University of Oil and Gas,Ploieti

British Cultural Studies

Samuel Beckett - Waiting for Godot

Student : Stanciu Ioana Ancua

Specialization : Romanian-English
Group : 40106

2016

Contents

1.The Theatre of The Absurd.................................................................2

1.1.Definition......................................................................................... 3
1.2.Characteristics.................................................................................3
1.3.Representatives................................................................................ 3
2.Samuel Beckett - Waiting for Godot....................................................4
2.1.Context............................................................................................ 4
2.2.Summary of the plot........................................................................4
2.3.Themes............................................................................................ 5
2.3.1. Time.......................................................................................... 5
2.3.2. Humanity, Suffering and Dignity..............................................6
2.3.3. Waiting, Boredom and Nihilism................................................6
2.3.4. Humor and Absurd....................................................................6
3.Bibligraphy........................................................................................... 7

1.The Theatre of The Absurd

1.1.Definition
The Theatre of the Absurd is a term firstly used by the critic
Martin Esslin1 . This term is derived from the essay Myth of Sisyphus
written by Albert Camus.In this essay, the French philosopher defined
human life as being basically meaningless and absurd.

1.2.Characteristics
There is no action or plot. Nothing meaningful can happen in
human life, so that there are described only little happenings.
Life is depicted as being meaningless and miserable.
Reality is unbearable , so that human beings take refuge in
dreams and illusions.
Man is fascinated by death which often replaces his dreams
and illusions.
Absurd drama doesnt have a purpose , so that it could be
compared with an abstract painting which is thought not to
convey a definite meaning.
All human beings efforts are useless , so that there is no
hope.
The final situation is absurd or comic.

1.3.Representatives
1

Martin Esslin, Absurd Drama. ,Harmondsworth, Penguin, 1965.

Some of the most famous playwrights whose plays could be

included in this categoy are: Samuel Beckett, Arthur Adamov, Eugene
Ionesco, Jean Genet, Harold Pinter .

2.Samuel Beckett - Waiting for Godot

2.1.Context
One of the most famous works of Samuel Beckett, Waiting
for Godot was originally written in French in 1948.Beckett personally
translated the play into English. This play includes many of the themes
and ideas that he had previously discussed in his other writings.

2.2.Summary of the plot

At the beginning of the play, two men, Vladimir and Estragon,
come across one another near a tree. They start talking to each other and
we find that they are waiting there for a man whose name is Godot .
While they are waiting for him, two other men appear. Their names are
Pozzo and Lucky . We find that Pozzo is going to the market in order to
sell his slave, Lucky. While he is talking to Vladimir and Estragon,
Lucky is dancing for their entertainment.
After Pozzo and Luckys departure, a little boy appears . He
says them that he is a messenger from Godot . Godot entitles him to say
them that he could not arrive tonight, but that he may arrive tomorrow.
After he has answered to some questions, the little boy will leave apart.
The two also decide to leave, but in the next moment the curtain falls.
3

In the next night,Vladimir and Estragon again meet one another

near the tree to wait for Godot . Pozzo and his slave appear again, but
now he is blind and she is dumb. Pozzo insists that he did not meet them
the night before. They departs and the two men continue to wait.
After a while, the boy enter and once again tells them that
Godot could not be there tonight He also insists that he did not speak to
them yesterday. After he departs, the two men decide to leave, but again
in the next moment the curtain falls, ending the play.

2.3.Themes
2.3.1. Time
In this play, time is uncertain. Nobody (neither the characters , nor
the audience) know exactly when the play is taking place. , Vladimir
realizes that the events of act two are the same with those events
happened in act one but all the other characters disagree. Likewise, in
act two Vladimir is the only person who seems not to have forgotten the
events which have already taken place in act one. In the act two, neither
Vladimir , nor Estragon could not say what time of day it is.
Time seems to be recursive in this play. The same events and
characters repeat again and again. The two men Pozzo and Estragon do
not remember what they do the day before and that is why they repeat
their actions from the act one in act two.They wait for Godot in the same
place, where they are encountered by the same persons (Lucky and
Pozzo ),and where a little boy brings them the same message
from Godot. Vladimir himself realizes that something very stranger has
4

happened to them because the events of act two seems to be the same
with those events happened in act one, and that is why he wonders
whether Lucky, Pozzo and the little boy are the same persons they met
one day ago. Surprisingly, the three persons insist that they did not meet
Vladimir and Estragon yesterday.
The characters of the play are caught into an infinite present
time.Indeed, "Time has stopped"2 says Vladimir in act one. The ending of
the play seems to be arbitrary, this ending may have continued on for
many acts,

repeating again and again, as Vladimir and Estragon

endlessly wait for Godot to arrive.

2.3.2. Humanity, Suffering and Dignity
The play depicts physical , mental or emotional sufferings.
Vladimir and Estragon are afraid of a anonymous Mr. Godot who is
supposed to arrive at night.Likewise,Lucy is treated horribly,is beaten by
Pozzo.All of these sufferings leads to dezhumanization and rob
characters of their dignity (for instance,Lucy is addressed by Pozzo as
pig and treaded like a pack animal).
2.3.3. Waiting, Boredom and Nihilism
One of the most interesting themes of the play is waiting. The whole
play depicts Vladimir and Estragon s waiting for the mysterious Mr.
Godot who never comes. They also struggle to find ways to pass time
because they are bored. Their waiting for nothing creates an atmosphere
2

Samuel Beckett, Waiting for Godot, New York, Grove Press, 1954

of nihilism in the play. Nihilism is defined as the belief that nothing in

the world has a real existence.3

2.3.4. Humor and Absurd

This play includes some of the elements that define the theatre of
the absurd . It presents meaningless dialogues and comic characters who
suddenly shift their state of mind and forget all the happenings took place
one day ago . All of these characteristics made Waiting for Godot be
considered a humorous play. However, this humor is often mingled with
tragic or serious aspects to create an image of a darker kind of comedy.

3.Bibliography

A.Primary sources:
1. B e c k e t t ,Samuel,Waiting for Godot, New York, Grove
Press, 1954
3

John Simpson, Oxford English Dictionary ,Vol.6.,L-N,1908

B.Critical studies.Dictionaries:
2. E s s l i n ,Martin , Absurd Drama ,Harmondsworth,
Penguin, 1965.
3. S i m p s o n , John , Oxford English Dictionary ,Vol.6.,LN,1908
C.Webography
4. http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/godot/ last seen on 21,May
5. http://www.litcharts.com/lit/waiting-for-godot/themes last
seen on 22,May