Sunday 5 February 2023

Waiting for Godot

                               Thinking Activity 

Welcome readers! Here I am going to write down one another blog on Samuel Beckett 's Play - ' Waiting For Godot.' This blog is inspired by Dr.Dilip sir barad - Department of English, Bhavnagar University. This blog is also a part of our thinking activity. This particular blog contains total Eight question - answers based on this play. 

          ' Waiting For Godot ' :- 

Before discussing Further, First Let us have a brief Introduction about the Play and the author itself. 

  • Samuel Beckett :- 

     

 Samuel Barclay Beckett was an Irish Novelist, dramatist, Short story writer, theatre director,Poet and Literary translator. He was born on 13th April 1906 in Foxrock, Dublin, Ireland. Beckett 's literary and theatrical work features bleak, impersonal and tragicomic experiences of life, Often Coupled with black  comedy and nonsense. He is Considered one of the last modernist writers and one of the Key Figures in what Martin Esslin called the Theatre of Absurd.  

    Samuel Beckett wrote in both France and English language. He translated his own works. His experiences during World war - ll Insecurity, Confusion, exile , hunger, deprivation - came to shape his writing. He won Nobel prize in literature in the year 1969 " For his Writing , which - in new forms for  the novel and drama - in the destitution of modern man acquires its elevation. " 

  He died on 22nd December 1989 in Paris.

  • About the Play :- 

' Waiting for Godot ' is a Play by Samuel Beckett, in which two characters Vladimir(Didi) and Estragon ( Gogo) engage in a variety of discussions and simply passing their time while waiting the titular Figure - Godot who never comes. Waiting for Godot is Beckett 's translation of his own original French language play - ' En attendant Godot' is subtitled in English only  'a tragicomedy in two acts.'  This Play Originally written in French language and than Beckett himself translated it into English language. 

 

This Play First Performed on 5th January in the Year 1953. Waiting for Godot was a true innovation in drama and The Theatre of Absurd 's First theatrical success. 

Waiting for Godot belongs to the tradition of the Theatre of Absurd. It is unconventional in not depicting any dramatic conflicts. In the Play , Practically nothing happens , no development is to be found , there is no beginning and no end. In this Play Vladimir and Estragon both are waiting for Mr.Godot to come and with the arrival of Godot it will change their situation. But , that does not happen and Mr.Godot never arrives in the Play.

  Estragon :- Let's Go ! 

 Vladimir :- We can't.

 Estragon :- Why not ? 

Vladimir :- we are waiting for Godot.

 Estragon :- Oh! Yes! 

 

 

  There are only Five male characters in the Play. 

1. Vladimir

2. Estragon

3. Pozzo 

4. Lucky 

5. Boy - Comes as Mr.Godot's messenger  

   • One titular Figure - Mr.Godot 

 

  This Play shows us meaninglessness in life, Absurdist Fiction and also boredom in People's lives. This Play considered as the best example of the Theatre of Absurd. Also this Play can be read from various perspectives and Point of views like - Existentialism , As a religious Play, Political reading of the Play, Psychoanalytical and deconstructive Play.


 

                  Valdimir 

  Estragon 

  • More Practical 

  • Idealist, Claims to be a Poet 

  • Memory, Remembering about Past days.

  • Forgetfulness ( No Sense of Past ) 

  • Protector, Stronger 

  • Beaten , Weaker 

  • Hopeful 

  • Hopeless

  • Breathe Stinking 

  • Feet Stinking 

  • Worried For Lucky 

  • Food ( Appetite to be satisfied ).

  • Symbol of Hat which represents one's mind.

  • Symbol of Boot which represents one's Body.


  Pozzo 

Lucky 

  • Sadistic Master

  • Submissive Slave 

  • Body - Materialistic aspect 

  • Mind - Spiritual aspect 

  • Self arrogant 

  • Docile and meek 

  • Rich , Powerful and Certain about himself.

  • Oppressed by his master Pozzo 

  • Fake Tears - Crying to seek the attention of People.

  • He Danced for entertainment.

  • Goes blind in Act - 2.

  • Goes dumb in Act - 2.



Now , I will discuss some of the questions based on this play. 

My Response to the Questions :- 

1.1 :- Why does Beckett grow a few leaves in Act 2  on the barren tree - ' The tree has four or Five leaves' ? 

Answer :- As we know that Samuel Beckett got an Inspiration from ' Longing ' Painting by Caspar David Friedrich for the setting of this play - Waiting for Godot. In the beginning of Act - 2 Beckett grows a few leaves on the tree and he said that ; 
                                 ' The tree has Four or Five leaves' .


Setting of both the Plays are nearly same except the minor changes in Act - 2 where Four or Five leaves Flourished on the tree. If we see Tree as a symbol in this Play than it can be said that both the major characters - Vladimir and Estragon are Waiting for the character named Godot. They continuously waiting for Mr.Godot to come. The entire Play took Place on a Country road. Both the Characters are waiting until the moon rises. But, A Boy comes as a messenger of Mr.Godot and tell that Surely Mr. Godot will come tomorrow. So, In one way we can say that Four or Five leaves Flourished on the tree symbolises the hope of Vladimir and Estragon that oneday Mr.Godot will come and change their situation. 

