http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b542GxhzYiw&feature=related - its right here!
Here the full play, you can watch it ;)
I must say that reading it was kind of a HELL for me. To stay focused and to pay attention was very, very difficult. Thus I say that to watch it is actually... FUN! I love to watch it, hate to read it! :)
The play in a video is got a kind of a flow. Now if I compare it to the read story in my head which was kind of a slow boaring experience. I am glad that I have read this play and even more glad that I actually liked it.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
I have finished the play. I found it very interesting indeed. I do not fully grasp the reason why Estragon seemed to not remember anything. And why does Vladimir suddenly try to make some sense out of things.
I was very stunned when Vladimir told Estragon that they were exactly at the same place yestrday. Estragon doesn´t know. He forgot. Strange because the tree has leaves. Impossible over night, the day before there were no leaves. Vladimir is confused but then he finds luckys hat which he left there yestrday. Still doesn´t answer my question about the leaves though.
Never mind. I was also very surprised that the end of the play was almost identical to the beginning. This stung me! I still cant get rid of the feeling that Vladimir was about to solve the puzzle but is sworn to doom all the time due to not enough support by Estragon who doesn´t remember anything.
Quote 1:
"Let´s go. Yes, let´s go. (they don´t move)."
This could mean in different words; let´s move on. Again by not moving they prove their lack of "will" to do anything or change anything. (Many people do this and I believe Beckett was trying to point this out.)
Quote 2:
"Nothing to be done" (Estragon)
I do believe that he literally means there is nothing HE can do. Nothing he can do about the situation. Perhaps society.
Quote 3:
"Such is life."
They rather get use to this fact then to actually try to change their meaning of "life".
Quote 4:
"We are all born mad. Some remain so."
Through life we gain knowledge and wisdom. Some do not. They remain the same as at their begining in a way.
Quote 5:
"To-morrow, when I wake, or think I do, what shall I say of to-day?"
This has a meaning that I do not grasp. I put it here just to show once more that they aren´t able to even decide for themselves. Asking such questions...
I was very stunned when Vladimir told Estragon that they were exactly at the same place yestrday. Estragon doesn´t know. He forgot. Strange because the tree has leaves. Impossible over night, the day before there were no leaves. Vladimir is confused but then he finds luckys hat which he left there yestrday. Still doesn´t answer my question about the leaves though.
Never mind. I was also very surprised that the end of the play was almost identical to the beginning. This stung me! I still cant get rid of the feeling that Vladimir was about to solve the puzzle but is sworn to doom all the time due to not enough support by Estragon who doesn´t remember anything.
Quote 1:
"Let´s go. Yes, let´s go. (they don´t move)."
This could mean in different words; let´s move on. Again by not moving they prove their lack of "will" to do anything or change anything. (Many people do this and I believe Beckett was trying to point this out.)
Quote 2:
"Nothing to be done" (Estragon)
I do believe that he literally means there is nothing HE can do. Nothing he can do about the situation. Perhaps society.
Quote 3:
"Such is life."
They rather get use to this fact then to actually try to change their meaning of "life".
Quote 4:
"We are all born mad. Some remain so."
Through life we gain knowledge and wisdom. Some do not. They remain the same as at their begining in a way.
Quote 5:
"To-morrow, when I wake, or think I do, what shall I say of to-day?"
This has a meaning that I do not grasp. I put it here just to show once more that they aren´t able to even decide for themselves. Asking such questions...
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
"Waiting for Godot" is a either loved or hated. It was called "the play where nothing happens" by critics in 1953. However the crowd stud up clapping when the play finished. People loved it. Critics hated it.
One might at first think that this is a play where nothing happens. Two tramps sitting and waiting. One persuading the other not to move on or kill himself and continue to wait with him for a figure called Godot. Yep, this is pretty much what the play is about. Or what one will thinks if he just reads the words but doesnt look for any deep meanings. If one looks at this play he will understand that Beckett by this tried to reflect the society. Show people how they behave and solve things. If people say that this play is about nothing then maybe they should realize that maybe even their lives are actually about nothing and that they dont differ that much from the play "Waiting for Godot" and I believe that this was Becketts intention.
One might at first think that this is a play where nothing happens. Two tramps sitting and waiting. One persuading the other not to move on or kill himself and continue to wait with him for a figure called Godot. Yep, this is pretty much what the play is about. Or what one will thinks if he just reads the words but doesnt look for any deep meanings. If one looks at this play he will understand that Beckett by this tried to reflect the society. Show people how they behave and solve things. If people say that this play is about nothing then maybe they should realize that maybe even their lives are actually about nothing and that they dont differ that much from the play "Waiting for Godot" and I believe that this was Becketts intention.
Protagonist:
We could call the two tramps the protagonists in the play. However, they represent the whole of society/ mankind. "They correlate actions of the other characters to the general concerns of mankind".
