Tuesday, February 7, 2017
Comedy and Tragedy in Waiting for Godot
For you, what is the most humorous moment of the play? What is the most tragic moment? Share your ideas in a brief post (you may simply state the two points in the play, although you are welcome to explain your choices if you wish!). Due by Monday, February 13th. (Also, answer the poll on the right!)
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The most humorous moment of the play is at the end of each act when Estragon and Vladimir agree to leave but they don't move, especially at the and of act II because it is the second time they do it, which makes it even more humorous.
ReplyDeleteThe most tragic moment of the play is when Estragon and Vladimir want to hang themselves on the tree to escape their monotonous life.
The most humorous passage in the play would be this part of dialogue p.41:
ReplyDelete“VLADIMIR: That passed the time.
ESTRAGON: It would have passed in any case.
VLADIMIR: Yes, but not so rapidly.”
This is obviously very ironical, and for several reasons. First of all, I don’t think Estragon has any notion of time passing, but Vladimir does. Vladimir is the first to complain about time being stopped. In addition, this statement is the opposite of what the audience might feel about the play. I do not think the audience would necessarily be bored, but they would nevertheless be aware of the fact that the action on stage is going to a slow pace.
For me, the most tragic moments are all the moments when the characters seem to escape the illusion they have built. I think the most tragic moment of the play would be the speech of Vladimir on page 83. In this speech he really seems to lose hold of the illusion he was into, and he suddenly realizes the horror of his situation. He asks the question the audience has certainly been asking throughout the play: “But in all that what truth will there be?” Moreover, the themes of decay and death, which are developed through diction, emphasize the tragic intensity of the speech.
According to me, the most tragic moment in the play is Vladimir's speech page 83, as Chloé pointed out. It develops the theme of decay and illusion. Vladimir seems to be in a great reflexion and the audience reflects about his words too. It reinforces the tragic aspect of his existential questions. Furthermore, the sentence "habit is a great deadener" emphasizes the tragedy as the audience knows they are doing the same things again and again.
ReplyDeleteThe most humorous moment comes when Didi and Gogo say they "could do [their] exercises" (page 68). In this passage, all comic aspects are gathered: play on sounds, quick reactions and of course visual actions. Their gestures when they hop and when they "do the tree" create a very light and comic atmosphere.
The most humorous moment in the play is actually also one of the most tragic ones (I believe there are 2 tragic moments): it is when Pozzo and Lucky are helplessly trying to get up and Didi makes his grand speech about representing humanity etc. (p.71-73).
ReplyDeleteOn a first and superficial level, this scene is very comic: Didi is stating they are the heroes of humanity ("all mankind is us") and yet, he doesn't even care about Pozzo calling out for help. This scene also profits from some metatheatrical references ("What are we doing here, that is the question").
But this scene has a more thought-creating and deeper second dimension to it as well since, if you think about it more seriously, the subject Didi talks about is quite thought-provocative ("Let us represent for once the foul brood to which cruel fate consigned us!").
The other tragic moment would be the same as Chloé and Maëlys also chose (p.83).
Voilà, voilà.
For me the point in the play which is at once the most humorous and the most tragic is the ending. The fact that both comedy (with physical humour) and tragedy (with Estragon's final hopeless words and the echo of the end of the first Act) are both present makes this a strong point in the play, and allows Beckett to conclude with a dramatic impact on his audience.
ReplyDeleteOne of the most humorous passage of the play would be Estragon’s suggestion to « abuse each other » in Act 2 (p 67). The quick-paced stichomythia that follows, the physicality of the scene - the characters constantly go back and forth, moving apart or facing each other - as well as the general incongruity of the exchange make up for a highly comical scene.
ReplyDeleteI found it particularly hard to chose one isolated tragic moment as even the parts of the play that make us laugh are often bittersweet and tinged with something darker. I eventually picked the characters’ second encounter with the boy (p 84). The fact that Vladimir anticipates all of his responses shows that the characters were more or less consciously aware of the circular scheme in which they are trapped, which only enhances their tragic self-delusion while making the audience feel somehow tricked. What is more the insisting occurrences of silences throughout the play seem to reach a climax in this page, reinforcing Estragon’s and Vladimir’s helplessness.
For me, the most humorous moment in the play is the dialogue on page 67, after Estragon suggests that he and Vladimir should "abuse each other". The absurdity and artificial nature of the exchange makes it a very comical scene.
