Beckett’s Godot: Not Just an Enigma

Abstract

Waiting for Godot was a unique outburst in the literary world that changed the face of twentieth century drama. Samuel Beckett is a peculiar brand of the era. His weird ideas expounded within the framework of a few acts certainly allow him a stature quite distinct from his contemporaries whose works are expressions of their personal experiences, which Albert Camus characterized as ‘absurdity’. One might feel that Beckett has made the feelings of absurdity yet uncertain, more philosophic and therefore distinctly obscure, it is difficult to pin point and pronounce a last word. I consider Beckett’s dramatic art to be expressions of his most intimate visions on the fundamental philosophical question about the place of the human being in the surrounding world. His characters are perceived not as distinct individuals rather as grossly generalized images of all ‘mankind’who have become the slaves of an uncaring and cruel world. So, they need a Godot to give a meaning to their existence. It is true that character flaws are exaggerated and characters appear to be dull and boring yet Beckett’s characters are stereotype and they represent mankind in general. This paper analyses Beckett’s Godot not just an enigma rather it represents human life. It will also focus why there is no escape from Godot to live the human life.