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Thinking activity on " Waiting for GODOT" by Samuel Beckett...




1. What connection do you see in the setting (“A country road. A tree.Evening.”) of the play and these paintings?


This above 2 different pictures "Longing" which is by Casper David Friedrich. He has drawn two paintings & both paintings has same nature background. From these paintings Samuel Beckett got inspiration for his setting of the play " Waiting for Godot". As we can see that the two pictures are not widely different. But there are wide difference of thinking of both David Friedrich and Samuel Beckett because Friedrich belongs to romanticism, so his depiction of nature has different meaning and Beckett's depiction of nature has different meaning.
   As per the David's depiction of nature:- it arose at a period when the idea of god was being translated into the idea of nature.
   While Samuel Beckett's vision is very pessimistic. It shows the absurd insignificance of mankind. (We) The human beings always longing for something or the desire which never satisfied.

2. The tree is the only important ‘thing’ in the setting. What is the importance of tree in both acts? Why does Beckett grow a few leaves in Act II on the barren tree - The tree has four or five leaves - ? 

we find to be completely baffling is the tree’s random sprouting of leaves in between Act 1 and Act 2. This is regeneration: it is hopeful, it is growth, it is life!

VLADIMIR 
(musingly) The last moment . . . (He meditates.) Hope deferred maketh the something sick, who said that? 
  As above mentioned that, Vladimir is reffering to the biblical proverb that means..." Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfill is a tree of life." But as far as we can see there are no any desire has been fulfilled.
  The tree's sprouting leaves could be an ironic symbol pointing out that, far from fulfilled desires, hopes have been deffered yet another day.
  Much like Vladimir's ironic claim in Act 2 that...

" Things have changed here since yesterday when, clearly nothing at all has".

3. In both Acts, evening falls into night and moon rises. How would you like to interpret this ‘coming of night and moon’ when actually they are waiting for Godot?


While Vladimir & Estragon wait for Godot, they also wait for nightfall. Because of the nightfall they don't have to wait for Godot.
Secondly, the night is connected with dark and death. The falling of night is as much a reprieve from daily suffering as death is from the suffering of a lifetime.
 But in the other hand, the rising of moon again give some hope for tomorrow. Through this moon and night we comprehend the endless repetition of Human's life.

4.The director feels the setting with some debris. Can you read any meaning in the contours of debris in the setting of the play?

The director used debris in the setting. So, it can be the influence of the World war-2 in the material world. Therefore, we can say that the meaninglessness of material world that keep on destroying, nothing is permanent in the life.

5. The play begins with the dialogue “Nothing to be done”. How does the theme of ‘nothingness’ recurs in the play?


" Nothing to be done" reflects the Existential Depair. This theory shows that life is meaningless, whatever you do it has no ultimate meaning. This play starts with this idea of nothingness.  Vladimir and Estragon waiting for Godot without knowing that he will come or not, is he exist or not, who is he?. Their incoherent babblings, changing of hats, unclear theme these all show the Nothingness of the play.


6. Do you agree: “The play (Waiting for Godot), we agreed, was a positive play, not negative, not pessimistic. As I saw it, with my blood and skin and eyes, the philosophy is: 'No matter what— atom bombs, hydrogen bombs, anything—life goes on. You can kill yourself, but you can't kill life."




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