Assignment : paper no. 107
Topic: Gender and Unity of the Self Wirginia Woolf's Orlando
Name: Bhavna Sosa
Paper- The Twentieth Century Literature: From World War ll to end of the Century
Roll no- 02
Enrollment no- 4069206420210034
Email ID - bhavnasosa211@gmail.com
Batch-2021-23(MA Sem-2)
Submitted to- S. B. Gardi Department of English. Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University.
Introduction : -
Absurdity means meaninglessness, purposelessness, silly, strange, incongruence, ridiculousness, bizarre, nonsense. An absurdity is a thing that is awfully unreasonable, so as to be foolish or not taken seriously, or the state of being so. According to Oxford English Dictionary, Absurdity means “the quality or state of being ridiculous or widely unreasonable”. The word absurd was coined by “Martin Esslin to delineatethe anti-realistic post-war drama of playwrights as Beckett, Arthur Adamov, and Jean Genet” (Nelson, 1993, p. 67). Absurd play is the complete denial of old values. It has no plot, no characterization, no logical sequence, no rising, and falling action, on story, no clear theme, no proper beginning, middle, and end, no pointed dialogues and finally its language is not poetic.
Absurdity is in fact a condition where man is compelled to exist without his individualism in society and hence does not posses any degree of effective communication (Robert, 1995). Martin Esslin at first used this term in his writing. The term actually used to delineate the nonsensical, irrational, meaningless, purposeless, foolish, and silly aspects of human life. The French philosopher Albert Camus also believed, ““Accepting the absurdity of everything around us is one step, a necessary experience: it should not become a dead end. It arouses a revolt that can become fruitful” There are many dramas in literature world based upon the philosophy of absurdism. Absurdism is applied to the plays written in the 1950, and 1960, by the writers including Samuel Beckett, Edward Albee, and Holder Pinter. Among those writers Samuel Beckett is more important because he has written many plays. “Waiting for Godot” was his first play which proved to be the most successful absurd play.
Themes of the Waiting for Godot :-
Theme is an idea that pervades a novel, play or poem. “Waiting for Godot” contains much complex and interesting themes. Samuel Becket wrote this play with a new style but his thematic concept was not different form other writers. However, there is a kind of diversity in themes of “Waiting for Godot”.
Lots of subjects are covered in this play. Its single theme “nothing to be done” gets good attention. Samuel Becket shows a purposeless life. It does not have any story or plot, therefore, success of “Waiting for Godot” is dependent only on its remarkable themes. Following are some major themes that Samuel Beckett presents in “Waiting for Godot”:
Nothing to be done.
Importance of hope
Sufferings
Absurdity
Difference in human race
Relationship
Existentialism
Themes of “Meaninglessness” and “Nothing to be Done” in Waiting for Godot: -
“Nothing to be done” is one of the most criticized themes of “Waiting for Godot”. Vivian Mercier once said: It is a play in which nothing happens twice”.
-Viviana Mercie
We can’t deny that nothing happens in this play. Estragon and Vladimir enter on stage talk, perform useless actions and exit. Second act is a copy of first act with minute difference of dialogues. In whole play one asks a question to the other “what to do?” Other replies “nothing to be done”. It also starts with the same dialogue. Play goes on depicting this theme and finally ends with nothingness.
Symbolically, this theme has much importance. It defines the journey of life; a journey from nothingness to nothingness. We come in the world but what is our purpose here? What is our identity? Samuel Becket does not answer these questions instead he asks from the audience. He himself does not know their answers. Every person in this world is like Estragon and Vladimir, who is waiting for something but most of the time he cannot get what he wants and life ends just like the play ends. Both acts of the play end with despair. Nothing happens in them. “Nothing to be done” illustrates a meaningless life.
Meaninglessness of Life: -
How is life meaningless? Newton came in the world and presented laws of motion. Was his life meaningless? Most of us would probably answer negatively. His laws are helpful for the whole world then how his life was meaningless? Well, Newton’s laws are meaningless for him now. Not for us but for him. He died and took nothing with him. His laws are no more helpful for him. In this way, life is meaningless for him. As mentioned earlier, life is a journey from nothingness to nothingness. It is much difficult to understand meaninglessness. Let’s try to understand situation of Estragon and Vladimir with an example.
A person has been waiting for train for five minutes on railway station. After five minutes train arrives and he leaves. His five minutes were meaningless because in that time “he had nothing to be done”.
It should be remembered that there is a difference between “nothing done” and “nothing to be done”. “Nothing done” strengthens theory of existentialism.
