Saturday, 16 January 2016

Waiting for Godot - Samuel Beckett

Waiting for Godot
     Samuel Beckett



Introduction:

      Samuel Beckett as a modernist writer wrote this play waiting for Godot which has not specific beginning and ending. Ideally there is no beginning, no end, something in between. Only the hope. The play starts at the same place and end at the same place. In a way it has no change with big change. This play is big satire on human existence.

Character List:

Vladimir
Estragon
Pozzo
Lucky
Boy
Godot

Brief information about Characters:

1. Vladimir:

    Remain in the play very important character. Moreover he seems to be the more responsible and mature character.

2. Estragon:

     Estragon remains as a second important character with short memory. He seems weak and helpless and always wants to protection by Vladimir.

3. Pozzo:

    Pozzo coming to provides a diversion. He becomes helpful in passing the time of Vladimir and Estragon. In the second act he is blind and does not remember meeting Vladimir and Estragon the night before.

4. Lucky:

    Lucky is servant of Pozzo. In act 1, he entertains by dancing and thinking. However, in act 2, he is dumb.

5. Boy:

    Represent as a messenger of Godot.

6. Godot:

     It is remaining abstract, which is Vladimir and Estragon wait unendingly.

   Vladimir and Estragon are waiting for Godot. The wait never end perhaps they wait for the end of life. Waiting for death in between we try to do something for the sake of passing the time. Vladimir and Estragon doing the same thing. They are trying to pass the time with various activities like:

A)  Passing hat to each other
B)   Playing game of breathing.

   Moreover Estragon playing with shoe while Vladimir playing with hat. It is indicates the habit of characters such as Estragon with the shoe represent as a hungry beast while Vladimir represent as a thinker.

     The play goes particular to general. The four characters represent as a particular in the lay but they symbolized as a whole human beings. However he satirizes on the work that the characters are doing. Or in a way he satirizes the work doing by the whole human beings. They are doing the same what Vladimir and Estragon are doing.

     It’s not make any difference though Vladimir thinks a lot or Estragon interested in hunger. The fates of both characters are similar.

     Through this Beckett satire on philosopher also who thinks a lot. He raised question like-

What does it matter if we knowing the things?

     But the knowledge becomes difficult for Vladimir. He always in tension because of this he also tries to Estragon must be in tension. So he frequently remaindered to Estragon that why are they there. They are waiting for Godot. It is very basic human nature.

This play remains open for interpretation about anything.

For example-

What is Godot?
Who is Godot?
Is he Godot himself?
Is it an abstract idea only? Or
Is it a symbol of death?

   So, everything remains as abstract ideas. The ambiguity lies in the play “Waiting for Godot”.

Existentialism:



      Existentialism crisis are found in the play. Profound questions of human existence raised by Beckett in the play. Characters are playing the game BREATHING. Breathing itself is an example of existentialism. Why are we taking breath? Is it our habit of doing that?

                                    Life + Anxiety = Truth

    The truth is the ultimate reality of life-Death. In between the birth and death there is only anxiety. So, Estragon tries to suicide. Existentialist considered this idea of suicide as a good idea. But human like to live this pathetic life. They are habituated. They are happy in doing that, just like Camus- “Myth of Sisyphus”.

Conclusion:

     “Waiting for Godot” is a serio-comic play. It’s includes so many things surrounded by human beings such as- existential crisis, Marxist ideology, psychology, Christian idea, socio-political matters, the effect of world war second and so on. The basic questions like-

Who is Godot? What is Godot? Whether Godot came or not? What are the questions that writer should ask?

At the end play end with hope.






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