1. Waiting For Godot Samuel Beckett

2. 1906-1989 Born in Dublin, Ireland to a Protestant home Remarks of himself “I had little talent for happiness” Was stabbed while being mugged and while in the hospital met with the question of why Traveled the world and met with many diff. types of people Admits that life is spent waiting, and if not today, maybe tom.

3. Key Facts Genre: Theatre of the Absurd; tragicomedy Published: 1953 (written in French in 1948) Setting: On a road with a tree Themes: Waiting, The Relevance of Life Motifs: the mirror-image/pairing of char. Symbols: Estragon’s boot, the hat,

4. Theatre of the Absurd Term coined to describe plays written in 50’s and 60’s; described human existence as meaningless and absurd Deals with man existing in a universe that he does not fit within, there is no meaning or purpose; he is troubled and threatened Arose out of horrors of WWII-questioned religion Distrusts language as a vehicle for communication Subverts logic which creates a mental freedom to deal with the human condition No dramatic occurrences, only visual poetic imagery (actions create symbolic meaning) Nothing happens to change the char. existence Relies on mime, ballet, acrobatics and clowning/much like silent film and comedy

5. Comedy Tragedy Focus on less dignified char. than in tragedy Usually has an optimistic ending Language is low, vernacular Satirical comedy: generally ridicules human folly Black comedy: induces laughter as a defense mech. Where reality is too harsh otherwise Tragic hero Hero suffers his hamartia (error/downfall) as a result of his hubris (pride) that is out of his control Audience is moved to pathos (to feel pity or fear for the character)

6. Tragicomedy Combines elements of both tragedy and comedy Char. are tramps—humorous Tragically char.s are going nowhere, doing nothing, and just simply wait—bleak outlook, might as well laugh, i.e. black comedy Serious subject matter- treatment of Lucky (tragic); concept of suicide; “Godless” world;

7. Characters Vladimir: “Didi”, more responsible and mature Estragon: “Gogo”, weak and less responsible, dependant upon V.

8. Cont. Pozzo: appears during V. and E.’s travel, overbearing, harsh Lucky: Pozzo’s slave, in Act I he amuses, in Act II he can no longer speak

9. Key Issues/Thought Questions Observable characteristics of the world What are main character’s desires and how are they influenced by the world around them Do the char. succeed or fail of a combo. Of the both