Samuel Becketts Waiting for Godot as an Existentialist Play Essay

postponement for Godot as an Existentialist Play The play, Waiting For Godot, is centred around two men, tarragon and Vladimir, who are waiting for a Mr. Godot, of whom they know little. Estragon admits himself that he may never recognize Mr. Godot, Personally I wouldnt know him if I ever precept him. (p.23). Estragon also remarks, we hardly know him. (p.23), which illustrates to an audience that the individualism of Mr. Godot is irrelevant, as little information is ever given throughout the play about this undefinable Mr. X. What is an important element of the play is the act of waiting for someone or something that never arrives. Western readers may find it natural to speculate on the identity of Godot because of their inordinate need to find answers to questions. Beckett however suggests that the identity of Godot is in itself a rhetorical question. It is possible to stress the for in the waiting for to see the purpose of doing in two men with a mission, not to be deflect ed from their compulsive task. Estragon Lets go. Vladimir We cant. Estragon Why not? Vladimir Were waiting for Godot. (p.14). The essence of existentialism concentrates on the concept of the individuals freedom of choice, as opposed to the belief that humans are controlled by a pre-existing omnipotent being, such as God. Estragon and Vladimir adjudge made the choice of waiting, without instruction or guidance, as Vladimir says, He didnt say for sure hed come (p.14), but decides to wait till we know exactly how we tie (p.18). Albert Camus, an existentialist writer, believed that boredom or waiting, which is essentially the breakdown of routine or habit, caused people to think seriously about their identity,... ...h other or from their situation in general. The optimistic view of the play shows a range of human emotion and the need to share experiences alongside the suffering of finite existence governed by the past, playacting in the present and uncertain of the future. Works Cited and ConsultedAlvarez, A. Samuel Beckett. New York Viking, 1973.Beckett, Samuel. Waiting for Godot A Tragicomedy in Two Acts. New York Grove, 1953.ClassicNote.com by GradeSaver. J. N. Smith. Aug. 1999. Web. 27 March 2015 Gradesaver.com/ClassicNotes/Titles/WaitingForGodot/Analysis.htmlGraver, Lawrence. Waiting for Godot. 5th ed. New York U of Cambridge P, 1999.Hugh Kenner, A Readers Guide to Samuel Beckett, London 1973.http//www.britannica.com/eb/print?tocId=9014042Wikipedia. Waiting for Godot. Web. 27 March 2015 http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waiting_for_Godot