ReplyDeleteLike many others, I think the most tragic moment of the play, or at least one of the most tragic moments, would be Vladimir's speech on page 83. Indeed it summarises and uses all the themes of illusion, decay and meaninglessness in one rather short but intense paragraph. The fact that Vladimir ends his speech by "What have I said?" also puts an emphasis on all the themes addresses before, as it shows the audience one more example of the constant illusion and meaninglessness used in this play.
The most humorous passage of the play, in my opinion, would be in the middle of act I (page 28), when, in a relatively light atmosphere, Vladimir "hastens towards the wing", probably to go to the toilets, and Estragon indicates the way to it, saying "end of the corridor, on the left"; Vladimir even makes sure that Estragon will "keep [his] seat.". This moment represents the way Beckett plays with the typical theater rules, breaking the "imaginary wall" between the audience and the play and creating a paradoxical atmosphere, in which the audience laughs at itself through the characters' imitation of it.
ReplyDeleteThe most tragic moment of the play for me is the ending, where Vladimir is starting to realize the cycle in which Estragon and himself have been living in for possibly many years. Whereas any other moment of the play could be played in a humorous way by the characters, the ending can only be seen as tragic and linked to desperation and decay, in my opinion, especially because of Vladimir's character.
What I found to be the funniest moment in the play is Estragon & Vladimir's discussion on the bible, in the first pages of the script.
ReplyDeleteThe most tragic moment though, to me, is when Vladimir realizes, by talking to the little boy, that Godot is not going to come. And the fact that Estragon is so annoyed with the boy's presence shows how frustrated and desperate they are not to find Godot coming instead of him.
VLADIMIR
ReplyDeleteSay you are, even if it's not true.
ESTRAGON
What am I to say?
VLADIMIR
Say, I am happy.
ESTRAGON
I am happy.
VLADIMIR
So am I.
ESTRAGON
So am I.
VLADIMIR
We are happy.
ESTRAGON
We are happy. (Silence.) What do we do now, now that we are happy? (2.42-9)
I think this is the most humorous moment of the play because it is extremely ironic. If staged with a comic perspective, it will definitely trigger laughs in the audience : it is a very heavy humor and the irony lasts through this whole dialogue.
VLADIMIR:
Let us not waste our time in idle discourse! (Pause. Vehemently.) Let us do something, while we have the chance! It is not every day that we are needed. Not indeed that we personally are needed. Others would meet the case equally well, if not better. To all mankind they were addressed, those cries for help still ringing in our ears! But at this place, at this moment of time, all mankind is us, whether we like it or not. Let us make the most of it, before it is too late! Let us represent worthily for once the foul brood to which a cruel fate consigned us! What do you say? (Estragon says nothing.) It is true that when with folded arms we weigh the pros and cons we are no less a credit to our species. The tiger bounds to the help of his congeners without the least reflection, or else he slinks away into the depths of the thickets. But that is not the question. What are we doing here, that is the question. And we are blessed in this, that we happen to know the answer. Yes, in this immense confusion one thing alone is clear. We are waiting for Godot to come—
I think this is the most tragic moment of the play because, for once, Vladimir is fully aware and conscious of their dull life. This call to action seems really urgent, however, Vladimir still takes plenty of time to begin to help Pozzo to his feet, and Estragon says nothing. This suggests that, even with good intentions and resolution, the habit of inaction cannot be broken immediately. Therefore, to me, it shows human suffering more than anywhere else in the play.
For me the most humorous moment of the play is at the very end of act II when Estragon realizes that his pants are down. It's a very ridiculous moment which enhances the absurdity of the scene.
ReplyDeleteThe most tragic one though is on page 72-73 with Vladimir's speech. He realizes how meaningless their lives are. Most of the tragic themes of the play are gathered in his speech such as pain, death and confusion.
In my opinion, one of the funniest moments in Beckett’s Waiting for Godot is the moment when Vladimir and Estragon exchange hats (along with Lucky’s). The sheer length of the action just makes it pure comedy to me (especially when you read the stage directions that are about a page long), Vladimir then throws the hat and nothing comes of it… it’s the essence of the play.
ReplyDeleteThis play is riddled with tragedy though, the whole array of themes that it relies on (such as the meaning of life) are very depressing, so in every comedic scene, tragedy peaks its nose, both ends of the spectrum of emotions are strongly linked to me ,and therefore, they are almost inseparable in the play. It is tough to immediately point out a tragic moment but the conversations between Didi and Gogo about hanging themselves could possibly be a “highlight”.
