Thinking task with response to the movie "Waiting for Godot"(Beckett's Waiting for Godot)
Here is the link of Professor's blog, from where the thinking task given.
click here
- Connection between the setting of the play and the painting by Caspar David Friedrich
The play 'Waiting for Godot' was inspired by Caspar David's painting. The setting of the play and painting is similar. We can find 'Tree' in both, two person waiting for someone, How nature remains indifferent to them is also same, as day and night came but the person remains at their place as it is without moving. Nature never waits for anyone.
Q2. 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
Q3. 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?
Interpretation of tree and coming of night and moon
Beckett has used one single tree in both the acts and makes slight changes by showing two three leaves in the second act. Even the day falls into night and moon rises, but their waiting for Godot never stops.
Indifferent nature
Beckett wants to highlight the indifference nature. As Nature never waits for anyone, it doesn't matter whether a person was sad or happy, nature never cares for them. The natural process of environment never stops for anyone. Similarly in this play Vladimir and Estragon waiting for Godot, and in this process of waiting they do various things to pass their time, sometimes they feel totally disappointment. But these all things makes no change in the nature, the day begins as it used to be and night came as it is, without any change. 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. Human always remains indifference towards the suffering of other.
Q4. The director feels the setting with some debris. Can you read any meaning in the contours of debris in the setting of the play?
Meaning of Debris in the setting
Beckett was master in making meaning through his setting of the play. Whatever he used in background carried some meaning and interpretation. Here again he used contour of Debris consisting of rubbish and broken pieces of rocks signifying the meaninglessness of life that how the useless things if put together then it create a huge structure. Similarly the world is full of useless things which create or makes the world. World consists of each and every things whether it is good, bad or rubbish. Debris also signifies the ups and downs of life. In this play also both the characters Vladimir and Estragon climb the Debris whenever feels disappointment and think of committing suicide.
Q5. The play begins with the dialogue “Nothing to be done”. How does the theme of ‘nothingness’ recurs in the play?
Theme of Nothingness
Nothingness is the main theme of the play. Idea of nothingness came into the play more than any other idea. There is always a dialogue that "Nothing to be done" as both the tramps becomes tired while Waiting for Godot and even they don't know when Godot will come. They do various activities in between to pass their time, but at last nothing came in their hand. They are filled with disappointment. They even tried of commit suicide but because of lack of practical tools they won't be able to commit suicide.
Q6. 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." (E.G. Marshal who played Vladimir in original Broadway production 1950s)?
Waiting for Godot: A positive play
I am agreed with the idea of 'Waiting for Godot' as a positive play. As it presents the true picture of human life. How human life goes on without any change, whether they wish to live or not but life never stops. if they wants to end their life then they can and in this way can get rid of life, but death of any person doesn't affect the lifelong process of other. Other human beings keep on exist and live in this world, facing the same problem or suffering. Nothing change in the routine of the life of others. On earth life will always remains in different forms. It reflects the positivity, positive change of life. It is called natural process which never interrupt by others.
Q7. How are the props like hat and boots used in the play? What is the symbolical significance of these props?
Symbolical meaning of Hat and Boots
In the play Boots and Hat carries symbolic meaning. As Estragon keeps on wearing and putting off his boots. In the first act he feels that boots are not fitted in his foot, but in second act it gets fit. It symbolize the importance of things in human life, when one feels that someone is important in his life then he will make that thing adjustable as per his need but when one feels no importance then he neglect that thing, it doesn't matter it is his own thing. Similarly boots also signifies the reputation of a person. We can make judgement over someone by looking at the boots. In this play Estragon also puts this worldly pleasure down in the form of boots and when Vladimir asked him to wear boots, he neglect and compares himself with Christ that he also goes barefoot.
Similarly Hat also signifies the smartness of a person, as whatever man thinks, and the thought which he express is totally different. By putting hat over head, man covers his intellect power and never allows someone to peep in his thought process, but when it takes out then he started revealing his thoughts and it becomes unbearable for someone to listen all these thoughts of mind. So its better to wear hat, means we in the form of hat, one needs to control his thought to express in front of others.
Q8. Do you think that the obedience of Lucky is extremely irritating and nauseatic? Even when the master Pozzo is blind, he obediently hands the whip in his hand. Do you think that such a capacity of slavishness is unbelievable?
Yes, the obedience of Lucky is extremely irritating and nauseatic. But our society id full of Lucky type people. We all are Lucky in one and another way. In this play when Estragon tries to help Lucky then he kicks him badly. Similar things happening in society also, when someone tries to help us or tries to make us aware we started blaming them and hates to listen any advice, even if that advise was beneficial for us. We never allow ourself to come out from the bond of relations, whether it is with relatives or whether it it with God. We know that we are not tied by anyone but still we can't escape or can't think of living our ideas, beliefs, or we can say superstitions also. Lucky also does this same thing in the play, even when Pozzo becomes blind, he never feels to make himself free from the chains and give it to the hand of his master Pozzo.
Q9. Who according to you is Godot? God? An object of desire? Death? Goal? Success? Or . . .
Q10“The subject of the play is not Godot but ‘Waiting’” (Esslin, A Search for the Self) . Do you agree? How can you justify your answer?
According to me 'Godot' is our desire. We keep on desiring from one thing to other, Our desire never ends. Similarly in this play wait for Godot never ends. Estragon and Vladimir while waiting meets many people, Pozzo, Lucky, messenger boy. But still they din't stops to wait. In our life also, when we are urging for desire, we get many other things in between of our life which is also same important as out final destination, but we never cares for such things, our desire keep on increasing. If we get one things then we crave for other and so on. In this way our waiting never ends.
In family also when our parents first waits for our marriage, when we get married, then they waits for their grandchildren, when they get grandchildren then they again waits for their children. In this way desire keeps on increasing day by day, and waiting never stops.
Q11. Do you think that plays like this can better be ‘read’ than ‘viewed’ as it requires a lot of thinking on the part of readers, while viewing, the torrent of dialogues does not give ample time and space to ‘think’? Or is it that the audio-visuals help in better understanding of the play?
Yes, the play requires a lot of thinking on the part of readers, therefore it can be better 'read' than 'viewed'. Absurd play never be understood by viewing only. It requires lots of understanding, otherwise we won't be able to get the idea that what was going on. This type of plays are better to be read than watching. As audience will get bore by looking on the philosophical meaning of the play. But when it read it throws more light into the mind and will be understood well without getting bore and easy to get the torrent of dialogues, as it can never be caught in film version or in any theatre act.
Q12. Which of the following sequence you liked the most:
I like the conversational scene between Vladimir and Estragon. They passes many humorous dialogues while waiting to kill their time. As they makes the audience burst out in laughter with their silly activities or silly questions over each other.
Q13. Did you feel the effect of existential crisis or meaninglessness of human existence in the irrational and indifference Universe during screening of the movie? Where and when exactly that feeling was felt, if ever it was?
Yes, I feel existential crisis or meaninglessness of human existence in the irrational and indifference Universe during screening of the movie. When the messenger boy came and Vladimir converse with him then I felt that how human is helpless over the situation, how human was unable to do anything to change his situation. Vladimir with ask to the Boy, When Godot will come? but get another answer which makes him disappoint that Godot won't be able to come today, but he will come tomorrow. In the second act also Vladimir ask same question and get same reply. This makes me feel so meaningless to exist in this world or to wait for someone who will never come.
Q14. Vladimir and Estragon talks about ‘hanging’ themselves and commit suicide, but they do not do so. How do you read this idea of suicide in Existentialism?
The act of Suicide is always significant in the idea of existentialism. The question of our existence in this world always makes us to think that Why we are living in this world? for what reason? and when we get no answer in reply to this question we think to committing suicide, when we find everything in the world useless and meaningless, then we think of suicide. In this play also When Vladimir and Estragon tired of their work of waiting they think of committing suicide by hanging themselves on tree. But they won't be able to do this because of lacking tools.
Q15. 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'?
Political reading
European nations represented by the names of the characters. Vladimir represents Russia and Estragon represents France. There is history of power politics between France and Russia. Many Russian 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 imposed 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 waits for Godot is similar as the way Jews waits for Hitler to accept them.
Q17. The more the things change, the more it remains similar. There seems to have no change in Act I and Act II of the play. Even the conversation between Vladimir and the Boy sounds almost similar. But there is one major change. In Act I, in reply to Boy;s question, Vladimir says:
"BOY: What am I to tell Mr. Godot, Sir?
The change in Act II between the conversation of Vladimir and messenger boy is very much significant. Vladimir tell to boy that tell to Godot that you saw us. In a way Vladimir wants that the boy should describes their situation. How they are suffering and how they are eagerly wants to get rid of it. In human life also, we wants that God will look at our situation and will do something to make our pain less. We always hope that God will change our fortune and will turns our sad days into happy days but this will never happens.
Here is the link of Professor's blog, from where the thinking task given.
click here
Q1. What connection do you see in the setting (“A country road. A tree.Evening.”) of the play and these paintings?
