckett could be so anti
- Analyzes shobieri's argument that the exchange between the boy and vladimir is indicative of god in the book of matthew.
- Explains that the king will put the sheep on his right and the goats on the left.
- Narrates how they were hungry and you gave them something to eat, thirsty and drink, a stranger and invited them in, 36 they needed clothes and they clothed them,
- Opines that the righteous will answer him, lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
- Narrates how the devil will say to those on his left, 'depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for him and his angels.'
- Analyzes how emily atkins connects beckett's godot to w.b. yeats' purgatory, as well as to the paintings of his brother.
- Analyzes atkins' theory of the play being based in existentialism by examining it from all possible angles like beckett does with vladimir and estragon.
- Analyzes how valentine proposes that there is something more than surface nihilism to be mined from waiting for godot.
- Argues that nihilism runs rampant through the show by applying biblical references and text as the anti-christian point of view.
- Explains that samuel beckett, w.b. yeats, and jack yeates: images and words.
- Explains that samuel beckett's atheism in waiting for godot and endgame is a proof for absurdity. the holy bible: new international version contains the old testament and the new testament.
3212 wordsRead More - Existentialism In Vladimir And Estragon's Waiting For Godotanalytical essayHave you ever felt like you don't know where you're going, or if you're making any progress at all in your career or your life? If so, you were most likely having an 'existential moment.' Existentialism is a philosophical and literary perspective that focuses on the experience of an individual person and the way that he or she understands the world.
In this essay, the author
- Explains existentialism is a philosophical and literary perspective that focuses on the experience of an individual person and the way he or she understands the world.
- Explains that philosophers and scientists debated the meaning of life in 19th-century europe, while religious people and theologians discussed god's expectations for a good life.
- Explains that outside the natural time, its consequences flow on. pozzo has grown blind and lucky dumb.
- Explains that existentialists believe that human beings spend their lives in a void plagued by angst and despair, despite little evidence that what they do matters in the greater universe.
- Analyzes how the play "waiting for godot" has all the traits of existentialism.
968 wordsRead More - Rhinoceros Play Analysisanalytical essayThe play Rhinoceros follows a single day as experienced by a few different people as they are to a conversion of sorts. They were convinced to convert to leaving the human life and becoming a rhinoceros. In all aspects of themselves, they did become rhinoceroses. In mind, emotion, physicality, demeanor, and communication, the characters of the play became a rhinoceros. They actually left their human body and were going to turn into a rhinoceros . Sounds absurd, and that is basically the whole point. The play was interpreted as a reaction to the fascism post - World War II. Rhinoceroses arrive in France, and of course the people of the French town want nothing to do with them. But as the day goes on, the
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how eugene ionesco's play, rhinoceros, was interpreted as a reaction to the fascism post - world war ii.
- Analyzes how the set of the play is intricate, but also quite simple. the audience might assume that it was low budget, as the doors and walls appeared to be made of cardboard.
- Analyzes how the costumes of the characters were simple with few pieces to them, but they did the job well. the play takes place in a small french town.
- Analyzes how the actors took on their roles well, whether they were a drunk or punctual control freak.
- Opines that the lighting played an interesting role in the show. the lighting of scene one was bright and sunny, but by the time the last scene rolled around, it had reached a glowing orange to signify the setting sun.
- Opines that this show was a hilarious, yet insightful view on society post world war ii, and is worth seeing.
965 wordsRead More - Absurdism in Waiting for Godotanalytical essayAbsurdism, a very well known term in the era of modern theatre has played a very significant role in the field of dramas. It’s significance and its presence in the modern theatre has created all together a different and a specific area in the world of theatre widely known as “the theater of the absurd”. Theatre of absurd was given its place in 1960’s by the American critic Martin Esslin. In a thought to make the audiences aware that there is no such true order or meaning in the world of their existence. It’s an attempt to bring the audiences closer to the reality and help them understand their own meaning in life.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that absurdism, a well-known term in the era of modern theatre, has created the theater of absurd, which was given its place in 1960 by the american critic martin esslin.
- Explains that samuel beckett emerged into the world of drama of absurd after the world war ii. the absurdism movement emerged in france as a rebellion against the traditional values and beliefs of the western culture and literature.
- Analyzes how samuel beckett's most popular absurdist drama, waiting for godot, had an enormous effect on the audiences due to its strange and new conventions.
