Waiting for Godot analysis PDF

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Existential analysis of Becket's Waiting for Godot....

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Why is “Waiting for Godot” considered an existentialist play? Many argue that Waiting for Godot cannot be considered an existential play, as Beckett himself never identified himself as one. Beckett never associated himself with philosophy saying, “I never read the philosophers” 1. However, focusing on what Beckett himself has said rather than on his play ignores one key aspect of the existentialist philosophy: freedom of choice. Beckett may have only claimed to not be an existentialist as to allow the reader to make up his or her own mind as to whether or not the play is existential. Whether or not the play was written with Beckett’s own philosophical outlook or whether he was following the trend of many other popular authors at the time, authors such as Camus, Sartre and de Beauvoir is still open to interpretation; nonetheless Beckett’s dramatic work is regarded as a major existentialist literary work. This essay will answer the question as to why Waiting for Godot is considered an existentialist play by looking at parts of the play through the philosophy. Existentialism emphasises individual existence, freedom and choice. It is the view that only the humans themselves can give life a meaning. It is focused on the question of human existence and the feeling that there is no purpose to life at the core of existence. It also holds that there is no God, the only way to counter this nothingness in life is by embracing existence.2 One of the major doctrines of existential philosophy is the absence of God. Godot can be compared to the God of western civilisation in many ways throughout Waiting for Godot despite Beckett himself claiming that this was untrue3. Throughout the play there are many different elements that indicate that Godot may represent God. The first and most obvious is that Godot is similar with God in pronunciation which is likely to create a link between God and Godot in the audience’s mind. The boy in the play draws similarities between God and Godot when describing Godot’s physical features, “Vladimir: Has he a beard, Mr. Godot? Boy: Yes, sir. Vladimir: Fair or… or black? Boy: I think it's white, Sir.”4 In the Holy Bible John recorded he had seen the revived Savior in Revelation. He wrote, “he has golden belt in his waist. His hair is as white as snow like wool.5 Godot also draws similarities with God as seen as both vengeful,“Estragon: And if we dropped him? (Pause.) If we dropped him? Vladimir: He'd punish us.”6 and a saviour, “Vladimir: ...Unless Godot comes. Estragon: And if he comes? Vladimir: We’ll be saved”.7 Even though they both

1 Fletcher, John. “Samuel Beckett and the Philosophers”. Comparative Literature 17.1 (1965): 43–56. 2 http://www.philosophybasics.com/branch_existentialism.html (17/03/16) 3 Brater, Enoch. The Essential Samuel Beckett: An Illustrated Biography, (revised edition, 2003) ISBN 0-500-28411-3, p. 75 4 Beckett, Samuel. Waiting For Godot. London: Faber and Faber, 1965. Print. P.85

5 Wing, Jang. The Religious Meaning in Waiting for Godot.Published in English Language Teaching Vol. 4, No. 1; March 2011. P.197 6 Beckett. P.86 7 Ibid. P.87

have the freedom to leave, they “do not move” 8 as they still believe in Godot's existence and they’ve established that Godot will ‘save’ them. Soren Kierkegaard is generally considered to have been the first existentialist philosopher.9 He claimed that solely the individual is responsible for giving meaning to life and not society or religion.10 The questioning of God's existence is a key aspect of the existentialist philosophy as it gives human beings the freedom to decide what to be faithful to in order to chase their aspirations in their lives. Beckett may also be saying that too much faith in God as Vladimir and Estragon have in Godot is unbeneficial. One of the major post war French existentialist writers Camus described the futility of life in an essay The Myth of Sisyphus. Camus uses Sisyphus; a figure that was condemned to push a stone up a mountain to have it fall right the way back down again once it reaches the top for all eternity.11 The Ancient Greeks felt that nothing was as bad a punishment as futile and pointless labour. He uses the myth as a metaphor that describes human existence: it is futile. It relates to Vladimir and Estragon. It is common in human nature for people to begin analysing their lives and deciding which direction to take next. Some may also wonder whether their hard work is going to be rewarding in the long scheme of things to come. When applied to the play the same may be seen with Estragon and Vladimir, it is unknown how long the pair have actually been waiting for Godot, however they stay despite Godot never turning and is henceforth a futile action. Estragon lives a very hard life he ‘spends the night in a ditch’12 and is ‘beaten by a usual lot of attackers’. Rather than take action to try and better his life he instead claims there is “nothing to be done”13 but wait for Godot. It shows that if in life you do not have initiative then life will pass you, the existentialist argues that action must be taken to live a good life. Albert Camus also claimed “there is but one truly serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide”. Judging whether life is or not worth living amounts to answering the fundamental question of philosophy”.14 Both Estragon and Vladimir do not fear death it instead appears to them as a solution to their futile lives. They contemplate suicide twice throughout the play as if it were a normal day-to-day choice they have to make similar to when they decide to cross a road. The pair think it will be a good idea as “it’d give us an erection”.15 This mass sacrifice just to get some arousal signifies the emptiness of Vladimir and Estragon’s life. “Don’t let’s do anything” 16 thats their conclusion, both men are afraid of the consequences if the plan fails, the attempt to rationally solve the problem brings all types of trouble so it is best 8 Beckett. P.87 9 Marino, Gordon. Basic Writings of Existentialism(Modern Library, 2004, p. ix, 3). 10 Lowrie, Walter. Kierkegaard's attack upon "Christendom" (Princeton, 1969, pp. 37-40). 11Camus, Albert. The Myth of Sisyphus, and Other Essays. London: H. Hamilton, 1965. 12 Beckett. P.1 13 Ibid. P.1 14 Camus. 15 Beckett. P.9 16 Beckett. P.10

