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Topic: ‘Waiting for
Godot’ with religious interpretation
Course No.: 09 Modernist Literature
Roll No. : 28
Enrollment no.: PG14101019
Email-Id: jasoliyavaishali@gmail.com
Prepared by: Vaishali
Hareshbhai Jasoliya
Submitted to: MAHARAJA
KRISHNAKUMARSINHJI BHAVNAGAR UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
Introduction:
Samuel
Beckett is a famous Irish dramatist and novelist. “Waiting for Godot” is his
master piece. The play is one of the classic works of theatre of absurd. It is
multi layered drama which has many interpretations. The play seems absurd but
with a deep religious meaning.
Though
the play commonly interpreted within the context of the theatre or absurd,
existentialism, it can be related with many other religious interpretations. As
like,
· Christian
myth of two thieves
· Waiting
for second coming of Jesus Christ
· Hindu
philosophy and its ‘Avatar’ and other interpretations.
Christian mythical interpretation:
When someone asked about the theme of “Waiting
for Godot”, Beckett is reported to have referred to the sentence in the
writings of St.Augustine,
“Do not despair: one of the thieves was
saved. Do not presume: one of the thieves was damned.”
The theme of the two thieves on the cross, the theme
of the uncertainty of the hope of the salvation and the chance bestowal of
divine grace, does indeed pervade the whole play. Two characters Vladimir and
Estragon are shown as tramps or thieves. In the play, at the beginning,
Vladimir refers this,
“One of the thieves was saved. It’s a
reasonable percentage.”
Even Vladimir is shown
talking about repentance. He several times says to Estragon to wait for Mr.
Godot and when Estragon asks the reason, he says, Mr. Godot, otherwise punish
them! Beckett, though, wrote these dialogues quite funny and in light mood, it
has strong meanings.
“Vladimir: One of the thieves was saved. It’s
a reasonable percentage.
Gogo Estragon: What?
Vladimir: Suppose we repented.
Estragon: Repented what?
Vladimir: oh…. We wouldn’t have to go into
the details.
Estragon: our being born?”
It means Vladimir has faith in the myth and he is craving for salvation.
He wants to be one of the thieves, who saved.
In the second act, we can see that, while passing the time,
they are thinking and talking about dead voices, it also seems that they are
thinking about their past acts and evaluating their own deeds.
There is another Christian myth described in the dialogues
between the boy and Vladimir. The boy, who looks after the goats is not beaten
but, his brother who looks after Mr. Godot’s ships is beaten. This incident
refers to myth of two sons of Adam Cain and Abel. There two the Lord’s grace
fell on one rather than other without any rational explanation.
Here Godot also acts
contrary/similarly to Jesus Christ. It can be interpreted as God’s punishment
or nature of giving punishments. Vladimir also gives reason to Estragon that if
they don’t wait for Mr. Godot, he will punish them. The act of waiting and
Vladimir’s dialogues to boy, “Tell him that you saw me” seems that he is
waiting for damnation. Even the thought of repentance is also present in the
play. Thus, the play has very strong effect of Christian ideas of salvation,
repentance including its myth.
Biblical elements in “Waiting for Godot”:
As it has many Christian ideas, it is also related with, many biblical
elements and symbols. At the beginning of the play, Vladimir asks Estragon,
have he read the bible or not. Throughout the play, biblical, Christian
elements are very much presented with the symbols. The background image of
‘Tree’ has multiple meanings, and religious interpretation see as it is an
image of cross were Jesus Christ was crucified. Their waiting also reflects the
basic biblical idea of Christ’s returns on the Doomsday. This play has strong
religious allegory.
Mr. Godot and Second coming:
One popular interpretation of
waiting for Godot is the second coming aspect. One meaning of Mr. Godot is none
other but ‘God’ and there are many clues and evidences in the play which
symbolically says, that Mr. Godot is a Symbol for God. Religious interpretation
points Vladimir and Estragon as humanity waiting for the elusive return of a
savior. Here we find that, this interpretation makes Pozzo into the faithful.
Another evidence is the title itself; the name ‘Godot’ also proves it. The name
suggests ‘Godot’ it must have some significance. And it must be interpreted
religious way. It is also seen in the dialogues between Vladimir and the boy.
“Vladimir: (softly) has he bread, Mr. Godot?
Boy: yes, sir.
Vladimir: fair or….. (He hesitates)… or
black?
Boy: I think it’s white, sir.”
