Hello readers, I'm writing this blog as a response to Dilip Barad sir's task. Here, I'm trying to answer some questions about Samuel Beckett's 'Waiting for Godot'.
Que 1) Why does Beckett grow a few leaves in Act II on the barren tree - The tree has four or five leaves?
->In the first scene the tree was destroyed so we can interpret and connect it with world war-2 because this play was written just after war and in the second act this tree has leaves so it stands for changing nature. Tree suggest the presence of nature in the ruined setting. In fact, Hopelessness presented through it because a tree without a leaf is like life without breath. But, in act II there are few leaves growing on barren tree. It shows the hope of rebirth. Beckett very cleverly highlights the indifference nature of human being through this tree, as in real society also, when someone is suffering, then the other will be happy or celebrating their happy days, no one cares about the suffering. Humans always remain indifferent towards the suffering of others.
Que 2) Can we do any political reading of the play if we see European nations represented by the 'names' of the characters (Vladimir- Russia; Estragon - France; Pozzo - Italy and Lucky-England)? What interpretation can be inferred from the play written just after World War II? Which country stands for 'Godot'?
->This interpretation can be inferred from the play written just after World War II. All these countries were lost in their gimmicks and passing time in wait for something good to come out. What actually turned out to be the end of Waiting, in the form of Godot, was the Second World War and the rise of Hitler. Thus, Germany stands for Godot as per this view. European nations represented by the names of the characters. Vladimir represents Russia and Estragon represents France. There is a history of power politics between France and Russia. Many Russians are in favor of France and many against and vice versa. But still they are together just like Estragon and Vladimir.
Pozzo represents Italy and Lucky represents England, as in political reading Italy tries to impose their ideas and rule over England.
Germany stands for Godot. As Hitler was ruling in Germany, and the way he excommunicated the Jews from his country is very much significant and relevant to the play. Both the tramps one or another way thrown by their nations. The way they wait for Godot is similar to the way Jews wait for Hitler to accept them.
Que 3) In Act I, in reply to Boy's question:
"BOY: What am I to tell Mr. Godot, Sir?
VLADIMIR: Tell him... (he hesitates)... tell him you saw us. (Pause.) You did see us, didn't you?
How does this conversation go in Act II? What is the significance?
->The change in both the acts between Vladimir and the messenger, boy is very significant. In the Act 1 Vladimir tells the boy to tell Godot that you saw us. In a way Vladimir wants the boy to describe their situation. How they are suffering and how they eagerly want to get rid of it. In human life also, we want God to look at our situation and will do something to make our pain less. We always hope that God will change our fortune and will turn our sad days into happy days but this will never happen. In Act 2 Vladimir tells the boy to tell Godot that you saw me. Here, Vladimir wants to save only his life at the end of the play. He seems selfish.
Que 4) In both Acts, evening falls into night and moon rises. How would you interpret this 'coming of night and moon' when actually they are waiting for Godot?
->Beckett wants to highlight the indifferent nature. As Nature never waits for anyone, it doesn't matter whether a person is sad or happy, nature never cares for them. The natural process of the environment never stops for anyone. Similarly in this play Vladimir and Estragon are waiting for Godot, and in this process of waiting they do various things to pass their time, sometimes they feel totally disappointed. But these all things make no change in nature, the day begins as it used to be and night comes as it is, without any change.
Que 5) What is the meaning of the terms 'Apathia, Aphasia and Athambia' in Lucky's speech? "... divine apathia divine athambia divine aphasia loves us dearly with some exceptions for reasons unknown…"
->In Lucky's speech, he said three words like Aphasia, Apathia and Athambia. Aphasia means a loss of speech, an inability to speak or communicate, Here it refers to the fact that God from his divine heights now has divine aphasia or a divine silence. Apathia means lacking emotion and Athambia means being unflappable.
Que 6) 'A better solution to the tramp's predicament than to wait is, suicide". Is it really so? Why they fail to commit suicide?
->The idea of sucide is mentioned as a possible solution to their predicament. The play suggests that the tramp's lack of agency and lack of meaning in their lives renders them unable to take action, even to end their own suffering. suicide is not the solution but a part of their struggle.
Que 7) Explain: "Godot might become as image of what Sartre calls "Bad Faith".
-> In Jean- Paul Sartre's philosophy, "Bad Faith" refers to the state in which an individual denies their own freedom and authenticity, instead choosing to conform to societal expectations or to hide behind false beliefs about themselves. Here, In 'Waiting for Godot' the characters of Vladimir and Estragon are seen as embodying this concept as they spend the entirety of the play waiting for the mysterious Godot, who never arrives. Their passivity and lack of agency in the face of their existential Predicament can be seen as a form of bad faith.
Que 8) Explain:"One hardly feels the absurdity of some things, on the one hand, and the necessity of those other things, on the other, (for it is rare that feeling of absurdity is not followed by the feeling of necessity), when one feels the absurdity of those things of which one had just felt the necessity (for it is rare that the feeling of necessity is not followed by the feeling of absurdity)"
->This statement is discussing the idea that things that may seem absurd or unnecessary at one point in time can later be seen as necessary and vice versa. It's suggesting that one's perspective can change and that thing that once seemed absurd. Similarly, things that once seemed absurd may later be seen as necessary. It's a reminder that one's understanding of something can evolve over time.
Word Count: 1109
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