Waiting for Godot Essay
1089 Words
Jun 10th, 2001
5 Pages
Who 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 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 Waiting for Godot a sense of purpose. Godot is an omnipresent character that helps to give meaning and function to the lives of two homeless men. The main characters in Waiting for Godot are dependent upon each other for reassurance of their existence. Existentialism is defined as
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Regardless of what an individual chooses as Godot's purpose it is the journey to the purpose that is the important part. Vladimir and Estragon spend quite all their time waiting for Godot. This passage of time is illustrated by the changing of seasons with regards to the tree and it's leaves. Lucky and Pozzo also illustrate that some time has passed since the last meeting. The passing of time leads everyone closer to death and the closer to death one is the less chance of salvation. Beckett seems to believe that people spend too much time in their lives waiting for something or someone who may not appear. For Vladimir and Estragon, the belief is more important than the being. The two men need a firm belief in Godot more than actually meeting with him. Their belief gives them a reason to live, to keep going. In fact when Estragon thinks Godot is actually coming the two men hide; they are afraid to meet with Godot. Godot represents something that everyone is waiting for, something that will make everything all better in life. Vladimir and Estragon are continuously waiting and perhaps this wait is more important than whether or not Godot ever arrives. His appearance is not as important as a belief in him. The two friends, Estragon and Vladimir spend their lives waiting for this one person to show up, this one miracle to happen. It never does, but as Vladimir says, "It passes the time." It