Who is Godot in Samuel Beckett's absurdist classic, Waiting for Godot?
Perhaps it is a silly question to ask. It is just a play after all, and an incredibly bewildering albeit captivating one at that. There is virtually no storyline (with the exception of two men waiting for a person who never arrives). The dialogue is intentionally vague. The characters are deliberately under-developed. And even though Godot is mentioned frequently, we do not learn much about him.
Many have interpreted the character as a religious allegory. (Just take off the "O" and the "T" and you are waiting for God.) Others view Godot in terms of class warfare; think of Godot as the upper class and the two hapless, stagnant main characters are the impoverished, helpless masses waiting for an opportunity that never arrives.
Typically, I'm not a big fan of avante-garde plays. However, the fun aspect of this show is the flexibility it offers. A director can fill the stage with silliness or symbolism, mayhem or meaning. For me, the excitement isn't so much found in the script; it is beholding the cast and crew's interpretation of Beckett's words. (In fact, that's why I have placed it in my Top 10 Plays to See Before You Die.)
Who do you think this Godot character is? Leave a comment and share your interpretation.
Comments
I saw a fantastic verison of Waiting for Godot, with Sir Ian McKellan and Roger Rees at the Sydney Opera House.
My interpretation:
We’re all waiting, bogged in dull routine, each day the same as the last, merging into others, playing with our recollection. Waiting: grinding down our spirits, impoverishing. We are all waiting for Godot, or God, or salvation, or a reason. We try to rationalise it, until that too breaks down into gibberish. “Time flies”, yet giving up hope is death.
Lovely interpretation, Kathy. I have seen video excerpts of the Ian McKellan production — wish I could have seen it! It looks incredible.