- Analyzes how godot is a two-act play, which starts with two lonely characters waiting for his arrival, and ends with the same premise.
- Analyzes how the two main characters, vladimir and estragon, spend their entire lives in judging and sensing their existence and even considering suicide as a form of escape.
- Analyzes how samuel beckett's comical scene shows a scenario of death but ends up making the audience laugh rather than taking the two characters seriously.
- Analyzes the absurdity of waiting for godot, stating that both the character relies on each other for support, comfort, and meaning.
- Analyzes how the writer has narrated the drama in such a way that the most serious scenes are also portrayed. such dramas make it hard for the audiences to make sense about what exactly is the meaning of the play or the story.
- Analyzes how becket presents a highly absurd situation of the two tramps- vladimir and estragon, while they were waiting to meet the never-defined godot, who never comes.
- Analyzes how the focus is not godot but rater the drama focuses on the term ‘waiting’. in order to pass time, the two tramps indulge themselves in some senseless activities.
- Analyzes how the theme of absurdity can be judged by the structure of the play.
751 wordsRead More - Christianity in Waiting for Godotanalytical essayBeckett, Samuel. Waiting for Godot: tragicomedy in 2 acts. New York: Grove Press, 1982. Print.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how beckett alludes to christianity with the crucifixion of the two thieves, who were hung on the respective sides of jesus christ, the son of god.
- Explains beckett, samuel. waiting for godot: tragicomedy in 2 acts.
- Analyzes how samuel beckett's tragicomedy, waiting for godot, alludes to the monotheistic religion of christianity through symbols, dialogue, and characters.
- Analyzes how samuel beckett uses symbol, dialogue between characters, and the characters themselves to portray the invisible influence that god has on both believers and non-believers.
975 wordsRead More - Miscellaneous Critics on Waiting for Godotanalytical essayNothingness “Accordingly, any interpretation that purports to know who Godot is (or is not), whether he exists whether he will ever come, whether he has ever come, or even whether he may have come without being recognized (or possibly in disguise) is, if not demonstrably wrong, at least not demonstrably right” (Hutchings 27). “Although works of the theater of the absurd, particularly Beckett’s, are often comical, their underlying premises are wholly serious: the epistemological principle of uncertainty and the inability in the modern age to find a coherent system of meaning, order, or purpose by which to understand our existence and by which to live” (Hutchings 28). Godot’s characters do not despair in the face of their situation, and this “perseverance remains constant throughout a body of work that, in the words of the citation awarding Beckett the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1969 had ‘transmuted the destitution of modern man into his exaltation’ (qtd. in Bair 606)” (Hutchings 30).
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how gogo and didi engage in mental and physical exercises to pass interminable time.
- Analyzes the epistemological principle of uncertainty and the inability to find a coherent system of meaning, order, or purpose in the modern age. tragicomedy is life enhancing because it tries to remind the audience of the real need to face existence
- Analyzes how beckett's play, less than nothing, suggests regression beyond nothing. the two tramps are on a stage with no part to play.
- Analyzes how bert o. states applies to beckett's work the words roland bartes uses to describe kafka’s works: success in art is paid for by insignificance.
- Analyzes how the characters talk to each other but fail to communicate. language is a form of reassurance, but not real connection occurs. repeated phrases, lines, and words signify the senseless repetition and relentless flow of time inherent to human existence.
- Explains that beckett's audience knew the bible much better than do modern audiences. biblical allusions create humor by rapid shifts from divine to secular.
- Analyzes how the biblical allusions introduce the play's central theme: life is full of hellish suffering; the cynical humor is based on seeing the christian "good news" of salvation as "bad news."
- Analyzes the repetition of skull in lucky's monologue. golgotha is the location where christ and 2 thieves died. godot beats only his brother.
- Analyzes how lucky taught pozzo all the higher values of life, including beauty, grace, truth. estragon and vladimir are superior to lucky because they have companionship, compassion, faith, and hope.
- Cites cohn, ruby, collins, michael j., gilman, richard, hutchings, william, and morrison, kristin.
1859 wordsRead More - Importance Of Symbolism In Waiting For Godotanalytical essayHumans 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 not one to find. In his play, he showcases this ideology through a simplistic and absence of setting and repetitious dialogue. Beckett’s ability to use these key features are imperative to his ability of conveying his message of human entrapment and existence.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how beckett's novel "waiting for godot" challenges the ideal of wasting our lives by searching for a reason for our existence when there is no one to find.
