Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett

[mayneverhave]

I completely forgot I wrote this review.

[blazeofglory]

I have read this book long ago. Then I could not comprehend the book properly. Somebody say this is about absurdity and I do not know what really means. I could not find the book sequenced. I mean to say there is no flow of story and it is really hard to know the theme.

I do not know whether or not it is a great classic despite the fact that it had got so many literary acclaims.

[yellowcarousel]

Hi people, any idea what should I discuss about from the notions of accurate or correct translation from the book "Waiting for Godot " ?

[blazeofglory]

I have read this drama long ago and I then tried to seek meaning in it whereas there was none. I read it several times. My English then was too weak and I had no command over vocabualry then. The book however was written in plain English and sentence structures were simple.
Yet I could not understand the drama. I sought explanations and book reviews.
Slowly I came to understand the idea behind. The writer, like Kafka was kind of opposed to conventions, systems, traditions or even theories of literature. He wrote something against predominant realism. Kind of ideas or idee fixe that are theorized by some writers. Critics consider this absurdity.

I like this for nothing is real here and what we call real or permanent passes ultimately, yet the writer is not an illusionist,means he does not want to portray life as something delusive. Or by writing this way he does not mean at all life itself is meaningless. He what really wants to portray is writers moreover try to present life as something systematic or life adhering to systems or the like thru their writings. He opposes the idea.

[Etienne]

Retrospectively, I'd probably vote "don't forget to unplug...". The unnamable, for example, was greater I thought.

[katow]

in Beckett words " Nothing is more real than nothing" in Malone Dies

[cacian]

in Beckett words " Nothing is more real than nothing" in Malone Dies

What does this mean?

[katow]

Beckett´s book " Malone Dies" we found that passage "I don't like those gull's eyes. They remind me of an old shipwreck, I forget which. I know it is a small thing. But I am easily frightened now. I know those little phrases that seem so innocuous and, once you let them in, pollute the whole of speech. Nothing is more real than nothing. They rise up out of the pit and know no rest until they drag you down into its dark. But I am on my guard now."
It represents the "absurd" human condition , that life has no real meaning. Nothing (death) is the only thing we can count for sure.

[cacian]

Beckett´s book " Malone Dies" we found that passage "I don't like those gull's eyes. They remind me of an old shipwreck, I forget which. I know it is a small thing. But I am easily frightened now. I know those little phrases that seem so innocuous and, once you let them in, pollute the whole of speech. Nothing is more real than nothing. They rise up out of the pit and know no rest until they drag you down into its dark. But I am on my guard now."
It represents the "absurd" human condition , that life has no real meaning. Nothing (death) is the only thing we can count for sure.

The absurd indeed I never thought of it that way when I first read the quote.
I assumed it was to do with having nothing or achieved absolutely nothing which in reality terms is not true.
I guess skepticism at its best to presume that out of nothing comes nothing.
Out everything comes nothing is perhaps wiser or best because whilst we strive to achieve to our best we must never assume anything more then we can do or feel at any given time.
I find the notion of 'absurd' rather limiting because we all know that there is much to life then death. Death will eventually gets there but it is never rushed nor anticipated. No one wants to die because everyone wants to be plus let's not forget there is no such a thing as death if it was not for life and so I salute life because if gives one the opportunity to reminisce for a death if that is what they wanted. In the meantime I look forward to life and without it I won't assume will never be able to give the 'absurd' a voice.

[Ser Nevarc]

Excellent; 5 stars. Those who enjoyed it should give Endgame their attention

[Chance33]

A great play by Beckett. Beckett uses interesting symbology, and the play just really makes you think and figure out the purpose, although it can be interpreted so many different ways! Overall wonderful, an easy, short play that will inspire thought, and I would recommend it.

[Methexis]

It's not a play about nothing, it's a play about The Nothing, the absurdity of life, philosophy, religion, it's a play that is at the same time known and respected for its openness and its deeply layered references to literature and philosophy (Berkely,Descartes/Geulinckx, ...), and there lies its strength, for me. As some others have suggested as well, the play has the benefit of incorporating quite a few of Beckett's regular themes while still being highly accessible (compared to e.g. L'Innomable).

[Methexis]

What does this mean?

I would assume it's a reference to Heidegger's Sein und Zeit which Beckett read, Heidegger here puts the nothing at the essence of Being (Sein), meaning that the Nothing is part of, an essential part of everything and everyone.

[cacian]

I would assume it's a reference to Heidegger's Sein und Zeit which Beckett read, Heidegger here puts the nothing at the essence of Being (Sein), meaning that the Nothing is part of, an essential part of everything and everyone.

there is another word for interstice right?

[Methexis]

there is another word for interstice right?

There undoubtedly is, though I'm not sure how that relates to my quote? You're suggesting we see the nothing as some sort of rift, as the in-betweenness of things, I'm suggesting it's the essence of things. Or, rather, that it is the nothing that lies in our essence that, when confronted with it, triggers angst (anxiety) that puts us in touch with our essence.