https://padlet.com/jli8655/93uqodgg2e4c4kve So why are we entertained by Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot? en-us 2020-05-16 22:41:29 UTC 2025-11-03 02:26:21 UTC hello@padlet.com jli8655 https://padlet.com/jli8655/93uqodgg2e4c4kve/wish/577172947 If it’s true that nothing or less than nothing happens in Waiting for Godot, how is it that we manage to be entertained as the audience/reader? ]]> 2020-05-16 22:44:32 UTC https://padlet.com/jli8655/93uqodgg2e4c4kve/wish/577172947 jli8655 https://padlet.com/jli8655/93uqodgg2e4c4kve/wish/577176995 Waiting for Godot is a nihilistic play, where nothing happens. The entire play itself is meaningless, as shown through the interaction of Vladimir and Estragon, as well as the the ambiguous concepts of time, setting, and self identities of all the characters portrayed.
Estragon states, "Nothing happens, nobody comes, nobody goes, it's awful!" (opening of scene 11)]]> 2020-05-16 22:53:16 UTC https://padlet.com/jli8655/93uqodgg2e4c4kve/wish/577176995 jli8655 https://padlet.com/jli8655/93uqodgg2e4c4kve/wish/577184882 Upon the ending of this play, we still have yet to discover Godot's identity. however it can be speculated that Godot is a God-like figure, as Vladimir and Estragon continued putting their faith into him.]]> 2020-05-16 23:11:21 UTC https://padlet.com/jli8655/93uqodgg2e4c4kve/wish/577184882 jli8655 https://padlet.com/jli8655/93uqodgg2e4c4kve/wish/577194191 As Vladimir and Estragon put themselves through what seems like endless waiting for Godot, they desperately do almost anything to pass the time, whether it is carrying out nonsensical conversations, questioning their existence, sitting in silence, or interacting with passerbys (such as Pozzo and Lucky), contributing the elements of absurdity in this play. They are simply bored and audience and readers like us are pulled into this "boredom" too. The play also repeats itself, especially as seen through Vladimir and Estragon's interactions (act 2 is a repeat of act 1).]]> 2020-05-16 23:32:28 UTC https://padlet.com/jli8655/93uqodgg2e4c4kve/wish/577194191 jli8655 https://padlet.com/jli8655/93uqodgg2e4c4kve/wish/577205854 There were several points in the play where Estragon finally wants to leave, but somehow ultimately decides to stay with Vladimir everytime, as Vladimir consistently convinces him to waiting for Godot, over and over. Just like Estragon, the audience may hesitate to continue the play, given its absurdity. Nothing ever happens, and there are points in the play where it is questionable our interest in the play as the audience.

]]> 2020-05-17 00:04:37 UTC https://padlet.com/jli8655/93uqodgg2e4c4kve/wish/577205854 jli8655 https://padlet.com/jli8655/93uqodgg2e4c4kve/wish/577210711 Though the play overall had no meaning, we couldn't conclude this until the very end of the play. As we watched or read the play, we had anticipated at some point, that something may actually happen, just like Vladimir and Estragon who don't stop awaiting the presence of Godot. That is because just a bit of hope that our expectations or yearnings might come true is enough to keep us going (human nature).]]> 2020-05-17 00:15:56 UTC https://padlet.com/jli8655/93uqodgg2e4c4kve/wish/577210711 jli8655 https://padlet.com/jli8655/93uqodgg2e4c4kve/wish/577223835 Waiting for Godot is a unique play and its elements of both tragedy and comedy contributed to its absurdity. Though the characters basically do nothing, there have been instances where action arises, such as through the abrupt appearances of other characters. For example, the mysterious boy that comes into the scene announces, "  Mr. Godot told me to tell you he won’t come this evening
but surely tomorrow". Through this, Vladimir and Estragon are motivated to wait, once again another day for Godot, and this repeats when the boy comes back, telling the same exact thing the following day. When the boy was introduced to the play for the first time, we (audience) may not have been completely aware that this statement would soon come to mean nothing. In addition, the reappearances of Pozzo and Lucky kept us entertained for a good portion of the play. The ridiculous and tragic treatment of Lucky and sudden downfall of Pozzo when he reappeared that we saw in the play all seemed so strange...and absurd, of course.]]> 2020-05-17 00:54:38 UTC https://padlet.com/jli8655/93uqodgg2e4c4kve/wish/577223835 jli8655 https://padlet.com/jli8655/93uqodgg2e4c4kve/wish/577246816 Through the unexpected random events that occur occasionally to fuel our interest and curiosity in the play, Vladimir and Estragon initially persisted to hold out and wait for Godot, however, as the play progressed, we no longer know what to anticipate, more than anything, we all just wanted SOMETHING to happen, to ultimately stop the pointless, endless, hopeless waiting that resulted.]]> 2020-05-17 02:04:58 UTC https://padlet.com/jli8655/93uqodgg2e4c4kve/wish/577246816 jli8655 https://padlet.com/jli8655/93uqodgg2e4c4kve/wish/577250870 Drama WFG Final Project Period 9]]> 2020-05-17 02:16:38 UTC https://padlet.com/jli8655/93uqodgg2e4c4kve/wish/577250870