Antagonist:
Pozzo is a rich man. He at all times tries to have all the attention for himself. His servant, Lucky, must bare heaps abuses on him. Pozzo represents the boss/ master/ruler. That is why one could say that he is the antagonist. "At time, God or Fate, or whatever master of universe exists, migh also be an antagonist, bearing down on the two tramps and mankind their lives enbearable.
Just because I have actually included all the characters in the play already, I believe that the protagonist and antagonist do and actually must play off each other. Firstly there are no other characters left and secondly the protagonist reacts to things done and said by the antagonist and vice versa. Thus I do believe that they play of each other.
Antagonist:
Pozzo is a rich man. He at all times tries to have all the attention for himself. His servant, Lucky, must bare heaps abuses on him. Pozzo represents the boss/ master/ruler. That is why one could say that he is the antagonist. "At time, God or Fate, or whatever master of universe exists, migh also be an antagonist, bearing down on the two tramps and mankind their lives enbearable.
Just because I have actually included all the characters in the play already, I believe that the protagonist and antagonist do and actually must play off each other. Firstly there are no other characters left and secondly the protagonist reacts to things done and said by the antagonist and vice versa. Thus I do believe that they play of each other.
As I said earlier I believe that Samuel Beckett wrote this play as a complainment to the society. I believe that it is about the cowardness and "zombines" of most of people. All through out Beckett´s "Waiting for Godot", they, Estragon and Vladimir, end up never doing anything and always deciding to wait for Godot to decide for them. This shows that people are not able to decide for themselves and just like sheep need to be told what to do and be guided through out everything.
They are also waiting. Everyone is waiting. Everyday. Waiting for something. Something to start, happen, end, etc. Thus I think that Samuel Beckett´s "Waiting for Godot" is about society and philosophical society questions. Throughout this play he is trying to point out these problems and in a way tell the people (society) that they play a similar role to Estragon and Vladimir.
They are also waiting. Everyone is waiting. Everyday. Waiting for something. Something to start, happen, end, etc. Thus I think that Samuel Beckett´s "Waiting for Godot" is about society and philosophical society questions. Throughout this play he is trying to point out these problems and in a way tell the people (society) that they play a similar role to Estragon and Vladimir.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
This post is going to be a bit similar to my post number 3 (3rd from the bottom), nevertheless I will try to go into more detail and try to explain my thoughts a bit better in this post.
So, as I said earlier;
"I understand the main theme of "Waiting for Godot" is that people are all the time waiting for something or someone. Yes, in this play the main characters are waiting for Godot - God but I believe there is a deeper meaning. It´s not about waiting for God, it´s about people and society. The fact that people are waiting for something all the time and usually don´t take any action to solve the problem themselves. Just like in the play when they say something like; "Let´s wait for Godot to decide." By this nothing will be sorted because Godot will never come and thus the cycle starts all over again because people are usually lazy to take their destiny into their own hands and do something."
By this paragraph I wanted to show my understanding of the play up to this point. NOW I have a twist in the story which makes me wonder...
A boy enters the stage. Estragon and Vladimir talk to him. The boy sais he is sent by Godot. By Godot! Suddenly I am not sure any more that Godot is suppose to represent God. And if yes, then what does this make the boy? An angel? Too religious. No. It also shows us that Vladimir and Estragon are not completely crazy. One could think that Godot does not exist. That it is only a made up thing, idea, etc.The boy is a solid proof of the fact that Godot exists. Somewhere.
So, as I said earlier;
"I understand the main theme of "Waiting for Godot" is that people are all the time waiting for something or someone. Yes, in this play the main characters are waiting for Godot - God but I believe there is a deeper meaning. It´s not about waiting for God, it´s about people and society. The fact that people are waiting for something all the time and usually don´t take any action to solve the problem themselves. Just like in the play when they say something like; "Let´s wait for Godot to decide." By this nothing will be sorted because Godot will never come and thus the cycle starts all over again because people are usually lazy to take their destiny into their own hands and do something."
By this paragraph I wanted to show my understanding of the play up to this point. NOW I have a twist in the story which makes me wonder...
A boy enters the stage. Estragon and Vladimir talk to him. The boy sais he is sent by Godot. By Godot! Suddenly I am not sure any more that Godot is suppose to represent God. And if yes, then what does this make the boy? An angel? Too religious. No. It also shows us that Vladimir and Estragon are not completely crazy. One could think that Godot does not exist. That it is only a made up thing, idea, etc.The boy is a solid proof of the fact that Godot exists. Somewhere.
I have a great announcement because two more characters have entered the play! Finally! It was starting to get a bit boring when there was only Estragon and Vladimir in the play all the time. So we have two more characters. Their names are Pozzo and Lucky.
Pozzo gives the expression of a slaver. (Lucky is the slave) He has a whip and he orders Lucky around all the time. Lucky on the other hand is the slave. He looks very tired, he also sleeps while he is standing. The rope around Luckys neck, is held by Pozzo. It has already left a rope injury around the slaves neck.
