What does Godot symbolise in this play.

Furthermore, the purpose of human life is an unanswerable question. It seems impossible to find an answer because we don't know where to begin looking or whom to ask. Existence, to us, seems to be something imposed upon us by an unknown force. There is no apparent meaning to it, and yet we suffer as a result of it. The world seems completely chaotic. We therefore try to impose meaning on it through pattern and fabricated purposes to distract ourselves from the fact that our situation is hopelessly unfathomable. According the artice “What Makes the Characters’ Lives in Waiting for Godot Meaningful” it mentions that waiting for Godot is a play that captures this feeling and view of the world, and characterizes it with archetypes that symbolize humanity and its behavior when faced with this knowledge. According to the play, a human being's life is totally dependant on chance, and, by extension, time is meaningless; therefore, a human’s life is also meaningless, and the realization of this drives humans to rely on nebulous, outside forces, which may be real or not, for order and direction.

Beside that, a directed result of this haplessness is the daily struggles to pass the time. Thus, most of the play is dedicated to devising games which will help them pass the time. This mutual desire also addresses the question of why they stay together. Both Vladimir and Estragon admit to being happier when apart. One of the main reasons that they continue their relationship is that they need one another to pass the time. From the drama, page 69:

Vladimir: that passed the time.

Estragon: it would have passed in any case.

And later when Estragon finds his boots again:

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. (Page 69)

   

Since passing the time is their mutual occupation, Estragon struggles to find games to help them accomplish their goal. Thus they engage in insulting one another and in asking each other questions. Whether or not Godot exists does not make any difference. The belief in him keeps two people from killing themselves, yet living in a ditch. It keeps them away from the places where they want to go and at the same time, it keeps them together. This belief serves the most important function: it gives purpose to their lives. And according to the Sartre, Jean-Paul, he briefly describes: it shows that Vladimir and Estragon’s actions that are executed almost solely to fight the nothingness in their lives. The act of waiting for Godot becomes another routine that Vladimir and Estragon use to pass the time and give their lives meaning. And according Mr. Samuel’s article, Beckett gives the audience the sense that their waiting has gone on for an indefinite amount of time. This is shown in Vladimir and Estragon’s dialogue page 48:

Vladimir: We kow them [Pozzo and Lucky], I tell you.

Estragon: Why didn’t they recognize us then?

Vladimir: That means nothing. I too pretended not to recognize them.

The same conclusion can be drawn when Vladimir speaks to the boy saying, “I’ve seen you before, haven’t I?” (Page50). These lines suggest these same events have been occurring for quite some time. Vladimir and Estragon use the routine of waiting to derive meaning and purpose in their lives.

 

Besides that, no one in the play ever really saw him--Godot, or ever will. His appearance is not as important as a belief in the two old men. The two friends, Estragon and Vladimir spend their lives waiting for this one person to show up, this one miracle to happen. It never does, but as Vladimir says, "It passes the time." It might appear surprising that the lives of two people can be based on the life of a third one, whom they never actually met. But in reality, they do not need him as a person. All they need is something to believe in, something to wait for.

Most people spend their lives waiting for something, but sometimes they are not sure of what exactly waiting for. According to the article “Essay on ‘Waiting for Godot’” by Jack Peke, he highlights that Vladimir and Estragon can consider themselves lucky. Because they know specifically what, they are waiting for: Godot. He is a reason for the two old guys continue to live. Every day, Estragon wants to kill himself, but not only is there not enough rope, there is also a hope that maybe, just maybe, Godot will appear the next day and everything will be different.

So, I want to conclude that “Waiting for Godot” is trying to reflect the reality of life, in the bottom heart of every human being, when we face those unexpected problem in our life, which we are not strong enough to solve it, we always hope a character like Godot to appears in our life-- to guide us, help us, and encourage us.

 

Reference:

“Waiting for the Godot” http: , Feb 15, 2004

“Meaning of Godot” , Feb 11, 2004

“The Role of Godot” by Svetlana Pershinova, April 11 2000., Feb 11, 2004.

 “What Makes the Characters’ Lives in Waiting for Godot Meaningful?” by Brandon Miller   , Feb,15. 2004

 “Analysis of Godot” , Feb 11, 2004

 “Waiting for Godot” by Sartre, Jean-Paul

“ Purpose of human life” , Feb 15, 2004

Essay on ‘Waiting for Godot’ by Jack Peke

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