Existentialism in Waiting for Godot - 950 Words

Existentialism is a philosophy that repudiates the idea of religion or any ‘supreme’ being bringing meaning to life, and advocates the idea that individuals are instrumental in finding a purpose to life through free will, choice, and personal responsibility. Hence in Samuel Becket’s existentialist play Waiting For Godot, he puts forth an idea that all of humanity is wasting their lives in inaction- waiting for the salvation of a deity, when that divine being may or may not even exist. As inferred from the phrase existence precedes essence, there is no pre-existent spirituality or soul; no god, Christian or otherwise; no cosmic compassion for human life; no salvation in heaven and damnation in hell; neither preset destiny nor inevitable†¦show more content†¦Estragon remarks: We always find something, eh Didi, to give us the impression that we exist? It is learnt that man needs a rational basis for existence but fails to find one, making his life no better than a wasted passion. The two tramps, Estragon and Vladimir vainly attempt to put order in their lives by waiting for Godot who never arrives, and reiterate that Nothing is to be done. This inaction further questions their very entities, and Estragon anxiously doubts: Where do we come in? Whenever Estragon and Vladimir make a decision, the stage directions dictate that They do not move. and continue to show passivity. Therefore, even their resolution to go is not strong enough to produce action. Many times Estragon says â€Å"Let’s go†, but Vladimir always reminds him that they can’t as they are â€Å"waiting for Godot.†This inability to act renders Vladimir and Estragon unable to determine their own fates. Instead of acting, they can only wait for someone or something to act upon them- referring to the existentialist argument of man’s desperate need to establish his own purpose and meaning to life. Furthermore, Vladimir and Estragon ponder suicide by hanging themselves from the tree, but once again their anxiety stops them, as the latter remarks: Dont lets do anything. Its safer. Kierkegaards notion of Dread or Angst includes ideas of existentialism which talk about a state in which the individualsShow MoreRelated Sartre’s Existentialism in Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot1572 Words   |  7 PagesSartre’s Existentialism in Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot Critics often misunderstand the quintessence of Sartre’s philosophy. Jean-Paul Sartre, in his lecture â€Å"Existentialism is Humanism,† remarks that â€Å"existence precedes essence† (2), that is, man first materializes and then searches for a purpose – an essence. Samuel Beckett, through his play Waiting for Godot, affirms Sartre’s core argument. Misinterpreting Godot, critic Edith contends that it differs fundamentallyRead More Samuel Becketts Waiting for Godot: Existentialism and The Theatre of the Absurd2530 Words   |  11 Pagesto a specific philosophical concept in the 19th century, existentialism. This philosophy can clearly be seen in everyday life as well as in theatrical movements in the past and present. By examining the works of Samuel Beckett, evidence of existential thinking will be brought forward proving the progress of this philosophical movement. It will illustrate how existentialism has influenced Beckett, especially through his play, Waiting for Godot. The Theatre of the Absurd is another theatrical conceptRead MoreExistentialism in Samuel Becketts Waiting for Godot Essay examples1421 Words   |  6 Pagesno pre-defined purpose. If God were to create us, he states, then he would have a purpose for our creation, but there is no God and thus we must exercise our free will in order to decide our nature. This philosophy is the basis of Beckett?s Waiting for Godot: it is a mechanism used to define the themes of absurdity, uncertainty and hopelessness in a play that is otherwise perceived as meaningless. It is important to note that existentialists believe that a rational account of reality cannot existRead More Existentialism in Albert Camus The Plague and Samuel Becketts Waiting for Godot945 Words   |  4 PagesAll of the characters in The Plague and Waiting For Godot exist in their fictional worlds. However, none is able to explain why. Neither work gives the reader an explanation of human existence except to say that humans exist. Providing an answer to the question of existence would constitute a paradox. To an existentialist, if you answer the question, then youve missed the whole point. 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Many experiences in this stage production expand and narrow how these questions are viewed. The process of waiting reassures the characters in Beckett s play that they do indeed exist. One of the roles that Beckett has assigned to Godot is to be a savior of sorts. Godot helps to give the two tramps in WaitingRead More Samuel Becketts Waiting for Godot - God Isnt Coming Essay1490 Words   |  6 PagesWaiting for Godot - God Isnt Coming  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Waiting for Godot, Samuel Becketts existential masterpiece, for some odd reason has captured the minds of millions of readers, artists, and critics worldwide, joining them all in an attempt to interpret the play. Beckett has told them not to read anything into his work, yet he does not stop them. Perhaps he recognizes the human quality of bringing personal experiences and such to the piece of art, and interpreting it through such colored lenses.Read MoreWaiting for Godot Essay1096 Words   |  5 PagesWho is Godot and what does he represent? These are two of the questions that Samuel Beckett allows both his characters and the audience to ponder. Many experiences in this stage production expand and narrow how these questions are viewed. The process of waiting reassures the characters in Becketts play that they do indeed exist. One of the roles that Beckett has assigned to Godot is to be a savior of sorts. Godot helps to give the two tramps in Waiting for Godot a sense of purpose. Godot is anRead MoreSamuel Beckett, Absurdism, Existentialism, And Nihilism1753 Words   |  8 PagesAbsurdism, Existentialism, and Nihilism are three concepts that are intrinsically connected as a holy trinity of meaning of 20th century philosophical ideas. The idea that connects the three is that humans strive to find meaning where there is none. Samuel Beckett is a well-known author in this time period. Considered a founder of the Theatre of the Absurd, Beckett’s work, whether on purpose or by accident, brings many of the concepts to life. His arguably most famous work is Waiting for Godot (En AttendantRead MoreMans Search for Meaning in Samuel Becketts Waiting for Godot1032 Words   |  5 Pages Waiting for Godot, by Samuel Beckett; a tragic comedy in which Estragon and Vladimir wait for a person named Godot, who never shows up. This existentialist play, which takes place in a single setting, and time, follows the actions and the traditional rules of human existence, and doing nothing in their lives except waiting. Beckett has written a play in which nothing happens, and one minute is no different than the next. The play ends exactly the way it begins, with two men waiting impatiently