Samuel Beckett and the question of God in Waiting for Godot

Fiction & Literature, Literary Theory & Criticism, British
Cover of the book Samuel Beckett and the question of God in Waiting for Godot by Patricia Patkovszky, GRIN Verlag
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Patricia Patkovszky ISBN: 9783638555739
Publisher: GRIN Verlag Publication: October 16, 2006
Imprint: GRIN Verlag Language: English
Author: Patricia Patkovszky
ISBN: 9783638555739
Publisher: GRIN Verlag
Publication: October 16, 2006
Imprint: GRIN Verlag
Language: English

Seminar paper from the year 2006 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1,3, Humboldt-University of Berlin (Department of English and American Studies), course: 20th - Century Drama, 12 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: On 5 January 1953 'Waiting for Godot' challenged its first theaters audience with a never seen dramatic work of art, radically different from anything shown before, the title 'referring ironically to the nonappearance of the person awaited so faithfully by the two main protagonists'. Before Beckett, drama was synonymous with action: a plot in which barely anything happens was inconceivable. Beckett is the first dramatist to focus exclusively on the act of waiting and to make this into his dominant metaphor for existence. He, at he same time, expects his audience to share that experience of waiting with Estragon and Vladimir. As Martin Esslin pointed out in 1961: 'Beckett is trying to capture the basic experience of being 'in the world', having been thrust into it without a by-your-leave, and having, somehow, to come to terms with 'being there', 'Dasein' itself, in Heidegger's sense'. Vladimir and Estragon, two tramps, are the main characters of the play. They perform on an empty stage, marked only by a single tree and a low mound, waiting for the appearance of a mysterious character named Godot. Two other men, Pozzo and Lucky, master and servant, turn up and stay with them for a while. To pass their time, they discuss their bodily handicaps, their non-fitting clothes and episodes of their life together as well as questions of theology. Godot, however, never comes; but a boy delivers the message, that he will be there the next day. Vladimir and Estragon consider leaving and even committing suicide, but they fail in doing so. Nearly the same events take place during the second act. Godot never comes and the story kind of repeats itself. Since the first performance of the play people have asked themselves: Who is Godot? Why wait for him? Why is there a Waiting for Godot? Godot... Godot... Is Godot hope? Life? A new beginning? Or death and salvation? Or is he maybe God himself? And then why does he not come? Is God dead? Lies the real catastrophe in his promise? My work therefore shall have a short look at Beckett's religious background, his relationship with religion and god; as well as the religious motives in Waiting for Godot and the question of whether Godot is God or not.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Seminar paper from the year 2006 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1,3, Humboldt-University of Berlin (Department of English and American Studies), course: 20th - Century Drama, 12 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: On 5 January 1953 'Waiting for Godot' challenged its first theaters audience with a never seen dramatic work of art, radically different from anything shown before, the title 'referring ironically to the nonappearance of the person awaited so faithfully by the two main protagonists'. Before Beckett, drama was synonymous with action: a plot in which barely anything happens was inconceivable. Beckett is the first dramatist to focus exclusively on the act of waiting and to make this into his dominant metaphor for existence. He, at he same time, expects his audience to share that experience of waiting with Estragon and Vladimir. As Martin Esslin pointed out in 1961: 'Beckett is trying to capture the basic experience of being 'in the world', having been thrust into it without a by-your-leave, and having, somehow, to come to terms with 'being there', 'Dasein' itself, in Heidegger's sense'. Vladimir and Estragon, two tramps, are the main characters of the play. They perform on an empty stage, marked only by a single tree and a low mound, waiting for the appearance of a mysterious character named Godot. Two other men, Pozzo and Lucky, master and servant, turn up and stay with them for a while. To pass their time, they discuss their bodily handicaps, their non-fitting clothes and episodes of their life together as well as questions of theology. Godot, however, never comes; but a boy delivers the message, that he will be there the next day. Vladimir and Estragon consider leaving and even committing suicide, but they fail in doing so. Nearly the same events take place during the second act. Godot never comes and the story kind of repeats itself. Since the first performance of the play people have asked themselves: Who is Godot? Why wait for him? Why is there a Waiting for Godot? Godot... Godot... Is Godot hope? Life? A new beginning? Or death and salvation? Or is he maybe God himself? And then why does he not come? Is God dead? Lies the real catastrophe in his promise? My work therefore shall have a short look at Beckett's religious background, his relationship with religion and god; as well as the religious motives in Waiting for Godot and the question of whether Godot is God or not.

More books from GRIN Verlag

Cover of the book Haftung im web 2.0: Die Verantwortlichkeit der Betreiber von Webforen by Patricia Patkovszky
Cover of the book Geschichte der Heiligen: Nikolaus Groß - Seliger des Bistums Essen by Patricia Patkovszky
Cover of the book Machiavelli pur - Die Discorsi II. by Patricia Patkovszky
Cover of the book Die Synode von Sutri und Rom by Patricia Patkovszky
Cover of the book Higher & Vocational Education in India by Patricia Patkovszky
Cover of the book Die acht großen Suiten G. F. Händels by Patricia Patkovszky
Cover of the book Im Rausch der Gefahr by Patricia Patkovszky
Cover of the book Alterserwerbstätigkeit und Ruhestand im Vergleich zwischen Deutschland und Polen by Patricia Patkovszky
Cover of the book The Historical Development of Foreign Investment in the Formation of the Malaysian Economy. Colonial Period-Post Independence by Patricia Patkovszky
Cover of the book Latin America and the Economic Crisis by Patricia Patkovszky
Cover of the book Internet: Von der Massenkommunikation wieder zurück zur Individualkommunikation? by Patricia Patkovszky
Cover of the book Aggressionen bei Kindern und Jugendlichen - Fokus Mediengewalt by Patricia Patkovszky
Cover of the book Die Einordnung des Expertenstandards 'Dekubitusprophylaxe in der Pflege' als Qualitätsinstrument und Rahmenbedingungen bei der Implementierung by Patricia Patkovszky
Cover of the book Konzept zur Implementierung von Mitarbeiterjahresgesprächen im Pflegedienst einer psychiatrischen Klinik by Patricia Patkovszky
Cover of the book Review on Social Anxiety Disorder among Teenagers by Patricia Patkovszky
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy