Waiting For Godot
By Samuel Beckett

“Nothing happens. Nobody comes, nobody goes. It’s awful.” How far do you agree?

Initially written in French in 1948 as “En Attendant Godot”, Samuel Beckett’s play was first staged in 1952, in Paris. It represents one of the most important movements of the twentieth century and is an example of the so-called “Theatre of the Absurd”, which had subsequently inspired numerous plays that were based on the idea of an illogical universe.
The plot of the play is fairly simple and is, in fact, purely a development of its title. Its description is rather ambiguous, for while one may think that no action whatsoever takes place throughout the play, another might suppose otherwise. Principally, the story includes …show more content…

The curtain closes on their immobility and we imagine a vicious circle repeating itself forever.

On the other hand, one might say that the lack of action in “Waiting For Godot” is compensated by the mere depth of its meaning and metaphorical connotation. This play illustrates an attitude toward man's existence on earth: the hope, freedom and slavery, camaraderie, corruption, and incomprehension of human aspirations, united together to paint a caricature of reality and demonstrate to the audience the absurdity of life.
Vladimir and Estragon search in vain for the meaning in their lives, while waiting and doing nothing, for the act of doing nothing is safer than thinking:
Estragon: “Let’s go.”
Vladimir: “We can’t.”
Estragon: “Why not?”
Vladimir: “We’re waiting for Godot.”
The deliberate ignorance of the possibility of choice is demonstrated here and in the pitiful position of Lucky (who is, ironically, the highly unlucky mockingbird of the play: a figure that mocks martyrs for their choice of crucification and penance). Freedom is a state of mind and so is imprisonment and it is a decision made subconsciously, but individually. By illustrating to us the utter absurdness of waiting for destiny or a sign of God’s aid and an allowance for freedom, Beckett emphasizes the duty of every individual to take a choice, to act. The figure of Godot – ideologically, figuratively and even namely