Motionlessness and Nonsensical Time Jenny Huang 黃逸涵

Characters Estragon Vladimir (PhOtos from Braodway Show, 2009) Lucky Pozzo The Boy(s) Godot?

Vladimir: Burhess Meredith Estragon: Zero Mostel The Movie Version We Watched in Class

Different Versions

Uncertainty ESTRAGON: What did we do yesterday? VLADIMIR: What did we do yesterday? ESTRAGON: Yes. VLADIMIR: Why… (Angrily.) Nothing is certain when you’re about. (Act I)

Motionlessness Martin Esslin thought that instead of telling a story, Waiting for Godot is probing the meaning of motionless life, just as Estragon says, “Nothing happens, nobody comes, nobody goes, it’s aweful!”

Motionlessness ESTRAGON: Well, shall we go? VALDIMIR: Yes, let’s go. They do not move. Curtain. (Act I) VALDIMIR: Well, shall we go? ESTRAGON: Yes, let’s go. They do not move. Curtain. (Act II)

Nonsensical Time POZZO: (violently.) … The blind have no notion of time. The things of time are hidden from them too. … POZZO: (suddenly furious.) Have you not done tormenting me with your accursed time! It's abominable! When! When! One day, is that not enough for you, one day he went dumb, one day I went blind, one day we'll go deaf, one day we were born, one day we shall die, the same day, the same second, is that not enough for you? (Calmer.) They give birth astride of a grave, the light gleams an instant, then it's night once more. (Act II)

Nonsensical Time VLADIMIR: … Am I sleeping now? Tomorrow, when I wake, or think I do, what shall I say of today? … But in all that what truth will there be? (Act II)

Conclusion A. The world doesn’t work according to any rule or logic. B. We think time passing by must remain something while we don’t catch anything; we think we’re moving while we’re actually not.

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