The personality, Beckett
describes is much related with image of Christian God. This description clearly
shows that Mr. Godot means God. Other dialogues between Vladimir and Estragon
describe characteristics of Mr. Godot.
“Estragon: And if we dropped him? (Pause) if
we dropped him?
Vladimir: He’d punish us.
Estragon: And if he comes?
Vladimir: We’ll be saved.”
It means Mr. Godot will give punishment if they leave
and Mr. Godot is savior also, they will be rewarded, if they wait. As it is
already described, the tree symbolizes cross were Christ was crucified and they
are waiting there. Throughout the play, the mute character Godot symbolizes
God, as we are waiting for God – a savior from our sorrows and sufferings. This
uncertain, second coming of God is well presented, who, where – questions about
God and Godot both are unanswered in reality ad well in the play.
“Waiting for Godot” with Hindu Philosophy and ideas:
In Hindu religion, there is
also an idea of an ‘Avatar’ for whom people are waiting. Though the play has
not much connection with Hindu religious ideas, it can be interpreted and
connected with some philosophical and spiritual ideas as the play is multi-layered.
The concept of ‘Nothingness’ can be interpreted with Hindu religious ideas, it
can be interpreted with Hindu philosophy, according to it, the world and
everything, every action is ‘Maya’ has no meaning but only ‘illusion’. Other
interpretation of Hindu philosophy says, ‘karma’, the act must be done. The
dialogue of Vladimir,
“Let us do something
while we have the chance…. Let us make the most of it, before it is too late!”
This ‘performative’ potency suggests the finally
achieved actions means ‘karma’. The idea of hope as waiting (without dying) is
also a Hindu ideas, it is worthy to be studied with many interpretations.
Religious Dilemma in “Waiting for Godot”:
Beckett presents religious dilemma,
counter arguments against religion. It becomes very strong, interesting point
of discussion and debate in the play. The famous myth of two thieves used in
the play, is deconstructed by the writer. When Vladimir says, “One of the
thieves was saved. It’s a reasonable percentage.” This deconstructing point can
be seen in Vladimir’s and Estragon’s dialogues.
Estragon: Who believes him?
Vladimir: Everybody. It’s the only version
they know.
Estragon: People are bloody ignorant apes.
Estragon speaks,
criticizes human mentality, whose attitude has been one of skepticism
throughout the play. Beckett, very intentionally, created these two characters
– Estragon and Vladimir. Among them Vladimir is shown more intelligent, craving
for salvation, moral, religious, and thinker than Estragon.
Estragon seems dumb,
irreligious, sleeping – not thoughtful, only craving for necessary things for
body but not interested in spiritual thinking. Two ideas about existentialism
and spiritual/ religious waiting clashes in the play. When Vladimir says to
repent, Estragon asks for reason. Two concept of religious and atheist are put
together with these two characters. Throughout the play, Vladimir is thinking
about repentance, salvation, God, Bible and many other religious things. He,
very hopefully, waiting for Mr. Godot to come and to be saved. But Estragon is
very forgetful, he forgets everything, he has no concern with these religious
thoughts. Uncertainty of God or Mr. Godot is also questioned in the play. Both
characters are waiting and passing time without doing anything, but Mr. Godot
does not come. It can also be interpreted that, “Nothing to be done” while
waiting for God and human being become passive while waiting.
As an
existentialist idea, they want to die, and wait for another day with hope. It
is quite confusing, they both have hope for God or Godot to come but they find
hopelessness or meaningless to wait, so they die. The play has idea of
existentialism as well as religious. And throughout the play, this dilemma goes
on. Perhaps, it shows Beckett’s own dilemma as he is atheist.
Conclusion:
It is strongly believed that the
play has ideas of existentialism. But event to support existentialism, writer
shows religious ideas. And he also tries to deconstruct it. Here, writer
presents many Christian myths and Biblical images. Beckett knows about all the
Christian philosophical, spiritual ideas from childhood. So, the play has many
Christian values like repentance, craving for salvation, faith in God, fear of
God and hope for to be saved, and ‘coming of Mr. Godot’. Even Vladimir’s
character is full with Christian values like he feeds and helps Estragon as
true friend, he wants to help Pozzo and has desire to be saved.
Works Cited
contributour, Wikipedia. Waiting for Godot. 3
November 2015. 3 November 2015
<https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:CiteThisPage&page=Waiting_for_Godot&id=688804410>.
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