Screening movie: Waiting for Godot
♣ What connection do you see in the setting (“A country road. A tree.Evening.”) of the play and these paintings?
=) This painting by Caspar David Friedrich and Beckett liked it, he found this painting in one art gallery. The title of this painting is "Longing" means to wait. so this painting became the inspiration of the play. The inspiration behind the setting of 'waiting for Godot'. The setting of the play, A country road and tree. It shows the effect of world war and the existence of tree stand as the existence of nature. A country road suggests someone coming. A Tree suggests liveliness or Birth. Evening suggests Death and despair of desire.
=) This painting by Caspar David Friedrich and Beckett liked it, he found this painting in one art gallery. The title of this painting is "Longing" means to wait. so this painting became the inspiration of the play. The inspiration behind the setting of 'waiting for Godot'. The setting of the play, A country road and tree. It shows the effect of world war and the existence of tree stand as the existence of nature. A country road suggests someone coming. A Tree suggests liveliness or Birth. Evening suggests Death and despair of desire.
♣ The tree is the only important ‘thing’ in the setting. What is the importance of tree in both acts? Why does Beckett grow a few leaves in Act II on the barren tree - The tree has four or five leaves-?
=) Yes, The tree is the only important thing in the setting. Both acts tree suggest the existence of nature in the ruined setting. In the first act Hopelessness presented through it because a tree without leaf is like life without breathing. But, in act II there are few leaves grows on the barren tree it shows the hope of rebirth. Beckett grows a few leaves in act ll on the barren tree. The tree has four and five leaves its suggest the hope for waiting. Both conditions are applied we can't clarify but in act ll barren tree with three or four leaves and it to be sum up the 'constantly waiting and yet nothing happens'
=) Yes, The tree is the only important thing in the setting. Both acts tree suggest the existence of nature in the ruined setting. In the first act Hopelessness presented through it because a tree without leaf is like life without breathing. But, in act II there are few leaves grows on the barren tree it shows the hope of rebirth. Beckett grows a few leaves in act ll on the barren tree. The tree has four and five leaves its suggest the hope for waiting. Both conditions are applied we can't clarify but in act ll barren tree with three or four leaves and it to be sum up the 'constantly waiting and yet nothing happens'
♣ In both Acts, evening falls into night and moon rises. How would you like to interpret this ‘coming of night and moon’ when actually they are waiting for Godot?
=) As evening falls into night and moon rises suggest that another day will come, tomorrow never dies and something must happen. We take the Sun on the shoulder in the morning and at night put it there. This vicious circle of life goes on.
=) As evening falls into night and moon rises suggest that another day will come, tomorrow never dies and something must happen. We take the Sun on the shoulder in the morning and at night put it there. This vicious circle of life goes on.
♣ The director feels the setting with some debris. Can you read any meaning in the contours of debris in the setting of the play?
=) Debris is the symbol of the effect of world war. That fallen structures may be skyscrapers in past but today it is no more than debris. This idea connects the philosophy of life.
=) Debris is the symbol of the effect of world war. That fallen structures may be skyscrapers in past but today it is no more than debris. This idea connects the philosophy of life.
♣ The play begins with the dialogue “Nothing to be done”. How does the theme of ‘nothingness’ recurs in the play?
=) "Nothing to be done" reflects the Existentialism. This theory shows that life is meaningless, whatever you do it has no ultimate meaning. this play starts with this idea of nothingness. Vladimir and Estragon waiting for Godot without knowing that he will come or not, is he exist or not, who is he?
♣ Do you agree: “The play (Waiting for Godot), we agreed, was a positive play, not negative, not pessimistic. As I saw it, with my blood and skin and eyes, the philosophy is: 'No matter what— atom bombs, hydrogen bombs, anything—life goes on. You can kill yourself, but you can't kill life." (E.G. Marshal who played Vladimir in original Broadway production 1950s)?
=) Yes, I agree that this play is positive. We can understand the reality of our life but it not mean that we it is a negative play. But we have to take it philosophically like there are many difficulties will come in our life but there is no need to afraid of that because our life goes on. So don't worry about it and enjoy every moment of life.
♣ How are the props like the hat and boots used in the play? What is the symbolical significance of these props?
