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Examples Of Western Language In Waiting For Godot

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WESTERN CULTURE: “WAITING FOR GODOT”
Civilizations will talk to themselves. Art is the favored medium of discourse. Literature mirrors that internal conversation directly. For example, take Victorian England. Dickens’ A Christmas Carol reflected social guilt over the treatment of the poor. H. G. Wells the War of the Worlds reflected insecurity over an industrial-age world war. That war became a reality in less than two decades. So it’s wise to listen to a culture’s authors, especially to those whose work outlives them. Their words often predict the future.
In 1953, Samuel Beckett opened in Paris the French version of “Waiting for Godot.” This tragic comedy depicts the vigil of two characters (Vladimir and Estragon). By a dismal roadside, the two await the momentous coming of Godot. This character, however, never appears. This brings both Vladimir and Estragon to the point of a comedic suicide. It is comic because in ends with a broken belt and falling pants. No one dies. The two friends give Godot another day. If he fails to show, the two will try again more seriously. At this point, the play ends. The puzzled audience leaves with unanswered questions. Some critics say that the plays conclusion is the point. It parallels, as well as parodies, human life.
The play’s characters seem commonplace. So are their activities. These include talk, jokes, smells, food, strangers, and even boots. By themselves, they offer no special meaning or fulfillment. What the

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