   But, Here Samuel Beckett shows very clearly the indifference nature of human being through the symbol of tree. When someone is suffering, No one really cares about it. The leaves grow on the tree  because of its nature. Human suffering Presented by vladimir and Estragon in the Play - 'Waiting For Godot ' does not affect tree or nature to stop growing or blooming. So we can say that Human sorrow does not affect nature.

1.2 Can we do any Political reading of the Play if we see European nations represented by the names of the Characters. ( Vladimir - Russia,Estragon- France, Pozzo - Italy and  Lucky - England)? What Interpretation can be inferred from the Play written Just after World War-2 ? Which country stands for Godot?

Answer :- Yes,we can do Political reading of the Play. If we see from Political Perspective, we can understand that European nations represented by the names of the characters. Where Vladimir represents Russia,Estragon represents France , Pozzo represents Italy and Lucky represents England.

  The Play was written just after World War- 2. It is Possible to see it as a reflection on the chaos and uncertainty of the postwar era. As vladimir represents Russia, Estragon represents France. There is a history of Power Politics between France and Russia. Many Russian are in favour of France and many against and vice versa. But,still they are together like Estragon and Vladimir.

 Lucky and Pozzo's relationship is a master- slave Relationship. Pozzo is master and Lucky is his Slave. If we look at it from Political Point of view, Lucky represents England and pozzo represents Italy.

 Mr.Godot stands for Germany and Hitler. Throughout the play, two major characters vladimir and Estragon waiting for Godot to come , but he never arrives. So, Perhaps Mr.Godot is like Germany and  Hitler who does not  care for anyone.

 1.3 In Act 1,In reply to Boy's question: Boy : what am I tell Mr.Godot, Sir? Vladimir : Tell him ... ( he hesitates)...tell him you saw us. ( Pause)
You did see us, didn't you?

How does this conversation go in Act 2? what is the Significance ? 

Answer:- This Conversation between vladimir and the messenger Boy in act 2 is very much significant. Through this dialogue and Conversation we can understand that vladimir wants to Convey his pain and suffering. He wants that the boy should describe the situation to Mr.Godot that how they are suffering and with the arrival of Godot they can get rid of the suffering and sorrow. If we see the characteristics of both the major characters,  we came to know that vladimir is more Practical out of two. He remembered Past days. While,Estragon is forgetful. He even forgets that they are waiting for Mr.Godot. 


  In human life also,we all wants that God will look at our situation and will do something to make our Pain less. Vladimir and Estragon also wants the same thing. But,Nothing like happens in the Play. So this conversation in Act 2 is very much significant. 

 1.4 In both Acts,Evening falls into night moon rises. How would you like to Interprete this ' Coming of night and moon' when actually they are waiting for Godot?

Answer :- In the Play, when the sun sets and the moon rises, Indicating that another day of waiting for Godot has passed. Most of the time, Estragon sleeps and when he awakens and wants to leave this desolate place, but at that time vladimir reminds him that they have to wait for Godot, and again they both started for waiting.


 Night represents or symbolises the end of hope. While , Moon symbolises that still there is a ray of hope. So , the combination of night and moon rises gives an idea that vladimir and Estragon find a little hope in hopeless situation. 

1.5 What is the meaning of the terms - 'Apathia, Aphasia and Athambia ' In Lucky 's speech ?  .... divine apathia divine athambia divine aphasia loves us dearly with some exceptions for reasons unknown ..." 

Answer :- Meaning of the three words :- 

 ◇ Apathia :- Freedom or release from emotion or excitement- Lack of emotions and concerns.

◇ Aphasia :- Loss of the ability to  comprehend or express speech. Loss of communication. 

◇ Athambia :- To be in Capable of being upset or not easily excite.

 "....Divine apathia divine athambia divine aphasia loves us dearly with some exceptions for reasons unknown.."

 Lucky's monologue is the most deepest part of the Play. Towards the middle of part one in Samuel Beckett 's waiting for Godot , the character called Lucky gives a speech to the audience. Lucky delivers the audience a commentary on religion. The main theme however was the absence of God. However, it can also be translated to  God who is outside of time , meaning he is no longer connected with us. The fact that he would not be reaching in all directions, but it is humans that are attempting to reach out to him with no success.

  Lucky 's speech in reference to humanity's relationship with God. He uses the word Divine before each of these three words. So,we can clearly understathat Lucky's speech in Act - 1 is very much important and  significant also.

  1.6 " A better solution to tramp's Predicament than to wait - is ,suicide. " Is it really so?  Why they fail to commit suicide? 

 Answer :- This quotation describe the situation of Vladimir and Estragon, It also gives us an idea about Existential crisis.

  ▪︎ " A better solution to tramp's Predicament than to wait - is Suicide. "

In this Play none of the characters commits suicide , though it it is frequently discussed and attempted by Estragon and Vladimir. Their inability to commit suicide,  In fact gives way to their inability to do anything. They are framed within the situation. 

 Hence, For hanging g themselves the first problem to Gogo and Didi is the lack of rope and strong tree, that is the devices and tools of committing suicide are absent here. Secondly, they cannot leave each . If one hangs oneself successfully, and may be other can not. So anyone will remain lonely. Perhaps , Thinking and talking of suicide even trying it,may be a vision to them. It may be a way to pass the time.

 It deals with the idea of Existential Philosophy.  As a human we sometimes found our Existence meaningless and also the question arises in mind that Why we are here? What are we doing? Many times we have heard that it is better to die rather than to live.

I hope that this blog will be helpful to you..

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