=) Hat is the symbol of thinking, it prefers the mind, Vladimir has a hat and Estragon has booted. Boot as the symbol of nothingness. Through the characters of Vladimir and Estragon writer shows a contradiction. Vladimir who has deep insane personality, serious about life and thinking about life and Estragon, who always busy with material kind of things.
=) Hat is the symbol of thinking, it prefers the mind, Vladimir has a hat and Estragon has booted. Boot as the symbol of nothingness. Through the characters of Vladimir and Estragon writer shows a contradiction. Vladimir who has deep insane personality, serious about life and thinking about life and Estragon, who always busy with material kind of things.
♣ Do you think that the obedience of Lucky is extremely irritating and nauseatic? Even when the master Pozzo is blind, he obediently hands the whip in his hand. Do you think that such a capacity of slavishness is unbelievable?
=) Lucky knows well that his master has no power to see anything yet he does not go away from him and serve him without the question of real freedom. It is unbelievable as a rational thinker but those who living sheeple's kind of life, they can be driven with the flow without questioning.
♣ Who according to you is Godot? God? An object of desire? Death? Goal? Success? Or . . .
“The subject of the play is not Godot but ‘Waiting’” (Esslin, A Search for the Self). Do you agree? How can you justify your answer?
=) According to me, Desire of object is Godot. Without desire no existence of Human. We keep on Waiting for the fulfilment of our desire. We leaping one to another situation and trying to find the fruit of our karma. And between that necessity and absurdity keeps on changing. The vicious circle of life moves on and in darkness, we wait for the light and in light, we wait for spark. Thus, the subject of the play is not Godot but Waiting.
=) According to me, Desire of object is Godot. Without desire no existence of Human. We keep on Waiting for the fulfilment of our desire. We leaping one to another situation and trying to find the fruit of our karma. And between that necessity and absurdity keeps on changing. The vicious circle of life moves on and in darkness, we wait for the light and in light, we wait for spark. Thus, the subject of the play is not Godot but Waiting.
♣ Do you think that plays like this can better be ‘read’ than ‘view the conversationquires a lot of thinking on the part of readers, while viewing, the torrent of dialogues does not give ample time and space to ‘think’? Or is it that the audio-visuals helpthe in better understanding of the play?
=) It is true that audio and visuals are helping in the understanding of the play, but when we read the play it requires lots of thinking. If we read the play it gives different imagination, which is our own thinking process. And when we take help of audio and visuals the characters are given their own imagery and we learnt the expression of the characters. So, the audio and visuals are quite helpful and long-lasting remembrance. And we can understand the play and characters, plot or theme.
=) It is true that audio and visuals are helping in the understanding of the play, but when we read the play it requires lots of thinking. If we read the play it gives different imagination, which is our own thinking process. And when we take help of audio and visuals the characters are given their own imagery and we learnt the expression of the characters. So, the audio and visuals are quite helpful and long-lasting remembrance. And we can understand the play and characters, plot or theme.
♣ Which of the following sequence you liked the most:
o Vladimir – Estragon killing time in questions and conversations while waiting
o Pozzo – Lucky episode in both acts
o The conversation of Vladimir with the boy
=) I liked the conversation of Vladimir - Estragon. They both are killing time in questions and conversation while waiting, that communication is very notorious and produces the satirical way. Vladimir also considers his dialogue this is terrible century human being, something is recorded in history and memory. So I liked most both conversation but another way these things are meaningless because of the end of the play the boy and Vladimir this conversation also important.
=) I liked the conversation of Vladimir - Estragon. They both are killing time in questions and conversation while waiting, that communication is very notorious and produces the satirical way. Vladimir also considers his dialogue this is terrible century human being, something is recorded in history and memory. So I liked most both conversation but another way these things are meaningless because of the end of the play the boy and Vladimir this conversation also important.
♣ Did you feel the effect of existential crisis or meaninglessness of human existence in the irrational and indifference Universe during the screening of the movie? Where and when exactly that feeling was felt if ever it was?
=) Yes, we feel the effect of Existential crisis or meaninglessness of human existence in the irrational and indifference universe when Vladimir asked the boy about Godot and he asked that Godot will come today or not? That time boy replied that Godot will come tomorrow but Godot never come throughout the play so we can find the meaningless waiting for Godot.
