Theme of Nothingness in Waiting For Godaot

        
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Theme Of Nothingness In waiting for Godot

Introduction

            

          In this play nothingness creates everythingSamuel Backett is writer of the play

                    “Waiting for Godot”.Major theme of the play is

                  Waiting

                  Hope

                  Nothingness

                         Here we are concern with Theme of Nothingness in the play. So, let’s have look upon how Nothingness creates everything in the play.

         “Root of our being there is nothingness”

This line is from Jean-Paul Satre’s 

              “Being and Nothingness”. Everything is vain. Even our life is absurd. Samuel Backett was also inspired by existentialist philosophy of Albert Camus & Satre. In this play waiting for Godot, he assert

             ‘Nothingness is at the root of our existence, especially in the life of the modern people’.

           Nothingness is at the root of our Existence, especially in the life of the modern people.

 In this play nothingness creates everything. The entire play, structure, action, form and content enriching  sense of nothingness creates everything that modern people face after the world war mental & physical condition of the people.
      "In this play nothingness creates everything."

Nothingness is at the root of our Existence, especially in the life of the modern people.

 In this play nothingness creates everything. The entire play, structure, action, form and content enriching  sense of nothingness creates everything that modern people face after the world war mental & physical condition of the people.

Nothingness in 20^th centuryLiterature is reflection of the society. So in order to understand nothingness in this play it is important to know history of 20^th century. The early 20^th century witnessed two world wars & of two literary styles.   Modernism & post-modernism.

 

                    Absurd drama is reflection of 20^th century. Theater of absurd describe mood, a tone of life, where Man’s existence is a

'Dilemma of nothingness, purposeless and   meaningless.'

It is influence of the age that creates absurdity, meaningless and nothingness in the play. So we can that all literary activities were predetermined by sense of nothingness.

Nothingness in setting of the play 

             Setting of the play influenced by a mode of nothingness.it symbolize barren and fruitfulness civilization.

                     ‘There is nothing to be done’

There is paradox in this play. Tree is symbol of fruitfulness but here it symbolize barren & lifeless. It is apparently dead and lifelessness. Setting of the play reminds us the post war condition in which we find uncertainties, despair and new challenges to come. This is the place where they believe that Godot has asked to come.

Nothingness in Plot of the play

                 Play opens with the two character are waiting  and  at the end of the play same thing happen. In between ‘nothing significant happens’

                ‘Nobody comes, nobody goes’

In this play one static situation waiting. On a country road, by a tree, two old tramp’s. Act one and act two both are precisely the same pattern, action of the characters is purposeless.

Nothingness represented by the character

              Vladimir and Estragon both represents nothingness in the play. Both tramps Didi & Gogo are waiting by a tree on a country road For Godot. Both argue with each other, they try to committee suicide but they are waiting.  They don’t know who is Godot.

Estragon - Let's go

Vladimir-   We can't

Estragon-   Why not?

Vladimi-     We are waiting for Godot

Estragon-     Oh!! Yeah

                  This dialogue spoke by both characters. They don’t know purpose of waiting. So, we can say that

                           ‘Waiting is vain’

                         ‘Nothing to be done’

This line is repeated in the play that shows meaninglessness of the play. If we talked about action & behavioral attitudes of the characters that reflects frustration, hesitation and psychological complexity of modern era.

                  When curtain opens characters are in vain activity he attempt to take off his boots. His repeated action symbolizes the meaninglessness of day to day life. Throughout the play many actions are meaningless that reflect nothingness of human world.

Absurdity in this Play  

                  Waiting for Godot is part of theater of absurd means without meaning. In this kind of play, no beginning, no middle and no end. In this play action, structure and attitude of the character has no meaning. Backett in this play presents that human beings are really purposeless. The idea of nothingness is reflect through Estragon & Vladimir. It shows reality of life, some time we know but can’t except it.

                        ‘ What is our purpose?’

                         ‘ What we do?’

The action and structure of the play is totally absurd.

                  ‘Life is absurd but

                                    It is necessary’

There is something in this nothingness and that is hope

                  ‘one day Mr.Godot will come’

So, we can say that the play is optimistic. There is no end of desire. So waiting for Godot gives us message through this absurdity.

               ‘ There is something behind nothing

  Vivian Mercier marked that just because

                          “Nothing happens” 

does not mean that the play is bad. This play had big impact on 20^th century as well in life of modern people. The purpose of Backett is use

  “To hold mirror up to the society”-    Shakespeare

He tries to show us that we are also waiting for Godot may be that Godot is desire, God, Goal or something else.

                             ‘Sky has no limit’

Our desire has no limit. After archive one thing we are waiting or wishing for another. Hope for something good which make us alive something happen in this play both character are Waiting for Godot. They have hoped that Godot will come.

               Another thing is also notice able that both are waiting for Godot to fulfill their desire. It’s satire on human beings. Because human beings are waiting for others to fulfill their dream but here ‘waiting is primary activity for both tramp’s lives and it suggest nothing and meaningless.

Conclusion

               So, by concluding we can say that the nothingness plays vital role in the play. Nothingness is the center of the play.