- Connection between the setting of the play and the painting by Caspar David Friedrich
The play 'Waiting for Godot' was inspired by Caspar David's painting. The setting of the play and painting is similar. We can find 'Tree' in both, two person waiting for someone, How nature remains indifferent to them is also same, as day and night came but the person remains at their place as it is without moving. Nature never waits for anyone.
Q2. 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
Q3. 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?
Interpretation of tree and coming of night and moon
Beckett has used one single tree in both the acts and makes slight changes by showing two three leaves in the second act. Even the day falls into night and moon rises, but their waiting for Godot never stops.
Indifferent nature
Beckett wants to highlight the indifference nature. As Nature never waits for anyone, it doesn't matter whether a person was sad or happy, nature never cares for them. The natural process of environment never stops for anyone. Similarly in this play Vladimir and Estragon waiting for Godot, and in this process of waiting they do various things to pass their time, sometimes they feel totally disappointment. But these all things makes no change in the nature, the day begins as it used to be and night came as it is, without any change. 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. Human always remains indifference towards the suffering of other.
Q4. The director feels the setting with some debris. Can you read any meaning in the contours of debris in the setting of the play?
Meaning of Debris in the setting
Beckett was master in making meaning through his setting of the play. Whatever he used in background carried some meaning and interpretation. Here again he used contour of Debris consisting of rubbish and broken pieces of rocks signifying the meaninglessness of life that how the useless things if put together then it create a huge structure. Similarly the world is full of useless things which create or makes the world. World consists of each and every things whether it is good, bad or rubbish. Debris also signifies the ups and downs of life. In this play also both the characters Vladimir and Estragon climb the Debris whenever feels disappointment and think of committing suicide.
Q5. The play begins with the dialogue “Nothing to be done”. How does the theme of ‘nothingness’ recurs in the play?
Theme of Nothingness
Nothingness is the main theme of the play. Idea of nothingness came into the play more than any other idea. There is always a dialogue that "Nothing to be done" as both the tramps becomes tired while Waiting for Godot and even they don't know when Godot will come. They do various activities in between to pass their time, but at last nothing came in their hand. They are filled with disappointment. They even tried of commit suicide but because of lack of practical tools they won't be able to commit suicide.
Q6. 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." (E.G. Marshal who played Vladimir in original Broadway production 1950s)?
Waiting for Godot: A positive play
I am agreed with the idea of 'Waiting for Godot' as a positive play. As it presents the true picture of human life. How human life goes on without any change, whether they wish to live or not but life never stops. if they wants to end their life then they can and in this way can get rid of life, but death of any person doesn't affect the lifelong process of other. Other human beings keep on exist and live in this world, facing the same problem or suffering. Nothing change in the routine of the life of others. On earth life will always remains in different forms. It reflects the positivity, positive change of life. It is called natural process which never interrupt by others.
Q7. How are the props like hat and boots used in the play? What is the symbolical significance of these props?
Symbolical meaning of Hat and Boots
In the play Boots and Hat carries symbolic meaning. As Estragon keeps on wearing and putting off his boots. In the first act he feels that boots are not fitted in his foot, but in second act it gets fit. It symbolize the importance of things in human life, when one feels that someone is important in his life then he will make that thing adjustable as per his need but when one feels no importance then he neglect that thing, it doesn't matter it is his own thing. Similarly boots also signifies the reputation of a person. We can make judgement over someone by looking at the boots. In this play Estragon also puts this worldly pleasure down in the form of boots and when Vladimir asked him to wear boots, he neglect and compares himself with Christ that he also goes barefoot.
Similarly Hat also signifies the smartness of a person, as whatever man thinks, and the thought which he express is totally different. By putting hat over head, man covers his intellect power and never allows someone to peep in his thought process, but when it takes out then he started revealing his thoughts and it becomes unbearable for someone to listen all these thoughts of mind. So its better to wear hat, means we in the form of hat, one needs to control his thought to express in front of others.
Q8. Do you think that the obedience of Lucky is extremely irritating and nauseatic? Even when the master Pozzo is blind, he obediently hands the whip in his hand. Do you think that such a capacity of slavishness is unbelievable?
Yes, the obedience of Lucky is extremely irritating and nauseatic. But our society id full of Lucky type people. We all are Lucky in one and another way. In this play when Estragon tries to help Lucky then he kicks him badly. Similar things happening in society also, when someone tries to help us or tries to make us aware we started blaming them and hates to listen any advice, even if that advise was beneficial for us. We never allow ourself to come out from the bond of relations, whether it is with relatives or whether it it with God. We know that we are not tied by anyone but still we can't escape or can't think of living our ideas, beliefs, or we can say superstitions also. Lucky also does this same thing in the play, even when Pozzo becomes blind, he never feels to make himself free from the chains and give it to the hand of his master Pozzo.
