Abstract illustration of two hats under a leafless tree in black and white

Waiting for Godot

by Samuel Beckett

Start Free Trial

Discussion Topic

An exploration of the characteristics and audience preconceptions in "Waiting for Godot."

Summary:

In "Waiting for Godot," the characters exhibit existential uncertainty and repetitive dialogue, reflecting the play's themes of meaninglessness and the human condition. Audience preconceptions are often challenged as the play defies traditional narrative structures and expectations, emphasizing absurdity and the lack of resolution.

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

What are the characteristics of "Waiting for Godot"?

The two main characteristics of this excellent play that you need to know about are its black humour and the way it is an example of the Theatre of the Absurd. This latter term relates to the despairing vision of the human condition in life and also the style that is the vehicle that is used to give voice to that vision. The principal concept of this play and of other works that are examples of the Theatre of the Absurd is that human life is essentially meaningless and without purpose and that we live in a universe that is profoundly indifferent or even hostile to us.

Apparently in contradiction to this unyielding and thoroughly depressing view of life and man's place in it is the intensely comic nature of this play. If you look at the subtitle, for example, you will see that Beckett entitled this play "a tragi-comedy...

Unlock
This Answer Now

Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.

Get 48 Hours Free Access

in two acts," and many critics have written at great length about the way in which the play manages to maintain a precarious and delicate balance betweentragedy and comedy. The comedy element is appealed to through the numerous elements of slapstick comedy and humour, such as the wild hat-swapping scene in Act II and the various examples of humorous dialogue between the two central characters. The black comedy can be linked in to our understanding of the Theatre of the Absurd and how this impacts our understanding of the play. After all, if we really do live in a universe that is profoundly indifferent to us, if not hostile, the least we can do is laugh at it.

Approved by eNotes Editorial
An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

What are the audience's preconceptions in Waiting for Godot?

This play certainly challenges the reader's preconceived notions about drama and how plays traditionally work.  Generally, readers assume that the play will have several characters who will face at least one significant conflict; there will be some significant setting and probably multiple sets/settings; there will be some action; the characters will do things; the resolution of the play will provide satisfaction to the reader at the end of the conflict(s).

This play barely addresses ANY of the above features.  There are only two characters, Vladimir and Estragon, for the majority of the play and only two other characters, Pozzo and Lucky, drift in and out of the scene having absolutely NO effect on the main characters.  The setting is incredibly sparse -- a tree and a rock -- and it only ever changes in that the tree seem to grow leaves overnight between Act 1 and Act 2.  The characters don't ever do anything but talk and attempt to alleviate their ill-fitting hat and boot.  Their sole purpose is to wait for a man(?) named Godot to come and tell them what to do.

The meaning of the play comes from the existential state of the two men.  They are not taking control of their lives -- they are condemned to be free.  Instead of doing anything to understand, or even better, change their situation, they merely wait around for Godot to come.  Estragon can barely even remember that they are waiting.  They talk about leaving, about killing themselves, about their dreams and nightmares, their want of better food, their memories of the previous day and the characters of Pozzo and Lucky, but they do nothing.  Nothing comes of anything.  They are existentially dead.  By Beckett's stripping away all of the expectations and leaving only the most absolute essentials of a story, he leaves the audience with a stark picture of these two men and the tragically unending circumstances of their lives.  The ending provides no resolution, just as their lives have no resolution.

Approved by eNotes Editorial