Waiting for GodotWaiting for Godot

By Samuel By Samuel

BeckettBeckett

Mr. Roddy’s PPTMr. Roddy’s PPT

I. IntroductionI. Introduction

A.A. Beckett’s LifeBeckett’s Life

1.1. His Irish nessHis Irish ness

2. His novels and early writing2. His novels and early writing

3.3. His work with JoyceHis work with Joyce

4. After the War—His Plays4. After the War—His Plays

B. Beckett’s IdeasB. Beckett’s Ideas

1.1. The absurd—the illusion of reasonThe absurd—the illusion of reason

2.2. The Void—the illusion of faithThe Void—the illusion of faith

3.3. Humor and the dignity of humanityHumor and the dignity of humanity

4.4. Loneliness and loveLoneliness and love

C. Philosophical Background to C. Philosophical Background to Waiting for GodotWaiting for Godot1.1. Effects of World War II (62 million people Effects of World War II (62 million people

killed [37.5 million in WWI]; 12 million in killed [37.5 million in WWI]; 12 million in concentration camps; atomic bomb and concentration camps; atomic bomb and the promise of annihilation)the promise of annihilation)

a.a. Shock and disillusionShock and disillusion

b.b. Alienation and anxietyAlienation and anxiety

c.c. Loss of faithLoss of faith

d.d. Pessimism Pessimism

C. Philosophical Background (con’t)C. Philosophical Background (con’t)

2.2. Existentialism Existentialism a.a. Loss of the sense of Loss of the sense of

external meaningexternal meaning

b. Loss of belief in b. Loss of belief in

reason and faithreason and faith

c. Believes in only that which we can see, c. Believes in only that which we can see, that which “exists” (e.g., Plato’s that which “exists” (e.g., Plato’s “essence” and Spinoza’s “substance” “essence” and Spinoza’s “substance” are out the philosophical window)are out the philosophical window)

2. Existentialism2. Existentialism

C. Philosophical BackgroundC. Philosophical Background2. Existentialism2. Existentialism

d. Existentialism states:d. Existentialism states:

““There is, therefore, no There is, therefore, no

preexistent spiritual realm, preexistent spiritual realm,

no soul…,no cosmic compassion for or no soul…,no cosmic compassion for or interest in human life, no afterlife, no interest in human life, no afterlife, no transcendence of worldly existence, no transcendence of worldly existence, no cosmic meta-narrative, no angels and cosmic meta-narrative, no angels and devils…, no divine will, no preset destiny, devils…, no divine will, no preset destiny, no inevitable fate.”no inevitable fate.”

C. Philosophical BackgroundC. Philosophical Background 2. Existentialism 2. Existentialism

e. Existentialism believes:e. Existentialism believes:1. life has no preset or 1. life has no preset or

external external meaning of its ownmeaning of its own 2. Life is (without human creation 2. Life is (without human creation of it) meaningless (the myth ofof it) meaningless (the myth of Sisyphus)Sisyphus) 3. Humans, therefore, are free3. Humans, therefore, are free (free will is important)(free will is important)

C. Philosophical BackgroundC. Philosophical Background 2. Existentialism 2. Existentialism

4. Humanity’s only chance at dignity lies in:4. Humanity’s only chance at dignity lies in:

the courage to face the truththe courage to face the truth,,

that we are alone in an uncaring that we are alone in an uncaring

universeuniverse

the courage to face the fact / possibility that the courage to face the fact / possibility that life is meaningless and yet to still go on life is meaningless and yet to still go on

--“I can’t go on; I must go on; I’m going --“I can’t go on; I must go on; I’m going

on.”on.”

-- the courage and dignity of Sisyphus when at the -- the courage and dignity of Sisyphus when at the top of the hill he sees the rock roll back and realizes top of the hill he sees the rock roll back and realizes his meaninglessness and yet still goes down to set to his meaninglessness and yet still goes down to set to work again. work again.

3. The Paradox of Consciousness3. The Paradox of Consciousness

There are two possible There are two possible interpretations of the interpretations of the existence of human existence of human consciousness:consciousness:

a. a. A divine giftA divine gift, fire of the gods, part of the , fire of the gods, part of the divine plan, consciousness brings us all our divine plan, consciousness brings us all our joy (love, art, etc.)joy (love, art, etc.)

b. b. A cosmic jokeA cosmic joke, consciousness was never , consciousness was never intended for humans and brings us only intended for humans and brings us only suffering, pain, and the existence of evil.suffering, pain, and the existence of evil.

D. Theatre of the AbsurdD. Theatre of the Absurd

1.1. Existentialist TheatreExistentialist Theatre(No Exit by Sartre)(No Exit by Sartre)absurd content butabsurd content butrational form or rational form or presentationpresentation

2.2. Theatre of the Absurd—Theatre of the Absurd—form and content mergeform and content mergeto form a truer artto form a truer art

II.II. Waiting for GodotWaiting for Godot

A.A. Major ThemesMajor Themes

1. the void—life is meaningless1. the void—life is meaningless

2. the hopelessness (and cruelty)2. the hopelessness (and cruelty)

of hopeof hope

3. dependence of3. dependence of

one human onone human on

anotheranother

A. Major Themes (con’t)A. Major Themes (con’t)

4. Passing the 4. Passing the

timetime

5. the world 5. the world

as waste-as waste-

landland

6.6. Lack of communication—nothing is Lack of communication—nothing is

worth communicating or can be worth communicating or can be communicated, but we can’t stop talkingcommunicated, but we can’t stop talking

A. Major Themes (continued)A. Major Themes (continued)

7. The social theme (Pozzo and Lucky=the 7. The social theme (Pozzo and Lucky=the oppressed and oppressor; oppressed and oppressor;

Lucky carries his own whip)Lucky carries his own whip)

8. Psychological Theme8. Psychological Themea. loss of memory=loss of meaninga. loss of memory=loss of meaning

b. lack of self-awareness b. lack of self-awareness c. our cosmic insignificancec. our cosmic insignificance d. the pain and curse of consciousnessd. the pain and curse of consciousness

A.A. Major Themes (continued)Major Themes (continued)

9.9. The Religious ThemeThe Religious Theme

a. No personal god a. No personal god

b. No Saviorb. No Savior

c. No Redemptionc. No Redemption

B. CharactersB. Characters

1.1. Vladimer (Didi)Vladimer (Didi)

2.2. Estrogon Estrogon

(Gogo)(Gogo)

B. Characters (continued)B. Characters (continued)

3.3. PozzoPozzo

4.4. LuckyLucky

B. CharactersB. Characters

5. the boy5. the boy

6. Godot6. Godot

C. SettingC. Setting

1.1. The place The place

2.2. The timeThe time

D. Symbols, Style, Literary D. Symbols, Style, Literary TechniquesTechniques

1. 1.

2.2.

3.3.

D. Symbols, Style, and Literary D. Symbols, Style, and Literary TechniquesTechniques

4.4.

5. 5.

6.6.