Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett

• This blog is a response of these eight questions which is based on Samuel Beckett's play 'Waiting for Godot'.

1. Why does Beckett grow a few leaves in Act II on the barren tree - The tree has four or five leaves ?

2 . Can we do any political reading of the play if we see European nations represented by the ' names ' of the characters ( Vladimir - Russia ; Estragon - France ; Pozzo - Italy and Lucky - England ) ? What interpretation can be inferred from the play written just after World War II ? Which country stands for ' Godot ' ?

1.3 . In Act I , in reply to Boy's question :
" BOY : What am I to tell Mr. Godot , Sir ?
VLADIMIR : Tell him ... ( he hesitates ) ... tell him you saw us . ( Pause . ) You did see us , didn't you ?
How does this conversation go in Act II ? What is the significance ?

1.4 . In both Acts , evening falls into night and moon rises . How would you interpret this coming of night and moon ' when actually they are waiting for Godot ?

1.5 . What is the meaning of the terms ' Apathia , Aphasia and Athambia ' in Lucky's speech ? ** . divine apathia divine athambia divine aphasia loves us dearly with some exceptions for reasons unknown ... "

1.6 . A better solution to the tramp's predicament than to wait - is , suicide " . Is it really so ? Why they fail to commit suicide ? ( Pg 36 in the article )

1.7 . Explain : " Godot might become as image of what Sartre calls " Bad Faith " " . ( Pg 39 in the article )

1.8 . Explain : " One hardly feels the absurdity of some things , on the one hand , and the necessity of those other things , on the other , ( for it is rare that feeling of absurdity is not followed by the feeling of necessity ) , when one feels the absurdity of those things of which one had just felt the necessity ( for it is rare that the feeling of necessity is not followed by the feeling of absurdity ) "

• Why does Beckett grow a few leaves in Act II on the barren tree - The tree has four or five leaves ?

In both Acts , evening falls into night and moon rises . How would you interpret this coming of night and moon ' when actually they are waiting for Godot ?

In Act1 in tree was totally leafless and in Act2 tree has four or five leaves.

Vladimir’s line early in Act I, when he says, "Hope deferred maketh the something sick, who said that?" Vladimir is referring to the biblical proverb that goes a little something like this: "Hope deferred makes the heart sick; but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life."

First is, These leaves can be considered as a hope and Tree of life. So the tree’s random blooming would suggest that it is something of a tree of life. And, according to the proverb, that means a desire has been fulfilled.

The apparent growth of leaves on the tree in Act 2 does nothing to ease the sense of meaninglessness; it only adds to the characters' uncertainty about the place and the passage of time. The staging is telling in this regard: despite Vladimir's description of the tree as "covered with leaves," the stage directions specify only "four or five" leaves, leaving it mostly barren.

Nature's indifference to human suffering :

If we see nature has no any pre planed aim to make hope or a hopeless for people. Cycle of nature is very indifferent thing that is not connected with anyone's life anyhow. Nature is blossomed for the sake of nature not for the sake of any other.

"Nature is neither cruel nor kind, but utterly indifferent to all suffering..."

Symbolism of Tree:

Some point out that the cross on which Christ was crucified is sometimes called a tree. Vladimir and Estragon do discuss the tree and hanging themselves in Act 1 shortly after talking about the two thieves crucified along with Christ. This could support the interpretation that hanging from the tree draws a parallel between them and the thieves. Beckett, however, said he was puzzled by people trying to take away "a broader, loftier meaning" from the play, making it unlikely that he intended any broader religious symbolism.(course hero)

Symbols of Waiting for Godot

In both Acts , evening falls into night and moon rises . How would you interpret this coming of night and moon ' when actually they are waiting for Godot ?

Generally moon is used to make think romanticize but here Beckett is use moon in a different way. When we see movie at that time we may not realize that moon is not beautify as others are done but here 'Pale of Weariness' that means moon is not a hopeful event as such.

Moon is symbolized now that have new day to wait for Godot. As moon is for boredom of waiting for one more day.

• In Act I , in reply to Boy's question : 
• " BOY : What am I to tell Mr. Godot , Sir ? 
• VLADIMIR : Tell him ... ( he hesitates ) ... tell him you saw us . ( Pause . ) You did see us , didn't you ?

In Act1 Vladimir used 'US' at that time he also thing selflessly and we can he thinks 'Thy need is greater than mine.'

But in Act2 Vladimir used word 'ME' which early he used 'US' its indicates his selfishness because of he thinks he has chance to saved by Godot and get Salvation.

• A better solution to the tramp's predicament than to wait - is , suicide " . Is it really so ? Why they fail to commit suicide ?

"There is one feature in the play that leads one to assume there is a better solution to t e tramps' predicament, which they themselves both consider preferable to waiting for Godot——that is, suicide. "We thought of it when the world was young, In t c nineties … Hand in hand from the top of the Eiffel Tower, among the first. We were respectable in those days. Now it's too late. They wouldn't even let us up. " Suicide remains their favorite solution unattainable owing to their own incompetence and their ac o the practical tools to achieve it. It is precisely their disappointment at their failure-to-succeed in their attempts at suicide that a Vladimir and Estragon rationalize by waiting, or pretending to wait, for Godot, "I'm curious to hear what he has to offer. Then we'll take it or leave it. " Estragon, far less convinced of Godot's promises than Vladimir, is anxious to reassure himself that they are not tied to Godot."(The Search for the Self by Martin Esslin )

Vladimir and Estragon decided to live its a again a choice for their Existence. They decide to live a life instead of suicide. it's a concept of Existentialism.

• What is the meaning of the terms ' Apathia , Aphasia and Athambia ' in Lucky's speech ? ** . divine apathia divine athambia divine aphasia loves us dearly with some exceptions for reasons unknown ... "

This all three term is used as a Psychological term.

Aphasia : Person is can't able to speak, A disorder that affects communication skill of a person.


Apathia : Freedom or release from emotion or excitement.

Athambia : Athambia means impartibility, to be incapable of being upset or not easily excited.

These terms are related to psychology.

Bad faith means that I lie to myself .

‘Waiting for Godot’ is based on a conflict that was faced by the people of that era and the modern world, that is whether to live their life according to the religious beliefs where eternal salvation is the whole point of existence or following the existential state where an individual finds meaning on his own and exercises their freedom.