- Analyzes how beckett uses the willow tree to symbolize rebirth and renewal.
- Analyzes how beckett is showcasing the entrapment of human lives because estragon and vladimir never move along the road because they are waiting for a reason to keep moving.
- Analyzes how beckett showcases this entrapment through repetitious dialogue. the most major sequence of repeated dialogue is "estragon: let’s go. vladimir: we are waiting for godot."
804 wordsRead More - Potiki And The Art Of Telling Storiesanalytical essay“It was a new discovery to find that these stories were, after all, about our own lives, were not distant, that there was no past or future that all time is now-time, centred in the being.” (Pp39.)
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes the theme in patricia grace's novel potiki that 'telling and retelling stories is an important and valuable part of being human'.
- Analyzes how potiki's plot and characters show the idea that 'creating and sharing stories is important as a central part of being human' when the mother of the main family, roimata, lets two of her children learn at home instead of at school.
- Analyzes how roimata and the children are essentially learning in a way in which all people learn to some extent by sharing stories.
- Analyzes how the character emphasizes the moral and educational value of stories in human development and understanding by saying that there is always something to learn from stories, even when they are retold repeatedly.
- Analyzes how potiki explores the idea that ‘creating and sharing stories is a central part of being human’ through setting, as freedom of expression and story-telling can be tied to the land because the landscape contains stories of the people.
- Explains that the land is an important part of the characters' lives because they believe it contains within it the stories that make up their collective history.
- Opines that the fact that potiki is set in new zealand is significant to the theme because narratives and oral teachings are important in the understanding and teaching of maori culture.
- Analyzes how symbolism plays a considerable part in exploring the storytelling theme in potiki from the very beginning of the book in the prologue.
- Analyzes how symbolism explores the theme of the importance of storytelling by linking the characters of toko in potiki and maui, a supernatural being from maori mythology.
- Analyzes how symbolism is used in potiki to examine the importance of storytelling. the recurring allusion to the traditional maori motif of the spiral of life and death.
- Analyzes the core theme of patricia grace's novel potiki that 'telling and retelling stories is an important and valuable part of being human'.
965 wordsRead More - Summary of Samuel Beckett’s Waiting For Godotanalytical essayWaiting for Godot - Summary of Act II The setting is the next day at the same time. Estragon's boots and Lucky's hat are still on the stage. Vladimir enters and starts to sing until Estragon shows up barefoot. Estragon is upset that Vladimir was singing and happy even though he was not there.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how estragon is upset that vladimir was singing and happy even though he was not there. both admit that they feel better when alone but convince themselves they are happy when together.
- Describes how estragon and vladimir poetically talk about 'quot;all the dead voices' they hear. they are haunted by voices in the sounds of nature, especially of the leaves rustling.
- Analyzes how estragon has forgotten everything that happened the day before, including pozzo and lucky, and the fact that he wanted to hang himself from the tree.
- Analyzes how vladimir and estragon exchange hats until they decide to play at being pozzo and lucky, but to no avail. vladimir thinks that godot is coming to save them.
- Analyzes how the conversation degenerates into abusive phrases. estragon says, 'that's the idea, let’s abuse each other.'
- Narrates how pozzo and lucky enter, but this time they are blind and mute. lucky stops when he sees them, and they both fall helplessly in a heap on the ground.
- Analyzes how vladimir and estragon discuss the merits of helping pozzo get off the ground where he has fallen.
- Narrates how vladimir and estragon fall and cannot get up. when pozzo talks again, vladimir kicks him violently.
- Analyzes how estragon kicks lucky and hurls abuses until he hurts his foot. vladimir asks pozzo to make lucky dance or think for them again.
- Analyzes how vladimir reflects upon the fact that there is no truth and that by tomorrow he will know nothing of what has just passed. estragon always forgets everything that happens to him.
- Analyzes how the boy arrives again but does not remember meeting estragon or vladimir. he tells them it is his first time coming to meet them. mr. godot will once again not be able to come but will arrive tomorrow.
- Analyzes how the two bums decide to leave but cannot go far since they need to wait for godot. estragon takes off his belt but it breaks when they pull on it.
865 wordsRead More