Q9. Who according to you is Godot? God? An object of desire? Death? Goal? Success? Or . . .
Q10“The subject of the play is not Godot but ‘Waiting’”
According to me 'Godot' is our desire. We keep on desiring from one thing to other, Our desire never ends. Similarly in this play wait for Godot never ends. Estragon and Vladimir while waiting meets many people, Pozzo, Lucky, messenger boy. But still they din't stops to wait. In our life also, when we are urging for desire, we get many other things in between of our life which is also same important as out final destination, but we never cares for such things, our desire keep on increasing. If we get one things then we crave for other and so on. In this way our waiting never ends.
In family also when our parents first waits for our marriage, when we get married, then they waits for their grandchildren, when they get grandchildren then they again waits for their children. In this way desire keeps on increasing day by day, and waiting never stops.
Q11. Do you think that plays like this can better be ‘read’ than ‘viewed’ as it requires a lot of thinking on the part of readers, while viewing, the torrent of dialogues does not give ample time and space to ‘think’? Or is it that the audio-visuals help in better understanding of the play?
Yes, the play requires a lot of thinking on the part of readers, therefore it can be better 'read' than 'viewed'. Absurd play never be understood by viewing only. It requires lots of understanding, otherwise we won't be able to get the idea that what was going on. This type of plays are better to be read than watching. As audience will get bore by looking on the philosophical meaning of the play. But when it read it throws more light into the mind and will be understood well without getting bore and easy to get the torrent of dialogues, as it can never be caught in film version or in any theatre act.
Q12. Which of the following sequence you liked the most:
o Vladimir – Estragon killing time in questions and conversations while waiting
o Pozzo – Lucky episode in both acts
o Converstion of Vladimir with the boy
I like the conversational scene between Vladimir and Estragon. They passes many humorous dialogues while waiting to kill their time. As they makes the audience burst out in laughter with their silly activities or silly questions over each other.
Q13. Did you feel the effect of existential crisis or meaninglessness of human existence in the irrational and indifference Universe during screening of the movie? Where and when exactly that feeling was felt, if ever it was?
Yes, I feel existential crisis or meaninglessness of human existence in the irrational and indifference Universe during screening of the movie. When the messenger boy came and Vladimir converse with him then I felt that how human is helpless over the situation, how human was unable to do anything to change his situation. Vladimir with ask to the Boy, When Godot will come? but get another answer which makes him disappoint that Godot won't be able to come today, but he will come tomorrow. In the second act also Vladimir ask same question and get same reply. This makes me feel so meaningless to exist in this world or to wait for someone who will never come.
Q14. Vladimir and Estragon talks about ‘hanging’ themselves and commit suicide, but they do not do so. How do you read this idea of suicide in Existentialism?
The act of Suicide is always significant in the idea of existentialism. The question of our existence in this world always makes us to think that Why we are living in this world? for what reason? and when we get no answer in reply to this question we think to committing suicide, when we find everything in the world useless and meaningless, then we think of suicide. In this play also When Vladimir and Estragon tired of their work of waiting they think of committing suicide by hanging themselves on tree. But they won't be able to do this because of lacking tools.
Q15. 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'?
Q16. So far as Pozzo and Lucky [master and slave] are concerned, we have to remember that Beckett was a disciple of Joyce and that Joyce hated England. Beckett meant Pozzo to be England, and Lucky to be Ireland." (Bert Lahr who played Estragon in Broadway production). Does this reading make any sense? Why? How? What?
Political reading
European nations represented by the names of the characters. Vladimir represents Russia and Estragon represents France. There is history of power politics between France and Russia. Many Russian 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 imposed 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 waits for Godot is similar as the way Jews waits for Hitler to accept them.
Q17. The more the things change, the more it remains similar. There seems to have no change in Act I and Act II of the play. Even the conversation between Vladimir and the Boy sounds almost similar. But there is one major change. In Act I, in reply to Boy;s question, Vladimir says:
"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? Is there any change in seeming similar situation and conversation? If so, what is it? What does it signify?
The change in Act II between the conversation of Vladimir and messenger boy is very much significant. Vladimir tell to boy that tell to Godot that you saw us. In a way Vladimir wants that the boy should describes their situation. How they are suffering and how they are eagerly wants to get rid of it. In human life also, we wants that God will look at our situation and will do something to make our pain less. We always hope that God will change our fortune and will turns our sad days into happy days but this will never happens.
No comments:
Post a Comment