Waiting For Godot - Beckett: in what way does Beckett explore the dramatic tensions of communication?

Résumé du document

Waiting for someone is favorable to communication. In this play which is all about waiting, we will see in what way the dramatic tensions of communication are explored by Samuel Beckett. The first part will present the difficulty of communication between the two protagonists and how Beckett captivates the reader. The second part will comment on the fact that the reader is excluded from the dialogue as a lack of communication between him and the characters. The last one will explain in what way communication leads to reflexion about humanity.

Extraits

[...] This situation is repeated when Estragon asks “repented what?” to Vladimir, who doesn't answer either, he simply says that they wouldn't have to go into details. The reader is sharing a moment with the characters, waiting, for Godot, but also for the answers to the questions. In front of this lack of communication between the protagonists, he is captivated. II. The reader is excluded from the dialogue During this waiting, the conversation, between Vladimir and Estragon, excludes the reader, as the characters know more informations than him. [...]

[...] Beckett, here, is, with some difficulty, directly communicating with the reader. This absurd monologue is very representative of the Theatre of Absurd. This theatre, emerged after World War II, has for main objective the representation of a human condition losing its senses, where the language and, the thought, specifics to humans, are threatened. In Waiting For Godot, communication is present at different levels. The difficulty of communication between the characters is presented as entertaining for the reader, it arises his curiosity. [...]

[...] Vladimir and Estragon are talking about “all these years”, “hand in hand from the top of the Eiffel Tower”. They are also evoking “the country of Macon” and Estragon asks Vladimir if he remembers the day when he threw himself in the Rhône. This episode will stay blurred. The reader can only conclude that France was a very important country for them. This gives to the reader the impression of coming too late, as the protagonists say themselves, “now it's too late” and “nothing to be done”. Their adventures are behind them. [...]

[...] In what way does communication lead to reflexion about humanity? The dialogue is also a tool for Beckett to give a message to the reader and to make him think. For example, the numerous pauses in the characters' lines, that are parts of the dialogue, lead the reader to assimilate them and to cogitate. Beckett wants, through the dialogue, to encourage the reader to understand his point of view about human being. Lucky's monologue appears like a chaotic performance, which necessarily needs to be quashed by the use of physical violence. [...]

[...] Waiting For Godot - Beckett: in what way does Beckett explore the dramatic tensions of communication? Waiting for someone is favorable to communication. In this play which is all about waiting, we will see in what way the dramatic tensions of communication are explored by Samuel Beckett. The first part will present the difficulty of communication between the two protagonists and how Beckett captivates the reader. The second part will comment on the fact that the reader is excluded from the dialogue as a lack of communication between him and the characters. [...]