=) Yes, we feel the effect of Existential crisis or meaninglessness of human existence in the irrational and indifference universe when Vladimir asked the boy about Godot and he asked that Godot will come today or not? That time boy replied that Godot will come tomorrow but Godot never come throughout the play so we can find the meaningless waiting for Godot.
♣ Vladimir and Estragon talk about ‘hanging’ themselves and commits suicide, but they do not do so. How do you read this idea of suicide in Existentialism?
=) When Vladimir and Estragon talk about 'hanging' and commits suicide, It shows they feel tired in waiting. When we constantly waiting for something and suffering for the result, yet didn’t get it. When there is interrogation that, 'will night never come? And Maybe a day will end.' It is a symbolic representation of death. Night coming with death coming.
=) When Vladimir and Estragon talk about 'hanging' and commits suicide, It shows they feel tired in waiting. When we constantly waiting for something and suffering for the result, yet didn’t get it. When there is interrogation that, 'will night never come? And Maybe a day will end.' It is a symbolic representation of death. Night coming with death coming.
♣ Can we do any political reading of the play if we see European nations represented by the 'names' of the characters (Vladimir - Russia; Estragon - France; Pozzo - Italy and Lucky - England)? What interpretation can be inferred from the play written just after World War II? Which country stands for 'Godot'?
=) Yes, we can interpret the political reading in which Vladimir stand for Russia, Pozzo stands for Italy, Lucky stand for England and Estragon stand for France. So, we can connect this to the world war in which these all countries destroyed by Godot means Germany that is why Vladimir asked the boy that is Godot beating? Then the boy replied yes. So we connect Godot with Germany means Hitler, who destroyed many countries and killed thousands of people.
=) Yes, we can interpret the political reading in which Vladimir stand for Russia, Pozzo stands for Italy, Lucky stand for England and Estragon stand for France. So, we can connect this to the world war in which these all countries destroyed by Godot means Germany that is why Vladimir asked the boy that is Godot beating? Then the boy replied yes. So we connect Godot with Germany means Hitler, who destroyed many countries and killed thousands of people.
♣ So far as Pozzo and Lucky [master and slave] are concerned, we have to remember that Beckett was a disciple of Joyce and that Joyce hated England. BeckBoy'seant Pozzo to be England, and Lucky to be Ireland." (BMR Lahr who played Estragon in Broadway production). Does this reading make any sense? Why? How? What?
=) Pozzo and Lucky both are kept in a master-slave relationship. This can completely understand by viewing or reading after play. And we see that after the blindness of his master ( Pozzo) Lucky can't be free because he doesn't want. So, Ireland always is slave of England and we read this with colonial perspective because Ireland is a small country.
♣ The more the things change, the more it remains similar. There seems to have no change in Act I and Act II of the play. Even the conversation between Vladimir and the Boy sounds almost similar. But there is one major change. In Act I, in reply to Boy's question, Vladimir says:
"BOY: What am I to tell Mr Godot, Sir?
VLADIMIR: Tell him . . . (he hesitates) . . . tell him you saw us. (Pause.) You did see us, didn't you?
How does this conversation go in Act II? Is there any change in seeming similar situation and conversation? If so, what is it? What does it signify?
=) The conversation between Vladimir and boy is quite interesting. Vladimir is very eager to know about Godot that's why he constantly telling to the boy. In act-II he asking the boy that the Godot has born or not, he is dark or fair, so it suggests the complexity of human nature. Both acts are very similar to first is Vladimir and Estragon, Pozzo and Lucky both are dumb and the little boy is coming. There is no plot and waiting is the theme.
♠ Thank you..!!! ♠
=) The conversation between Vladimir and boy is quite interesting. Vladimir is very eager to know about Godot that's why he constantly telling to the boy. In act-II he asking the boy that the Godot has born or not, he is dark or fair, so it suggests the complexity of human nature. Both acts are very similar to first is Vladimir and Estragon, Pozzo and Lucky both are dumb and the little boy is coming. There is no plot and waiting is the theme.
♠ Thank you..!!! ♠
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