THEATRE OF CRUELTY

Theatre of Cruelty

Theatre of Cruelty

Waiting for Godot is one of Samuel Beckett's most famous works. It was originally written in French in 1948 and later was translated into English. The play is quite intense and is based on the concept of the suffering of human beings and the boredom and hopelessness of their lives. The play revolves around two characters… Vladimir and Estragon who are waiting for some hope in their life. Godot in a way can thus be seen as something many people wait for their entire life. The play in a very amusing manner, highlights how one passes time with a life which offers absolutely no hope. The following dialogues between Estragon and Vladimir indicate the hopelessness of their situation:

Estragon: Nothing to be done. Vladimir: I'm beginning to come round to that opinion.

Because of this hopeless, the entire play is based on how each being finds out ways and games to pass the time. The two characters accept that they would be happier apart but still stick together because they both realize that they need each other to pass their time. It just indicates the desperation of their life and their mental state.

Beckett has a very amusing way of communicating very intense messages for instance the following dialogues indicate how bored these two characters are with their life. These are exchanged when Estragon had lost his boots and had now found them:

Vladimir: What about trying them. Estragon: I've tried everything. Vladimir: No, I mean the boots. Estragon: Would that be a good thing? Vladimir: It'd pass the time. I assure you, it'd be an occupation.

How fantastic is Beckett's style. He writes simple straightforward sentences but each one carrying a much deeper meaning and great substance. These two characters are so hopeless about their life and so bored with it that their ultimate objective in life is to somehow pass the time. They do this by insulting each other, playing games or asking each other questions. Both the characters also realize that their existence makes no difference to anyone else. That is why the two also value each other because they realize that it is only the two of them who need each other or even remember each other's existence.

Waiting for Godot communicates a very important perspective. It tells us how hopeless life is, how boring and insignificant we are and that the only escape from this misery is through death. Though a very dramatic solution but the way Beckett communicates it is admirable. Death is the solution. Death is the only escape. And Death can be taken lightly! Estragon and Vladimir wait for Godot to come and save them. At the same time, they pass their time by thinking of ideas for committing suicide and to escape from their useless existence. Estragon suggests hanging from the tree but Vladimir feels it may be too risky and they might fail in killing themselves. Estragon agrees. Its really humorous how these two actually analyze the ...