Importance of hope: -
Without hope, there is nothing in life. Optimism comes to an end without it. Thus, hope is necessary if one wants to live. This play also depicts this important theme. It forces us to think twice on the importance of hope. Estragon and Vladimir has nothing to be done yet they are hopeful. It is only hope due to which they are alive and waiting for Godot. “Godot” may be a help or maybe God but one thing is clear that both of them are hopeful about their future. They think that Godot will come and change their lives. The play ends with nothingness but “wait and hope” never ends. Estragon and Vladimir will come again tomorrow at the same place and will wait for Godot until his arrival. In this way, hope is one of the major themes of “Waiting for Godot”. .
Sufferings of Life: -
Suffering also falls in category of major themes of “Waiting for Godot”. We witness sufferings of Vladimir and Estragon in this play. They are living a miserable life. Estragon has been beaten by strangers every night but he is helpless. God has created this world and has forgotten it after its creation. It seems that Samuel Becket has given this message to the audience. Apart from Estragon and Vladimir, Lucky is also suffering. His life is more miserable than them. Sufferings of slavery class are evident in this play. We can say that Estragon and Vladimir are responsible for their miserable condition but Lucky is a slave and he cannot help himself. He can just wait for good times i.e. only death. Perhaps, he would find something good in afterlife. But in this life, he can’t get peace. Vladimir’s speech in this context is helpful. He says:-
“Was I sleeping while the others suffered? Am I sleeping now? Tomorrow, when I wake, or think I do, what shall I say of today?….can’t go on. What have I said?”
Waiting for Godot – Existentialism
Themes of Absurdity and Ridiculousness in “Waiting for Godot”: -
Becket shows the world a way of escaping from sufferings of life. Life can be spent like Estragon and Vladimir: doing nothing, having irrational behavior, passing the ball and act ridiculously. Perhaps, absurdity is the only way to get through life. This is also a method to avoid criticism as it has been said that the best way to avoid criticism is to do nothing. Personally, I think that it is the most difficult way to get through life. While doing nothing and repeating silly actions, one can pass seconds but not whole life. It seems that Becket has preferred absurdity over existentialism. Anyhow, he has shown a way to go through life i.e. absurdity.
Difference in Human Races: -
Difference in human races is also evident in this play. This theme has importance of its own. Lucky is a symbol of slavery class, whereas Pozzo refers feudalism. These characters present two types of human races. One is miserable, whereas second is happy. Samuel Becket has shown the inferiority of lower class and superiority of upper class.
Theme of Relationship: -
It is another important theme of “Waiting for Godot”. Samuel Becket portrays different types of human relationships. There are four kinds of individuals in the play. Every character is a separate entity. Individually, they refer something but in a relationship they indicate something else. Vladimir’s problems are mental; Estragon’s physical. Pozzo and Lucky are presented to show the two races of men. But when these individuals are put into relations, they perform an important role. Nevertheless, three types of relationships are there in the play:
Relationship between Estragon and Vladimir
Association of Pozzo and Lucky
Relationship of Estragon and Vladimir with Godot.
Relationship between Estragon and Vladimir: -
First relationship is between Estragon and Vladimir. They both are dependent on each other. Vladimir is eloquent, intellectual, cultured than Estragon. He knows Latin. He is politer than Estragon. On the other hand, Estragon is volatile. He likes telling funny stories. He is less intellectctual as compared to Vladimir. Difference between both of them can be seen in a beautiful dialogue of Estragon. “He has stinking breath and I have stinking feet” Although their personalities are in contrast to each other but they both make a strong relationship. Samuel Becket depicts relationship between two contrasting personalities. They fight each other but still they are friends. Exact period of their friendship is unknown but we know that their past is more promising than their future. Of course, there is a strange friendship between them. They are companions of a long journey. They fight but cannot live separate. There is a difference in their thinking, in their style of living, in their speaking and finally in their philosophy. Both don’t know their future and waiting for hope i.e. Godot. Their life is miserable but strong relationship between both of them gives them hope. They can’t survive if separated. Their bond is strong. Neither Estragon can leave Vladimir nor can Vladimir leave Estragon. Their relationship lays “somewhere between fatigue and ennui”. Vladimir’s dialogue in this regard is helpful. While recalling his memory he says:-
“In the nineties, hand in hand, from the top of the Eiffel Tower, among the first. We were presentable in those days. Now its too late. They wouldn’t even let us up.”
-Waiting for Godot
Thus, they are friends. Since when? We don’t know. But they need each other. It is evident from famous dialogue between the two;
“Don’t touch me! Don’t question me! Don’t speak to me! Stay with me!”