I think one of the most humorous moments of the play is from the bottom of p27, beginning with Vladimir saying "Charming evening we're having", to the top of p28, ending with Estrangon repeating "the circus". This is mostly because there is a lot of irony and its metatheatrical aspect creates a connection with the audience who might have begun to get bored as they realise that nothing is going to happen in the play even though it is just the beginning.
ReplyDeleteThe most tragic moment for me is the ending. The play has come to an end but the situation of the characters has not evolved, they still want to kill themselves and they are still at the same place, except maybe for the fact that there seems to be even more desperation with sentences such as «Everything's dead but the tree» or «I can't go on like this». For me the attempt at comedy in this passage just emphasises how superfluous and redundant all their attempts at distracting themselves from the tragedy of their lives have become and contributes to make the ending sadder.
To me, the most humourous moment in Waiting for Godot is on page 60, when Vladimir and Estragon are arguing about the turnips and radishes and Vladimir says "This is becoming really insignificant." to Estragon who answers "Not enough."
ReplyDeleteI believe that this scene could provoke severe laughter from the audience.
And the most tragic moment would be near the end of the play, when Vladimir starts making long speeches in a very lucid tone and at one point on p73 he says "in an instant all will vanish and we'll be alone once more, in the midst of nothingness"
This sentence has lots of meaning on the human existence and the play and its meaning and it has a very tragic tone.
In my opinion, every humorous passage is tinted with a bit of tragedy. But if I had to choose one, I would say that the passage p.7 when they are uncertain about the place and time is quite funny with the repetitions and the listing of the days of the week which give quite a sense of confusion to the reader (even though the characters are completely lost in their life.)
ReplyDeleteAnd I think, the most tragic passage is p.54 when Estragon and Vladimir talks about the "dead voices". This short passage, in the middle of an usual discussion between the two characters, has a deeper significance. The "dead voices" say that "to have lived is not enough for them" and "to be dead is not enough for them". This reflects one of the possible meaning of the play which could be that, in order to fully live one's life, you have to take actions unlike Vladimir and Estragon who spend their life waiting for something to happen.
Most humorous moment : P.72 (''Estragon : Ah!'') to P.74 (''Vladimir : Try.'')
ReplyDeleteMost tragic moment : idem
____This extract of the play is surely one of the most comical ones. Indeed, it combines various elements that give it a very funny echo like elements of farce (they want Pozzo to pay them if they help him get up), vaudeville and burelesque drama (impression of fuss, stichomythia, very dynamic scene [Pozzo and Lucky on the floor, Vladimir and Estragon fall too...] in which the comic of exaggeration is used [see Vladimir : « Don't leave me ! They'll kill me ! »]) as well as more trivial comic coming through words (Estragon : « Who farted? »).
____This extract might paradoxically also be considered as one of the most tragic ones as it highlights the decay of the different characters. The way they fall and get stuck on the floor shows how they are similarly stuck in their habits and are unable to escape it. Unconsciously, they might even be crying for help, just like they do here to get up. Moreover, it underlines how Vladimir seems to realise the boredom they go through, creating pity and a sensation of helplessness : « we'll be alone once more, in the midst of nothingness ! » p.73. The overall absurdity of the scene adds to this idea of decay as characters behave very childishly which, while creating comic, also seems very tragic.
For me, the most humorous moment of the play is pp. 63-64 (exchange of hats b/w Estragon and Vladimir). The comedy here lies within the repetitiveness of the action and especially the 'coquettish' attitude of Vladimir at the end of the scene.
ReplyDeleteThe most tragic one I found is Pozzo's fury on page 82. One important quote : 'They give birth astride of a grave'. What gives this moment a tragic dimension is Pozzo's frustration as he can't conceive or understand time.
I would say that the most humourous moment of the play is the dialogue between Estragon and Vladimir in the first act around the hanging (pages 9 to 11). I think that although there are many scenes afterwards that also contain slapstick and comical references, at the beginning of the play only is the audience clueless enough to actually laugh a lot at such scenes - as the darker themes slowly get introduced later in the play, the audience slowly learns to see the hidden meaning behind even the most superficial dialogues, making it harder for the comical aspect to remain predominant.
