Waiting for Godot is an interesting reading, as I did not immediately understand the purpose of the first act. Why were Vladimir and Estragon eager to commit suicide? What was the whole interaction with Pozzo and Lucky all about? I found it a little humorous how the repetitiveness was random and purposeless. After reading it a second time, I finally could distinguish how life presented in the first act of Godot share many of the premises and conclusions of Nietzsche’s philosophy (his outlook on life). Nietzsche doctrine of will to power, the overman he references, and the notion of individualism and nonconformity can be compared to this text.
Vladimir and Estragon are endlessly and in vain waiting for this Godot character. From several of …show more content…
They expect Godot to assist them, such as their conversation right after their suicide suggestion:
“Estragon: Don’t let’s do anything. It’s safer.
Vladimir: Let’s wait and see what he says.
Estragon: Who?
Vladimir: Godot
Estragon: Good idea.
Vladimir: Let’s wait till we know exactly how we stand” (10).
This conversation depicts them as uncertain and to a certain degree as weak and merely hopeless because they want Godot to tell them what to do. This notion of these two characters is nowhere near Nietzsche’s ideal “overman” because Vladimir and Estragon are unable to harness the will to power and there is lack of control in their lives. We have discussed about Nietzsche’s hope in humanity is through the proper understanding of the genealogy of morals as he thinks people should rise above our understandings or morality and try to achieve ourselves to be the “overman.” He suggests that people should be more individualistic and not conform to certain settings that create our values and morals. Vladimir and Estragon are not achieving to become superhuman and that is against Nietzsche’s philosophy. They have no purpose of living as …show more content…
Could it be that there are some differences to how Nietzsche views life and how life is portrayed in Waiting for Godot? If this is the case, then one difference in Waiting for Godot is that I see nihilism more in the book and Nietzsche does not believe in nihilism. We only find in Nietzsche’s book that the overman will escape nihilism and escape many problems that people have socially constructed. Another difference might be that waiting for Godot is more pessimistic compared to Nietzsche as he is more optimistic to people saving themselves from the systems and morals placed in our society, since he does suggest individuality and the ideal superhuman. I can see a hope for humanity in Nietzsche’s writing compared to Beckett’s
Vladimir and Estragon are endlessly and in vain waiting for this Godot character. From several of …show more content…
They expect Godot to assist them, such as their conversation right after their suicide suggestion:
“Estragon: Don’t let’s do anything. It’s safer.
Vladimir: Let’s wait and see what he says.
Estragon: Who?
Vladimir: Godot
Estragon: Good idea.
Vladimir: Let’s wait till we know exactly how we stand” (10).
This conversation depicts them as uncertain and to a certain degree as weak and merely hopeless because they want Godot to tell them what to do. This notion of these two characters is nowhere near Nietzsche’s ideal “overman” because Vladimir and Estragon are unable to harness the will to power and there is lack of control in their lives. We have discussed about Nietzsche’s hope in humanity is through the proper understanding of the genealogy of morals as he thinks people should rise above our understandings or morality and try to achieve ourselves to be the “overman.” He suggests that people should be more individualistic and not conform to certain settings that create our values and morals. Vladimir and Estragon are not achieving to become superhuman and that is against Nietzsche’s philosophy. They have no purpose of living as …show more content…
Could it be that there are some differences to how Nietzsche views life and how life is portrayed in Waiting for Godot? If this is the case, then one difference in Waiting for Godot is that I see nihilism more in the book and Nietzsche does not believe in nihilism. We only find in Nietzsche’s book that the overman will escape nihilism and escape many problems that people have socially constructed. Another difference might be that waiting for Godot is more pessimistic compared to Nietzsche as he is more optimistic to people saving themselves from the systems and morals placed in our society, since he does suggest individuality and the ideal superhuman. I can see a hope for humanity in Nietzsche’s writing compared to Beckett’s