-Waiting for Godot
When one gives up waiting for Godot, the second gives hope. When second gives up , first motivates him. Whole play goes on in this way. When Estragon is beaten by strangers, Vladimir shows kindness and pretends like he is protecting him. They need to fight and abuse each other in order to pass their time. Strong relationship between both these two is evident that Samuel Becket willfully portrayed theme of relationship in “Waiting for Godot”.
Association of Pozzo and Lucky: -
In theme of relationship of “Waiting for Godot”, Lucky and Pozzo are at second. In first act of the play, lucky is presented as a slave, whereas Pozzo as the master. Lucky presents the modern slavery system, which is worst then actual slavery. He is the representative of dog-like human race; a race which has no value at all. Lucky’s character presents a miserable miserable condition of humanity. Samuel Becket symbolizes Pozzo as a cruel master. More cruelty has been shown in the scene when Lucky eats bones.
Second relationship between both of them is of gods and human. Gods are masters of the universe. They can do anything with humans. Pozzo is symbol of god and Lucky as a puppet in his hands. He can be cruel to him or merciful. Lucky has to accept his orders in any case. There is also one thing common between both of them; Lucky and Pozzo are interdependent. Pozzo cannot go anywhere without his slave. It also reveals that feudal class through is superior yet cannot do anything without slaves. Pozzo and Lucky are symbolic characters. Estragon and Vladimir though are dependent yet they are separate individuals but in case of Pozzo and Lucky, they are not two but one. Thus, their bond is stronger than Estragon and Vladimir. Relation between Lucky and Pozzo proves that “Waiting for Godot” is a clear depiction of theme of relationship.
Relationship of Estragon and Vladimir with Godot: -
Last relationship is between Godot and Estragon-Vladimir. Both are waiting for him. They do not go anywhere because they don’t want to miss him. What is Godot? it has never been answered in the play. Samuel Becket has also not answered this question. Godot then perhaps is God. Both the characters are waiting for Him, who will come and guide them. Perhaps he will come and given them a task. They cannot even move from that place without Godot. They cannot go anywhere without Him. Thus, they have no other choice except waiting for Him. Thus, there is a relationship between God and human. They are Christians by religious, therefore, they strongly believe on the existence of God. Perhaps, they are waiting for Almighty’s help.
Godot may also be called a symbol of hope. Even then there is a relationship between them and hope. They have become hopeless, therefore, want drift in their lives. It is a relationship, which can always be found in every person. It does not matter whether a person believes on a religion or not, he has hope in his life. Otherwise, without hope, no one is ready to stay in this world. Hence, a connection between hope and humans has very beautifully been presented by Samuel Becket.
These three relationships are related to humans and other entities. Some relations are humans to humans, whereas remaining are humans to other objects. Becket has closely observed life and found that these are main relationships, which every person observes his whole life. Thus, these are witnessed by every person, if he has a prudent mind. To conclude, following relationships completes the theme of relationship in “Waiting for Godot”.
Existentialism” is among Major Themes of “Waiting for Godot”: -
It is a wider topic and needs explanation. “Existentialism” is the most important theme of “Waiting for Godot”. In order to understand this theme we must have knowledge about the theory of Existentialism. However, in simple words it means that every person is responsible for his actions and no second person is pulling his strings or controlling his fate. In other words (from oxford), existentialism emphasizes the existence of the individual person as a free.
Estragon, Vladimir, Pozzo and Lucky: are they all free? Are they themselves responsible for their actions. Can’t say “Yes” nor can say “No”. Lucky is not free. A person who is slave from childhood can’t do anything to change his life. People beat Estragon every night and he is helpless.
Samuel Becket has not answered the above said questions. We see every character has freewill yet some limitations are imposed on them. In the case of Lucky, someone is pulling his strings whereas in the case of Pozzo, Estragon and Vladimir they are free.
Conclusion :-
Themes of “Waiting for Godot” directly strike the minds of the audience and give this play a good success. It seems that Samuel Becket, very minutely and after experiments, has rendered various themes in “Waiting for Godot”. Hence, there is no denying the fact that themes give this play a striking success.
References :-
Journal of Humanities And Social Science (IOSR-JHSS)Volume 25, Issue 12, Series 2 (December. 2020) 34-37e-ISSN: 2279-0837, p-ISSN: 2279-0845.www.iosrjournals.org
DOI: 10.9790/0837-2512023437 www.iosrjournals.org 34 |Page
-Themes of Waiting for Godot / Thematic Concept of Semuel Beckett https://askliterature.com
No comments:
Post a Comment