Waiting for Godot- Page 2
Waiting for Godot
#25re: Waiting for Godot
Posted: 4/9/06 at 1:33am
Pozzo? I agree with that assessment, though, especially if you look at the fact that he goes blind in a day. The thought did cross my mind that perhaps since Vlad and Gogo were waiting and waiting for so long, for some reason they only *thought* this was a day and it was in reality longer, but I'm not sure.
I think Godot is what they percieve to be a positive, helpful force, so I don't think I'd agree with equating him/it to death. But I do agree that it's an exisential commentary, absolutely.
#26re: Waiting for Godot
Posted: 4/9/06 at 11:07am
But, if life is torturous since it's meaningless (according to the philosophy of existentialism), then death WOULD be a positive thing...
I never took the "day" idea as literal...
#27re: Waiting for Godot
Posted: 4/9/06 at 11:10am
It doesn't make sense for it to be a literal day, but then people keep saying this isn't *meant* to make sense, so maybe it's just "time passage," and it doesn't matter.
Maybe they're searching for meaning and hoping to find it -- maybe Godot is meaning. Though, he never comes -- perhaps it's that meaning is not just going to come upon them if they just sit there. They've got to find it, figure it out.
#28re: Waiting for Godot
Posted: 4/9/06 at 11:25am
I think you're right about that - but I also think that the whole point then is that they CAN'T find meaning. There's no meaning in our lives - we don't even have the ability to FIND that meaning. (Again, according to the play and the philosophy). I don't blame you for doing it, but I think you're putting too much of a positive spin on the play. Beckett makes us laugh at how absurd we are, all the while kicking us saying "this is life -- you're trapped, it sucks, but at least we can pass the time..." It's a double edged sword in that way.
It's kind of like what the same prof. who taught me about this play said about Cabaret - at least in terms of structure. The song Tomorrow Belongs to Me is arguably the prettiest song in the show, and one hell of a catchy tune. You find yourself singing it (since it's right before intermission) -- and then you realize you're singing a Nazi anthem. It's the same with Godot - you're laughing at how foolish Vlad and Gogo are -- until you realize that you're laughing at yourself...
#29re: Waiting for Godot
Posted: 4/9/06 at 11:29am
I still don't sense giving up, really; presuming for a moment that "Godot" is "meaning," and they think they'll find it by sitting by and waiting; they just keep waiting. Gogo wants to leave, but I don't get a sense that leaving is giving up for him. I guess it could be, since he just wants to up and leave, not go *look for* Godot rather than waiting for him. I think he's more intuitive than Vlad, though, because Vlad is always like "no, we have to stay here." At least Gogo -- subconsciously, maybe, since he never says "here's why I'm leaving!" -- is going to go do something. It's also interesting to me how much more emotional he is; that makes him very dependent.
But, yes. If meaning isn't going to find you, and you can't *truly* go and find IT, then you're just stuck in that seemingly-endless search/waiting period.
#30re: Waiting for Godot
Posted: 4/15/06 at 8:58pm
I really dislike having to ask for help in the form of direct answers, but I've tried to figure this out on my own, and I just don't see it. I'm Googling a bit, and finding no help.
As far as Aristotle and reversal/recognition go, I'm not seeing it in this play. Am I looking at things too simply, or am I crazy?
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