Discuss Waiting for Godot as an Absurd Play or Drama

Answer

What is absurd drama? Consider “Waiting for Godot” as an absurd drama, showing its international appeal. [NU: 2019]

Absurd drama is a kind of play where life is shown as meaningless or without a clear purpose. Samuel Beckett’s (1906-89) “Waiting for Godot” (1952) is a famous example of Absurd Drama. It is a genre that became popular after World War II. “Waiting for Godot” has no logical plot. The language is often odd. Characters are confused and hopeless. The play makes us think about human life.

Meaninglessness of Life: In “Waiting for Godot”, the main action is waiting. Vladimir and Estragon wait for a man named Godot. We never know who Godot is. We never know why they wait. Nothing important happens. This shows the meaninglessness of life. People often wait for something that never comes. Estragon says, 

“Nothing happens, nobody comes, nobody goes, it’s awful!” 

This reflects human life. We keep waiting for hope, change, or answers. But sometimes, nothing happens.

Strange and Repetitive Dialogues: Absurd drama uses strange and repetitive dialogue. The conversations in the play “Waiting for Godot” are often meaningless. The characters talk about boots, hats, and random memories. They repeat the same words. For example, Vladimir repeats the same line almost 7 times throughout the play. He says,

“We’re waiting for Godot.”

This repetition shows that they have no real purpose. The strange talk creates humour but also sadness. It shows that human communication can be empty.

Existential Crisis: Existentialism means asking, “Why am I here?” In the play, the characters have no clear purpose in life. They do not work. They have no family. They do not move forward. Waiting becomes their life. Vladimir says, 

“What are we doing here, that is the question.” 

This is an existential crisis. Many people feel the same in the real world. Life has no fixed meaning. We must create our own.

No Clear or Logical Plot: Absurd drama does not follow normal story