Grove Press
The Absurdity of a Tragicomdy: An analytical book review on WAITING FOR GODOT
The Absurdity of a Tragicomedy
Ranging from its utter simplicity to one’s alienation from society, Beckett creates a Nobel Prize winner.
BY MICHELLE NING
The plot of Samuel Beckett’s play, Waiting for Godot is rather simple. Two tramps – Vladimir and Estragon – are sitting by an ailing mutated willow, waiting for Godot. Time passes as they argue over nonsense, tell stories, sleep, sing, play games, and gnaw on carrots. Midway through the first act, their waiting is interrupted by Pozzo and Lucky –master and slave – who were on their way to the market. The pair has been together for more than 60 years. In the presence of much mistreatment, Lucky continues to remain loyal to Pozzo. Throughout the play, Lucky only speaks once. As the thinking cap was put onto Lucky, he let out lengthy and disjointed verbal stream of coconsciousness. “…personal God quaquaquaqua with white beard quaquaquaqua time without extension who from the heights of divine…” (45). It was not long before everyone is annoyed, and the thinking cap was taken off. Both characters – Pozzo and Lucky – continue their journey after a tirade of more nonsense. As night approaches, a child who works for Mr. Godot comes with a message for Vladimir and Estragon.
“Mr. Godot told me to tell you he won’t come this evening but surely to-morrow.” (55). The reader would also be able to tell that this wait for Godot wasn’t their first. “VLADIMIR: It wasn’t you came yesterday? BOY: No Sir. VLADMIR: this is your first time? BOY: Yes Sir.” (55) It is not long till the reader is at Act Two. Beckett plays with the reader and creates a merry-go roundness continuation, when what has happened previously happens again, with the littlest changes. The act of waiting is repeated, and so is the tramps’ foolishness. However, to describe seasonal changes, a few leaves appear on the sickly willow. But this time, Lucky leads a blind Pozzo, both not remembering Vladimar or Estragon. This upholds the play’s absurdness. Again, another of Godot’s workers come – even though to the audience, it appears to be the same boy – and delivers the same message as before, and always. Towards the end, both characters decide to commit suicide. Not finding any rope, they decide to use Estragon’s belt. Unfortunately, it was too short, and breaks. Vladimar and Estragon announce that they will leave, but remain at the same spot as the curtain slowly falls. “VLADIMAR: Well? Shall we go? ESTRAGON: Yes, let’s go. They do not move. Curtain”
The reason why Godot can not come is simply because the two cannot wait for him. Where Estragon is, Godot is not. Time is the play’s title – an act of waiting. Nothing can be completed because nothing can be finished. “ESTRAGON: (giving up again) Nothing to be done.” (2) Scene after scene, the element of absurdity is being tested, and stretched to its maximum. In Act two, the sickly willow grows a few leaves, through this and many others, Beckett tries to prove that change is only an illusion. Beckett also tries to prove the meaning of absurdity through all characters – making them do abnormal things. To the reader’s mind, every detail that has been presented is very absurd. But, one should think of it in another’s perspective. ‘Did Vladimir, Estragon, or Pozzo think their own actions were absurd?’ The reader only thinks the play is absurd because neither of the characters resemble anything ordinary to our lifestyles.
WAITING FOR GODOT
A Play written by Samuel Beckett
110pp. Grove Press Publications. $10.00
After having read Waiting for Godot, every reader exits the last page carrying the same question. ‘Who is Godot?’ No one knows. Many have said that Godot was God, for everyone waits for God to come, but never is one able to fully see him. Perhaps, Pozzo might have been in carnation of God, or even, the slave might have been Godot – testing Vladimir’s and Estragon’s patience. As the play unfolds, one must just accept the fact that Godot will never come. Which also leaves the reader one last question. ‘What if Godot had come?’
About the Author
A high school student
Obscene – A Portrait of Barney Rosset and Grove Press
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