ReplyDeleteSimilarly, the part of the play that I found the most tragic is towards the end, on pages 82-83, where Pozzo and Vladimir deliver long and rather worrying speeches that are much more direct than most of the previous dialogues. They are direct reflections on the human condition which I found striking and powerful.
In my opinion, the atmosphere of the play decays with time : in fact the most humorous passage for me would be at the beginning of Act 1 when the hanging is proposed for the first time by Estragon. The audience is taken by surprise by this morbid and absurd dialogue and the light tone, the incomprehension of Vladimir and the discussion about the technicality of this act creates a very humorous passage in spite of the references to death.
ReplyDeleteYet as the play goes on and the hopelessness of Estragon and Vladimmir is becoming more and more clear the lighter and comical scenes provoke mirthless laughter and contribute to the tragedy of their existence. This is why, to me, the final moments of the play are the most tragic ones : the vulgar humour only contributes to this sense of hopelessness that the scene creates. Estragon and Vladimir lost all purpose, all strength and even all dignity to the point that, what could have been a comical passage in the beginning, is becoming the epitom of their decay.
The passage I found was the most tragical and comical at the same time is Estragon's song at the beginning of act 2 because of how basic and stupid the lyrics are but also how ironically the song can represent their life by being 5 (6 with stage directions) repeated lines, comparable to the day Didi and gogo repeat over and over.
ReplyDeleteFor me the funniest part is on page 6 when they find the leafless willow and Vladimir says "It must be dead." and Estragon answers with "No more weeping." which is funny because both of them try to end their misery by dying when they attempt to hang themselves.
ReplyDeleteThe most tragic part is pages 16 and 17 when Pozzo speaks, because I hate people who think they can treat other people like dogs.
One of the most comical passage of the play (which also happens to be one of the most tragic/disturbing scene) for me is p.80, when estragon starts kicking lucky who's asleep, and hurts himself. Suddenly, he decides to stop, sit down, and tries to remove his boot. After a brief unsuccessful try, he decides to sleep. I can't imagine this scene however hard I try without having controversial feelings about estragon. At the sight of such an irrational behavior I want to laugh and yet I pity him. Because the hope of a recovery from this cycle of decay seem to be already out of reach for him.
ReplyDeleteTo me, the most comical passage of the play is when, around page 32, Pozzo asks Vladimir and Estragon what he can give them to thank them for their civility toward him, and then proceeds to ignore completely Estragon's answer while going on a self questioning about whether or not what he is going to do will be enough. At the same time, we have Estragon asking for ten francs and Vladimir saying that "[they] are not beggars!" when they clearly are, as an be seen through their clothes. I think this complete denial of their nature of both Pozzo, who is an extremely egoistical and cruel character, and Vladimir, who is indeed a beggar, is extreely comical.
ReplyDeleteThe most tragic moment of the play to me is in the beginning, page 9 and 10, when they discuss so freely the idea of hanging themselves. I think there is something really desperate and really saddening in seeing two characters so early on ready to die.
First of all, I apologize for posting so late. Better late than never?
ReplyDeleteTo me, the most comical passage of the play is on p. 67, in act II, when Estragon and Vladimir are exchanging insults with similar sounds and “[With finality.]”, Estragon says “Crritic!” to which Vladimir answers “Oh!”. I loved the metatheatrical aspect of this dialogue, and the way it calls for exaggerated facial expressions from the actors that even as a reader—and not as the audience—I can imagine and laugh at. At this point in the play, it amazes me that Beckett can still surprise the audience like this, when it seems that he's used up all of his tricks and challenges to modern drama.
As for the most tragic moment, it was painful for me to read p. 75, when Vladimir strikes Pozzo. Vladimir had been the humane character until then, the one who thinks and considers others' pains, that it to say Lucky's. In this passage, the stage directions like “[Violently.]” and “[Striking Pozzo.]”, accompanied by the usual “[Silence.]”, bring a sense of despair to the scene, originating from Vladimir's cold personality. That being said, this is the way I read the passage and consequently found it incredibly sad, but I know it could be played off as comical; through gestures and tone, Vladimir could seem grumpy, and Pozzo could seem to be overdoing it.
In my opinion, every humorous passage is tinted with a bit of tragedy. But if I had to choose one, I would say that the passage p.7 when they are uncertain about the place and time is quite funny with the repetitions and the listing of the days of the week which give quite a sense of confusion to the reader (even though the characters are completely lost in their
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