4/4/12
I get it.. and everything they did, including when they thought they were being chased, that was all just to give them some purpose besides just "waiting for Godot", right? It is as if we are all essentially "waiting for Godot"--waiting for something to come along in our lives to give us purpose and meaning until "Godot comes."
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I'd like to think so! Essentially my interpretation of Beckett's play is that life is questionable and we, as humans, attempt to make sense of it; we attempt to create meaning and significance in our lives. We are not cognizant as to why we are brought on this Earth and we may struggle to understand why. And so we create hope (perhaps fabricate hope) and attempt to distract ourselves from various predicaments we may find ourselves in. Sometimes our life may appear absurd and nonsensical and we may feel that we are waiting for something meaningful to happen in our quotidian and mundane lives, revealing the struggle in our lives. A part of us may feel hopeful and optimistic and yet we cannot evade the fact that another part of us understands the futility that lies within our struggle to create a life of meaning (a contrast of the two characters of Vladimir and Estragon). Meanwhile, in between these struggles, we pass time, we fabricate situations to divert our attention away from the reality of our situations. We force ourselves to become oblivious to our predicaments. Yes, we may often find ourselves scared and afraid of what is to happen in our lives or what we are to make of our lives, but we must push on and strive to create a life of meaning. We must avoid succumbing to contemplation of suicide so as to continue forward in our quest, because succumbing to such would only create loneliness and a sense of emptiness. Suicide is an escape, not a plausible solution for Vladimir and Estragon. Like in the play, waiting is a constant struggle. And as difficult as it is to wait for the uncertain, we must force ourselves to find something to do to pass the time. While waiting is perhaps allowing ourselves to do something with our lives and perhaps the first step to finding the meaning in our lives, sometimes by not dwelling on the thought of finding a life of meaning and purpose may actually prove beneficial. It is in this way that I sort of admire Pozzo, because he was so oblivious to Vladimir's and Estragon's struggle and waiting for Godot. He just simply went on through life with dominance (as revealed through his dominance over Lucky) and control that allowed him to live A life (as opposed to just waiting FOR a life of meaning). Vladimir and Estragon wait foolishly for Godot; they wait foolishly for a life of meaning, but it has already been established that Godot is NOT coming. As in life, perhaps one can believe that life is to not be spent waiting for something to happen or waiting for someone or something to provide meaning, but rather the individual attempts to create meaning themselves.
ReplyDeleteI really admire the Existentialism present in this play. Through reading I can already picture a heated dialogue between Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, and Camus hahaha. I think it's a great read!
Anyway, just a thought. I'm still trying to make complete sense of it all--- my perspective may be a little confusing.