Meaning of life: waiting for Beckett’s Godot
We live on a planet that revolves around the sun, while there are at least around a septillion of other stars in the universe. What is the meaning of our existence in this infinite cosmos? What is the purpose of our lives? With the explosion of scientific knowledge and the bombs of World War II at the time of modernity, the insignificance of our lives is carried out;Samuel Beckett stages the futility of human existence in the work waiting for Godot. Beckett explores the issue of futility/uselessness in an attempt to leave the public with questions about the meaning of life. The techniques and ways in which they do vary in relation to the scene, but depends large. All the characters that Beckett presents in his work are used as literary constructions to create the tone and environment in which they develop and examine the theme of futility. The issue of uselessness is linked to the philosophy of nihilism and is based on the belief that our universe is stochastic and, therefore, has no structure. If life does not have a coherent structure or meaning, ultimately, it can be seen as useless.
Beckett explores the theme of futility throughout the text in numerous ways. The uselessness is reflected in the cyclical nature of dialogue in the sense that nothing seems to change and everything is repeated simply. Your conversations never reach a definitive conclusion. Meanwhile, they are waiting for Godot and yearning for answers. Beckett uses the concept of time to highlight and develop the issue of futility in "waiting for Godot". Time can be seen as a very fluid concept in the sense that the audience never realizes how long Vladimir and Estragon have been waiting for Godot, only they have done so. The constant references of both Vladimir and Estragon that question whether the events happened when they forget everything or if they can be wrong in their memory of events, even more intensify the feeling of uselessness. Therefore, the sense that they have been waiting for too long to remember, and backed by the fact that the days are not named as time, it is a concept that has no relevance. Ultimately, time has no meaning for the characters, since they will do nothing until Godot comes, demonstrating the complete uselessness of their lives.
Another includes a scene in the second act, where Vladimir delivers his coat to hardogue, so that he can suffer the cold instead of a friend. During these altruistic moments, Beckett undermines any nihilistic conclusion about the work. However, it can be argued that, despite compassion and companionship in the work, everything is useless since the two still argue, and the two still ignore their purpose of waiting. That, in the end, no matter what emotions they can experience, since, ultimately, they will not remember, and they will still be waiting for a Godot who will not come and to a death that will do so.
Futility is also explored through a feeling of confusion, confusion and even the fact that they have lost their rights. First of all, conversations between Vladimir and Estragón almost do not have structure, there is no continuity;The conversations seem mainly in "non-sexidors". The characterization of the two characters is to portray them as perplexed. We analyze this during the first act, when the conversation goes from deep meaning and the ‘intimate nightmares’ to comedy, and mocks the English enunciation of ‘Caaam’ (10) as calm. Throughout the work, the two also seem to be extremely naive and the action only occurs during an attempted act of masturbation, and their behavior is obscene. The feeling of naivety makes the work useless, because there is "nothing to do" to change that and there is "nothing to do" to prevent those who suffer from physical pain or pain of meaningless conversations. In addition, futility develops even more when Vladimir and Estragón try to find out the date and time. The date and time, human constructs, are what bases us, and gives us a day structure;A schedule, but the lack of knowledge of time in the work supports that even something that shows us as human beings is to become really insignificant and that the only certainty in our lives is that time passes.
The repetition of ‘nothing to do’ is also a fundamental statement to explore the issue of futility. Throughout the work, regardless of what happens and who appears, the two cannot really do anything. An example of this is the extended use of the hat as a reason to think. No matter how hard you look at Vladimir, you can’t find the truth in your hat to the point where you become alarming. And even looking at the other hats, we can never completely escape our subjectivity and look into the eyes of others, and see their realities. Futility is present in the sense that there can never be an objective truth. This reinforces the idea that nothing can be done. It is also seen in the case of Pozzo and Lucky. A Marxist interpretation would immediately see that the false class consciousness prevents Vladimir and Habergón from helping Lucky, or letting Lucky help himself. The three are trapped, with nothing to do, but to obey the dominant pozzo. These are subject to elite theory by imitating the people who assumed in the first instance. Subsequently, there is also a useless vision even when Vladimir and Estragón realize that, in fact, they are not tied;They still do not take initiative. Realizing that a superior power is not retaining them, they do not move. Also, this is seen later in the work when Lucky dances even if he is released to dance, he does not dance with his potential, because there is nothing to do about the network of expectations that catches him, unless he abandons all right.
In summary, Beckett explores a series of issues by waiting for Godot, several of which have previously been discussed. Although numerous techniques are used to develop and influence the understanding of the public and the perception of the issues that it considers important, perhaps the most important tool, which Beckett uses, are the reasons and some characterization. The work can be considered very minimalist and, therefore, the dynamics between the characters is essential to demonstrate and explore the issue of futility. Ultimately, the issue of uselessness and the effect it has on relationships and attitudes can be considered the most significantly and extensively explored by Beckett. In conclusion, the uselessness is very involved in the work and Beckett explores through methods that have been explored in this essay.
Bibliography
- Beckett, Samuel. Waiting for Godot. Barcelona: Tusquets, 2003. Translation by Ana María Moix.
Leave feedback