Waiting For GodotWaiting For Godot

(Samuel Beckett, 1948 / 1951)(Samuel Beckett, 1948 / 1951)

BackgroundBackground

The world of 1951 Europe and The world of 1951 Europe and Waiting for Waiting for Godot Godot was characterized by was characterized by dearthdearth and and lacklack. . World War II in Europe had seen 50,000,000 World War II in Europe had seen 50,000,000 people murdered in the name of God or people murdered in the name of God or country. Existentialism and a grim Modernist country. Existentialism and a grim Modernist outlook arose from the ashes of Romanticism. outlook arose from the ashes of Romanticism. It gave rise to the idea that the ultimate It gave rise to the idea that the ultimate responsibility for who you are lies with responsibility for who you are lies with youyou, not , not with the state, Christianity or tradition. All with the state, Christianity or tradition. All these had failed the people of Europe during these had failed the people of Europe during the war, had supported all the bloodshed. the war, had supported all the bloodshed. Enter Beckett. Enter Beckett.

Play exhibits that the Play exhibits that the world lacks…world lacks…

Safety:Safety: p.7, p. 37 the “they” that p.7, p. 37 the “they” that frequently beats Gogo frequently beats Gogo

Lacks…Lacks…

Loving relationships:Loving relationships: couples rarely help couples rarely help each other or only out of desire to gain each other or only out of desire to gain (money from Pozzo) or fear of retribution.(money from Pozzo) or fear of retribution.

Lacks…Lacks…

Life:Life: barren landscape, only one tree barren landscape, only one tree that finally develops a few leaves. p. 8, that finally develops a few leaves. p. 8, p.9 describing Dead Sea, mocking p.9 describing Dead Sea, mocking Romantic notions of Nature “you should Romantic notions of Nature “you should have been a poet”; p. 57“they [women] have been a poet”; p. 57“they [women] give birth astride a grave”give birth astride a grave”

Lacks…Lacks…

Healing:Healing: p. 43 Gogo’s leg would p. 43 Gogo’s leg would festering; p. 17 Lucky’s “running sore”festering; p. 17 Lucky’s “running sore”

Lacks…Lacks…

Reliability:Reliability: Gogo and Didi often fickle, Gogo and Didi often fickle, leave on a whim. Sometimes present but leave on a whim. Sometimes present but rarely truly helpful. rarely truly helpful.

Lacks…Lacks…

OrderOrder: uncertain of day of week p. 11, : uncertain of day of week p. 11, time of day – dawn or dusk? p. 55 time of day – dawn or dusk? p. 55

Lacks…Lacks…

Answers/rational thought:Answers/rational thought: p. 14 Socratic p. 14 Socratic questioning leads in circles while “the questioning leads in circles while “the essential doesn’t change”essential doesn’t change”

Lacks…Lacks…

Faith:Faith: p. 9 cannot rely on the apostles p. 9 cannot rely on the apostles even to get the story of the crucifixion even to get the story of the crucifixion right. If Godot symbolizes God, he never right. If Godot symbolizes God, he never shows up or keeps his appointment.shows up or keeps his appointment.

Lacks…Lacks…

Salvation:Salvation: Godot never comes, p. 48 Godot never comes, p. 48 “tree [nature] will not have been the “tree [nature] will not have been the slightest use to us”slightest use to us”

Lacks…Lacks…

Hope:Hope: Despair is the Despair is the crux of the tonecrux of the tone, , pp. 31/32 the futility of purpose or lack pp. 31/32 the futility of purpose or lack thereof; p. 40 “puked by life away”; p. 42 thereof; p. 40 “puked by life away”; p. 42 despite it being springtime despite it being springtime

Lacks…Lacks…

Decorum/respectability:Decorum/respectability: p. 17, Lucky p. 17, Lucky “lucky” because he’s gaining erection “lucky” because he’s gaining erection with each tortuous tug; p. 60 Didi’s and with each tortuous tug; p. 60 Didi’s and Gogo’s desire to choke themselves for Gogo’s desire to choke themselves for erectionerection

Lacks…Lacks…

Excitement:Excitement: everything is the same. The everything is the same. The world never changes. History repeats world never changes. History repeats itself and we can only erroneously view itself and we can only erroneously view the past with nostalgia.the past with nostalgia.

Lacks…Lacks…

Courage:Courage: fear of being alone, p. 59 fear fear of being alone, p. 59 fear of punishment if they don’t wait for Godot of punishment if they don’t wait for Godot

Lacks…Lacks…

Youth:Youth: all characters are old, outdated, even all characters are old, outdated, even pining for the past, as if Gay 90s had any merit. pining for the past, as if Gay 90s had any merit. Shows how relegated to dustbin of history Shows how relegated to dustbin of history these characters are. Exception: The boy. these characters are. Exception: The boy. But he cowed by the older characters.But he cowed by the older characters.

Lacks…Lacks…

Resolution/Climax:Resolution/Climax: The fiction cycle is The fiction cycle is also missing. If the older generation’s also missing. If the older generation’s mistakes are addressed, no solution is mistakes are addressed, no solution is offered. If it’s tragic, no anagnorisis or offered. If it’s tragic, no anagnorisis or catharsis arrives.catharsis arrives.

Godot = God? Godot = God?

If not, why not? What does this mean If not, why not? What does this mean about the world of the play? about the world of the play?

If so, what is God like? Why do Didi and If so, what is God like? Why do Didi and Gogo wait around for him instead of Gogo wait around for him instead of seeking a better life? (What other options seeking a better life? (What other options do they have in the play?) do they have in the play?)

But…life and the play But…life and the play possessespossesses

Freedom. We are not bound by the Freedom. We are not bound by the human tendency to cling to the predictable human tendency to cling to the predictable and traditional. We are free to make our and traditional. We are free to make our own choices instead of playing the foolish own choices instead of playing the foolish roles of Didi and Gogo.roles of Didi and Gogo.

(Are we? Why do they stay and wait for (Are we? Why do they stay and wait for Godot instead of going elsewhere?)Godot instead of going elsewhere?)

The Play Offers…The Play Offers…

Perspective: seeing through the Perspective: seeing through the nonsense routine of everyday life. nonsense routine of everyday life.

The play/life possesses…The play/life possesses…

COMPANIONSHIP? COMPANIONSHIP?

Does WFG represent any human Does WFG represent any human relationships as being worthwhile? Why, relationships as being worthwhile? Why, or why not? or why not?