Waiting for Godot basically confused me. There are so many interpretations of the story that I get lost in the translations. However, I have come to a loose conclusion of my own making. When I formulated this idea it was based on the items in the play and then I would ask questions as to why they were there and what purpose these things play in the action.
First, there are two men. What do these men have in common? How do they differ? What I noticed is they both have been waiting a long time for this Godot. It seems to me that it is a never ending cycle. They wait one day, think of hanging themselves, think against it. The day ends, they come back, banter, think of hanging themselves, and think against it, and repeat each day. So what I got from them is a never ending cycle of events that is slightly different each day. I also noticed that these men have a fear of being alone waiting there day after day. When they speak of hanging themselves, one of them mentions that if one were to die, the other would be alone. It's like a couple who complains about each other but could not bear to be apart.
Second, I noticed the road and the tree. What I took from this is a representation of a point in life. The road represents life that continues on in one direction. The tree represents a point in life where we sometimes wait by, expecting something and continue to wait until that thing comes before we can move on. We never want to be alone while we wait. We gather our friends and those in our position who are at the same point in life and we come together. When Godot comes, we'll be saved from this and we'll be able to move on.
I know this is probably a terrible interpretation but I find that perhaps this play was meant to be interpreted by each individual in his or her own way. We see what we see and we take from it what we wish to take from it. Maybe it's more than one theme but a myriad of ideas that each individual can grasp and apply to his or her own life.
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I really like when you stated "The road represents life that continues on in one direction." What a good observation!
ReplyDeleteEspecially in this piece. They are waiting, and waiting, and waiting... nothing more, nothing less. As long as they feel that Godot might come they will wait. That hope of his arrival is what propels them. Propels them in one single direction. Waiting.
Just like my life. I am on one road headed in one direction. To Jesus.
i like this intepretation of the story, especially the part about how they don't really want to be alone and how you compared them to an old couple.
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