to do nothing, as it is “safer”.17They decide to “wait and see what he (Godot) says”18 when he arrives, hoping that he will give their lives purpose a meaning. They will make no effort to change their lives bar waiting for Godot to turn up, “they do not move”.19 Camus also says that “to tell the truth, it is a futile question. On the other hand, I see many die because they judge that life is not worth living”.20 When put into the context of the play Estragon and Vladimir wish to commit suicide and end their lives, as their lives have no meaning, they also live in constant suffering, a good representation of this is Estragon’s struggle to get his boot on and off again.21 However, they view that Godot’s arrival will be a greater escape from their current position than suicide. This is existential as the existentialist would argue that it is only the man himself that can bring meaning in his own life. The existentialist takes responsibility for his own actions and life, Vladimir and Estragon’s inaction to do anything but rely on Godot’s appearance disagrees with existential philosophy. The theme of morality is a large aspect of the existentialist philosophy as it relates to the concept of freedom and choice. It is demonstrated most clearly through Lucky and Pozzo. Lucky is depicted as being a slave to Pozzo so his sole purpose is to take orders. Despite having the free will to run away from his master he does not. Beckett may disagree with the idea of free will. The play’s protagonists Vladimir and Estragon are searching for meaning in their lives whereas Lucky isn’t. It may be that Lucky is an embodiment of his name. His life has purpose as he is a slave, his purpose is to simply do as he is told. The existentialist philosopher Kierkegaard claimed we couldn’t make moral choices without an appeal to existing standards whether that be to maximise happiness, seek our own advantage to please God or so on.22 It is possible that he chooses not to leave as he is free from responsibility and doesn’t worry about what he will do with his life; he is told what to do. Lucky acts as if he were a slave which now gives his life purpose. In conclusion, existential philosophy in the play shows the themes of existence, freedom of choice, the nature of morality and whether life is worth living. God’s perceived existence gives people faith to carry on in life and gives them a purpose similar to how Estragon and Vladimir view Godot, however they don’t possess the freedom to choose how they should spend their lives. The nature of morality shows morals can lead us to make good decisions in life. From this it can be seen that existentialism is a large influence in the play, it reveals lots about the nature of society and human nature through the characters.

Word Count: 1,427 17 Beckett. 18 Beckett. P.10 19 Beckett. P.87 20 Camus. 21 Beckett. 22 http://www.sevenoaksphilosophy.org/ethics/existentialist-ethics.html (17/03/16)

Bibliography ● Beckett, S. ‘Waiting for Godot.’ London: Faber and Faber, 1956. ● Fletcher, J. ‘Samuel Beckett and the Philosophers.’ Comparative Literature, 17(1), 1965. ● Brater, Enoch. ‘The Essential Samuel Beckett: An Illustrated Biography.’, 2003. ● Wing, Jang. The Religious Meaning in Waiting for Godot. Published in English Language Teaching Vol. 4, No. 1; March 2011. ● Marino, Gordon. ‘Basic Writings of Existentialism’ (Modern Library, 2004). ● Lowrie, Walter. Kierkegaard's attack upon "Christendom" (Princeton, 1969). ● Camus, Albert. The Myth of Sisyphus, and Other Essays. London: H. Hamilton, 1965. ● Mastin, L. (2008). Existentialism - By Branch / Doctrine - The Basics of Philosophy. http://www.philosophybasics.com/branch_existentialism.html ● Sevenoaksphilosophy.org. PHILOSOPHY — Ethics. http://www.sevenoaksphilosophy.org/ethics/existentialist-ethics.html...