Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett
Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett
Hoping that God will show up
Waiting for Godot is a fascinating play, although it took me a while to grasp a little more of its flavour and get to like it. This morning I have listened to the play for the third time. Once I saw it on stage, at Nottara.
Godot seems to be a symbol for God, with Death included perhaps in the name.
Beckett has denied the explanation found for the name “Godot”, but I have read that critics feel this is the meaning and because Tod means death in German, the title of the play may make us think of that too.
Indeed, at one point in the play there is talk of Christ and his walking barefoot. The tone is quite often light and the undertones may be humorous and comical. There is a rebuttal:
- Christ walked barefoot, but we must think of the weather he had there. It was all dry, warm and sunny- words to that effect.
I am influenced by the actor who is playing one part or another. Because I loved the interpretation of Pozzo, that character is the one I prefer, even if Vladimir or Estragon play more important roles and should have been the first choices
When I saw Godot (or better said, waited for him to show up) on stage, the actor playing Pozzo gave an excellent performance and the same thing happened in the adaptation for the radio that I enjoyed last. I am speaking of different actors, but similar, wonderful acting.
The play made me think about Godot- or is it God? Most of us wait for Him (it could not be her with a name like that- could it?).
In expectation, we may act silly, like Vladimir and Estragon. We even get depressed and suicidal- the two tramps talk about hanging themselves.
The idea that Godot id God gains some ground- I think – when a child appears as a messenger of the said Godot. Angelic, innocent- he may be playing the angel.
Even if, the next day, the same “angelic” creature seems to be playing an evil game for a “God „that tricks and fools men. It may be just the confusion in the mind of both Estragon and Vladimir who act foolishly most of the time.
There may be a different explanation or no significance at all. We are dealing with absurd theater and this may be exactly the point:
We are living in a world where there is no God
Godot seems to encourage that message, without going into details like when he shows up, if he does, I will say that Godot seems to act irrationally and not at all like the “God” that we have read about in the bible
This is an absurd deity, if he is one at all.
Vladimir and Estragon are entertaining and we get some good doses of fun:
- Let’s go…nobody moves
Very often I get amused just by hearing Pozzo, say …Pozzo! But it is the excellent acting that can make me enjoy simple lines and make them extraordinary.
There is a kind of miracle, whereby a tree without leaves becomes green and with full foliage…over night.
“…Estragon recoils.) You stink of garlic!
VLADIMIR:
It's for the kidneys. (Silence. Estragon looks attentively at the tree.) What do we do now?
ESTRAGON:
Wait.
VLADIMIR:
Yes, but while waiting.
ESTRAGON:
What about hanging ourselves?
VLADIMIR:
Hmm. It'd give us an erection.
ESTRAGON:
(highly excited). An erection! „
There a few ways to read Waiting For Godot, I guess
- One would be to look for symbols, hidden significances, meaning behind the words
- Another way is to just enjoy the hilarious situations, with erections, smelly feet and craziness
It seems that pazzo is the Italian word for crazy.
And that’s how we could look not just at Pozzo, but at all the characters and play.
You can read it online or download it legally at the Gutenberg Project site
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