Pozzo decides to stay around a bit longer then one would expect. I thought they would walk by but no. They decide to stay. Well, to put things right. Pozzo decides to leave. Then he decides that they will stay a bit longer. This goes on and on and on. During this process Pozzo is also smoking his pipe. We are given no relief with his pipe either. There are tons of rhetorical questions such as; "should I smoke another?" (Pozzo) And no matter what the other say, it will end up exactly opposite of what you expected. First he sais something like "I shouldn´t smoke and I won´t" and by this time the pipe is back in his mouth and he is lighting it again.
I have finished the first part of the play so far and I´m am utterly confused and have absolutelly no idea what could be ahead of me in this play. I guess it will be a surprise!
Pozzo gives the expression of a slaver. (Lucky is the slave) He has a whip and he orders Lucky around all the time. Lucky on the other hand is the slave. He looks very tired, he also sleeps while he is standing. The rope around Luckys neck, is held by Pozzo. It has already left a rope injury around the slaves neck.
Pozzo decides to stay around a bit longer then one would expect. I thought they would walk by but no. They decide to stay. Well, to put things right. Pozzo decides to leave. Then he decides that they will stay a bit longer. This goes on and on and on. During this process Pozzo is also smoking his pipe. We are given no relief with his pipe either. There are tons of rhetorical questions such as; "should I smoke another?" (Pozzo) And no matter what the other say, it will end up exactly opposite of what you expected. First he sais something like "I shouldn´t smoke and I won´t" and by this time the pipe is back in his mouth and he is lighting it again.
I have finished the first part of the play so far and I´m am utterly confused and have absolutelly no idea what could be ahead of me in this play. I guess it will be a surprise!
Thursday, February 23, 2012
The premiere of "Waiting for Godot" was the 5th of January 1953 in the théátre de Babylon in Paris. (originally in French, that´s why) With the use of this information I´m taking a chance by saying that also in "Waiting for Godot" the time period will be the same. Approximately 1953.
The time period is important for understanding the kind of language which is used in this play and also explains the clothes which the characters are wearing. (cylinder hats etc.)
As I read on I understand the main theme of "Waiting for Godot" is that people are all the time waiting for something or someone. Yes, in this play the main characters are waiting for Godot - God but I believe there is a deeper meaning. It´s not about waiting for God, it´s about people and society. The fact that people are waiting for something all the time and usually don´t take any action to solve the problem themselves. Just like in the play when they say something like; "Let´s wait for Godot to decide." By this nothing will be sorted because Godot will never come and thus the cycle starts all over again because people are usually lazy to take their destiny into their own hands and do something. This is something I have personal experience with because I myself see this behavior in everyday life.
By this post I want to say that I strongly believe this play is still relevant and will be for a long, long time......
By this post I want to say that I strongly believe this play is still relevant and will be for a long, long time......
Monday, February 13, 2012
Main Characters:
Estragon:
"Nothing to be done." ......the right definition for now.
Vladimir:
"Interchangable with Estragon" - this is something I read on a different webpage
(http://www.shmoop.com/waiting-for-godot/vladimir.html). I had a hard time to figure out how to correctly describe this character, so I have decided to search the net for a description which is not my own but would do.
He is believed, as stated on the site above, to be the smarter one.
- better memory
- he´s more logical
Estragon seems to be having a problem with his shoe. Vladimir comes in to the situation. They have a rather oad conversation which is quiet a challenge to comprehend. Vladimir starts to mess around with his hat. So now whe have Estragon messing around with his shoe and Vladimir buggering around his hat. In the mean time, their are having a conversation about the Bible. So as the talked, they were wondering what to do. So the decided to hang themselves. Probably the day is Saturday but that is almost imposible to say. They probably should be here and today. But they are not sure if the place is right and what day is it anyway? In the end nothing happens because they decide to wait for Godot to decide for them.
Estragon:
"Nothing to be done." ......the right definition for now.
Vladimir:
"Interchangable with Estragon" - this is something I read on a different webpage
(http://www.shmoop.com/waiting-for-godot/vladimir.html). I had a hard time to figure out how to correctly describe this character, so I have decided to search the net for a description which is not my own but would do.
He is believed, as stated on the site above, to be the smarter one.
- better memory
- he´s more logical
Estragon seems to be having a problem with his shoe. Vladimir comes in to the situation. They have a rather oad conversation which is quiet a challenge to comprehend. Vladimir starts to mess around with his hat. So now whe have Estragon messing around with his shoe and Vladimir buggering around his hat. In the mean time, their are having a conversation about the Bible. So as the talked, they were wondering what to do. So the decided to hang themselves. Probably the day is Saturday but that is almost imposible to say. They probably should be here and today. But they are not sure if the place is right and what day is it anyway? In the end nothing happens because they decide to wait for Godot to decide for them.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
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