Wednesday, 16 March 2016

Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett

In the play, first scene is a 'country road, a tree and evening'. It is very symbolical. Barren tree symbolizes negative things and it shows near to death. These paintings symbolize longing. Longing means desire for hope. Life is a endless process and our desires are also endless. First painting is dark and second is yellowish. but these painting shows harsh reality of our life.



 We cannot say that only tree is important in the setting instead it symbolizes many things. tree is connected with the religion of Christianity, Muslims and Hindus. In Hindu religion, trees like Ashoka and Pipal are used at auspicious occasions. These are some hidden symbols. In both the acts tree is more important because Vladimir thinks that Godot will come near by the tree. But Estragon doesn't think like this as his attention is only towards food or absurd things. A few leaves grow in Act II on the barren tree which symbolizes that time is static but we have to move on.  Leaves present hope in our life. If we connect this idea with Vladimir and Estragon's life, perhaps they have hope that someday Godot will come. In both acts, evening falls into night and moon rises. It shows that we  complete our routine work but ultimate reality is that at last we have to face death. ' coming of night and moon', it shows that whatever situation comes we have t face it and at last our hope and desire ends with death. whole day Vladimir and Estragon wait for Godot, even if they don't know about who is Godot? What is Godot? Where he will come but they wait for him.



 In the movie 'Waiting for Godot' director puts setting with some debris. After earthquake some bad things happens in place like many houses fall in the street or road. Here also director puts this thing. We can compare this thing with our life the whole life we are busy with one or another work but at last death comes. We compare debris with death. because both are natural process, we can't stop it. And when death comes, we have no language to express ourselves. Setting shows that directly Vladimir and Estragon waiting  for Godot but ultimate reality is death, so maybe they waiting for death.

The theme 'nothingness' shows that nothing is to be done in our life. because if we compare characters of Vladimir and Estragon, both are very paradoxical character. Vladimir is connected with mind and philosophy and Estragon is connected with food or physical aspect. So, if we minutely read these characters we don't see any difference because at last they have to go on. The play begins with 'nothing to be done' itself presents meaningless or hopelessness in our life.


Yes, I agree that 'Waiting for Godot' is positive play not pessimistic. Because we are waiting for something and think that some will come and solve our problems but finally no one comes and death comes. But this waiting for someone(Godot) is positive because it provides us positive support and because of this idea we have to move on. But this idea goes with believer of person otherwise it does not work and people think in practical way. As i saw it with my blood and skin and eyes, the philosophy is "No matter what atom bombs, hydrogen bombs, anything life goes on, you can kill yourself, but you can't kill me". It shows that we can't live with our philosophy. we have to follow these things in our life. One side atom bombs, hydrogen bombs produced and it kills many people but we have to go on. You can kill yourself, but you can't kill me, it shows individualistic idea.

 Boots and hat used is very symbolical. Vladimir playing with hat and it goes with thinking process. symbol of boot is of very lower level and absurd thing. relationship of Pozzo and Lucky presents master slave relationship. Behavior of lucky is very irritating and nauseatic. When he speaks we feel irritating because he speaks continuously and loudly. Sometimes some slavishness behaviour is seen in Lucky. It is habit for Lucky that he easily follows the commands of Pozzo, the master. That's why he obediently hands over the whip in his hand. Here we can give the example of Robinson Crusoe that how he treated Friday and aught everything. Master slave mentality presents the idea of superior and inferior.


 According to my point of view, I cannot target one point but interpretation of it is very vast. In our whole life, we always try to fulfill our dreams and hopes. it depends upon our situation and time that at the age of 22 or 25 we wait for a job so it goes through success. And at the age of 17 or 18 we wait for death. Godot  is compared with hope, desire, success and waiting for death.


Yes, I agree that the subject of the play is not Godot but it is waiting. We are waiting for something sometimes job, marriage etc. But at last we have to accept death. Waiting is an endless process for human beings. Here in this play also Vladimir and Estragon are waiting for Godot. But they don't know about Godot. Waiting is endless process and also the theme of the play.


According to my point of view, reading is better than watching the movie. But both things are necessary. When we read the play, we minutely read the dialogues between the characters and when we watch movie, through actions we get more ideas about the play. Though torrent of dialogues do not give ample time and space to think but through audio-visual effect we can get more concentration on characters.


 I liked the conversation of Vladimir with the boy. Title itself is "Waiting for Godot" and Vladimir also talks with little boy regarding God. When little boy comes the conversation as like follows :
V - Who are you?
Little Boy - I am messenger of Godot.
V - When will he come ?
LB - Tomorrow.
V - If Godot is bearded man ?
LB - No.
V - Is he fair, Black or Red ?
LB - White.


 Yes, At the end of the movie , I feel the effect of existential crises or meaninglessness of human existence in the irrational and in different Universe. During whole movie they are waiting for Godot but he never comes. So, Here we feel existential crises because they believe in God. According to Nietzsche "God is dead" means we have to believe in ourselves. Meaninglessness of human existence happens when we are waiting for someone. At last, nobody comes in the play, Vladimir and Estragon are tired of this situation.


 Vladimir and Estragon talk about ' Hanging' because they are tired with their life. They are waiting for Godot as he will come but this does not happen in their life. Idea of suicide is connected with our problems of life. If we can't face problems and struggle in our life, this idea comes but when we go through this reality we can't do it. Birth is not in our control as well as death. When person is tired with existence, he or she thinks about suicide.

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