Waiting for Godot Absurdest Play By: Samuel Beckett

Watch This! e=active What is the joke? What does the puddle represent? What concepts does this mock?

Samuel Beckett Born April 13 th, 1906 in Dublin, Ireland Died December 22 nd 1989 in Paris, France 1969 won Nobel Prize in Literature Beckett wrote Waiting for Godot in French and translated it to English himself Beckett joined the French Resistance in 1940 during WWII. Critics suspect that his war experience led to his epiphany that his writing should focus on humanity's lack of knowledge rather than knowing more. McDonald, Rónán (ed). (2007), The Cambridge Introduction to Samuel Beckett, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge p17

Epiphany! “His revelation prompted him to change direction and to acknowledge both his own stupidity and his interest in ignorance and impotence: 'I realized that Joyce [James Joyce, a poet he had been emulating beforehand] had gone as far as one could in the direction of knowing more, [being] in control of one’s material. He was always adding to it; you only have to look at his proofs to see that. I realized that my own way was in impoverishment, in lack of knowledge and in taking away, in subtracting rather than in adding.'” McDonald, Rónán (ed). (2007), The Cambridge Introduction to Samuel Beckett, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge p17

Beckett's Style Black Humor Humor that makes light of otherwise serious subject matter Originated from “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift—the first dead baby jokes The purpose of black comedy is to make light of serious and often taboo subject matter, and some comedians use it as a tool for exploring vulgar issues, thus provoking discomfort and serious thought as well as amusement in their audience. Different from straightforward obscenity in that it is more subtle and does not necessarily have the explicit intention of offending people. In other words, it's more clever than a “your momma” joke.

Theater of the Absurd Absurdism Philosophy that human existence has no meaning or purpose Despite this we search for meaning naturally Many plays from the late 1950's explore this concept Often humorous and non- sensical

Tragicomedy "Nothing is funnier than unhappiness... it's the most comical thing in the world."--William Shakespeare as an influence on this aspect of the "absurd drama." Friedrich Dürrenmatt says in his essay "Problems of the Theatre", "Comedy alone is suitable for us... But the tragic is still possible even if pure tragedy is not. We can achieve the tragic out of comedy. We can bring it forth as a frightening moment, as an abyss that opens suddenly."

Existentialism A chiefly 20th century philosophical movement centering on analysis and examination of individual existence in an unfathomable universe and the plight of the individual who must assume ultimate responsibility for acts of free will without any certain knowledge of what is right or wrong or good or bad. Oxford Companion to Philosophy, ed. Ted Honderich, New York (1995), p. 259 Why are we here? We Probably Do we have free will? Will Never What is our purpose? Know!

Beckett's Argument What is he arguing for/against? What is his message? How does he present this? How does it still apply to us today?

Try-Outs for Parts! You get 20 bonus points for main parts, 10 for minor parts! Main Parts Narrator—sets the scene, describes the emotions Vladimir—One of the two main characters of the play. Estragon calls him Didi, and the boy addresses him as Mr. Albert. He seems to be the more responsible and mature of the two main characters Estragon—The second of the two main characters. Vladimir calls him Gogo. He seems weak and helpless, always looking for Vladimir's protection. He also has a poor memory, as Vladimir has to remind him in the second act of the events that happened the previous night. Minor Parts Pozzo—He passes by the spot where Vladimir and Estragon are waiting and provides a diversion. In the second act, he is blind and does not remember meeting Vladimir and Estragon the night before. Lucky—Pozzo's slave, who carries Pozzo's bags and stool. In Act I, he entertains by dancing and thinking. Boy—He appears at the end of each act to inform Vladimir that Godot will not be coming that night. In the second act, he insists that he was not there the previous night. *Very Minor Part 5 Bonus Points.

Don't let Mr. Bidwell near your lunch! He will steal it!