Symbolism in Samuel Becketts Waiting For Godot Essay Example

Symbolism in Samuel Becketts Waiting For Godot Essay Written by Samuel Beckett originally in French in 1948, the translated English version was first enacted on stage in 1953. One of the masterpieces of the absurdist tradition, the play is infused with psychological, political and philosophical symbolism. The plot is outwardly quite simple, involving interactions between two friends Estragon and Vladimir as they both wait for another friend named Godot to arrive. Although Godot does not arrive during the course of the play, his anticipation sets up the context for the musings and conversations of Estragon and Vladimir. Author Samuel Beckett creatively exploits this open ended plot structure to ponder over important questions about the human condition. Given that it was published in the aftermath of the Holocaust, it asks deep and compelling questions of the state of human civilization and the nature of our species. Such utterances from the two lead characters as â€Å"to hold the terrible silence at bay†, â€Å"Nothing to be done†, â€Å"We are saved!†, etc offer profound interpretive scope for the reflective reader. (Beckett, 1956) The most ostensible symbolisms in the play pertain to the existentialist philosophical framework. The first quote alludes to the acute existential crisis shadowing the period after the Second World War. Written as it was in the aftermath of the most devastating war in history, Beckett’s preoccupations with the purpose of human life and how best to go about fulfilling it are in tune with the concerns and sentiments of the time. In this, the play is full of symbolisms of existence and its opposite state death – a pattern found in the works of other post-war intellectuals such as Albert Camus and Jean-Paul Sartre. Waiting for Godot is a product of the author’s affectations during the war and hence contains in it psychological a nd philosophical questions treated in the existentialist framework. It is for this reason that notions such as ‘death’, ‘nothingness’ and momentary crises of human existence are all symbolically expressed. We will write a custom essay sample on Symbolism in Samuel Becketts Waiting For Godot specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Symbolism in Samuel Becketts Waiting For Godot specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Symbolism in Samuel Becketts Waiting For Godot specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The play can also be read with theological symbolisms in mind, especially that of the Christian doctrine. The choice of the name Godot (that contains ‘God’ in it) is perceived by critics to have religious connotations. This claim is vindicated by dialogues in the play that resonate with Christian concepts of salvation, rising from the dead, etc. For example, â€Å"We are saved!†, which is frequently uttered by Vladimir or Estragon can be taken as a reference to the notion of salvation. These two characters can also be seen as the two thieves crucified alongside Jesus Christ. Out of their boredom, every now and then Estragon and Vladimir contemplate committing suicide by hanging themselves from the only prominent tree in the setting. This is again a reference to the crucifixion, but albeit in a sense of parody. Vladimir’s casual remark to Estragon in Act I, â€Å"Hope deferred maketh the something sick, who said that?† is again a parody of a Christian proverb of the same rhyme – â€Å"Hope deferred makes the heart sick; but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.† (Beckett, 1956) Hence, the religious symbolism is quite strong, but the tone is one of mockery and not reverence. Ontological questions are focused upon in the play, with the author giving special treatment to the concept of time, which links this work to another path-breaking existentialist thesis, namely that of Martin Heidegger’s Being and Time. For example, the deliberate similarity between the first and second acts in the play and elements of repetition seen in them is symbolic of the rhythmic and periodic nature of human existence, with each passing day a mirror of the day gone by and so forth. Because the play is essentially devoid of a describable plot and narrative, it operates at a very high level of abstraction. At this level, it lends itself to a variety of religious, social and political interpretation and understanding. At the political level, there is a striking allegorical reference to the emergence of the Cold War, with the United States and the Soviet Union being the epicenters of the two opposing domains. The characters of Lucky and Pozzo bring out this implied conflict, as they express historical strains between Britain and Ireland, France and Germany (during the war), etc. For the discerning reader/viewer of the play, Marxist symbolisms open out too, with the two characters representing the capitalists and the workers respectively. Seen from the psychoanalytical framework, one can see expressions of The Ego and The Id as conceived by Freud. The most profound symbolism seen in the play is that of dualism, which manifests in several forms. The two thieves, the two brothers and the two acts of the play all showcase this dualism. At a broader level, the content of the play reflects universal opposites such as the Yin and Yang, positive and negative charge, matter and anti-matter, life and death, etc. The universal dichotomies of Good and Evil as well as the divide between selfishness and altruism are also given treatment in the play. The other commonly referred to religious symbolism pertains to the hill-top setting of the acts, which is perceived as the equivalent of heaven. And this brings us to another universal dichotomy – namely that of Heaven and Hell. It is for these multiple layers of meaning and interpretation that Waiting for Godot is considered to be a vital literary contribution in the twentieth century. As the examples pointed above prove, it is a work of high and rich symbolism with broad interpretive scope. By alluding to the most universal and most pressing concerns of the human condition, Waiting for Godot does indeed justify its inclusion in the twentieth century literary canon. Works Cited: Beckett, S., Waiting for Godot, First published by Faber and Faber (London) in 1988 (original publication in 1956). Knowlson, J., Damned to Fame: The Life of Samuel Beckett (London: Bloomsbury, 1996), p. 610.

How to Pay For College Essay

How to Pay For College EssayHow to pay for college is a question that many parents ask when they hear about the possibility of attending college. The most important thing for parents to understand is that they have choices when it comes to tuition. They can choose to pay for part of the cost of the education or they can choose to pay for the whole thing. Whatever they choose, they will need to understand some of the different payment options available.First, parents should know that most schools require that students use their credit cards. If the student is able to get approved for a Pell grant, there is no need to pay full price for tuition. Most scholarships and other financial aid programs will also allow students to apply for cash as a method of payment.After getting approved for scholarships and grants, parents should try to figure out how much they can afford to pay for the tuition. There are several methods for doing this. Most parents will use a financial aid calculator to f igure out how much they need to pay.Another option is to look for scholarships that do not have a fixed amount that has to be paid each year. Some scholarships can be renewed year after year. These scholarships are available for all students and many of them are not even competitive.Some financial aid is offered through colleges. If the school offers loans, parents may want to look into these. Since these loans are typically repaid over a period of time, they will not be impacted by tuition costs.Sometimes it may be necessary to explain why parents are choosing a certain major or a certain type of education for their child's career goals. The most effective way to do this is to write an essay based on the information provided. In this way, parents will not be embarrassed by the facts.Parents can consider using student organizations as a way to get the word out about their student. Students will love the chance to meet new people and be able to make a positive contribution to their c ommunity. Even if parents are not involved in the student group, they can still get involved and offer to serve as a resource for the students.As parents, it is our responsibility to make the decision that is best for our children. Since so many people already face financial difficulties, it is important that we help our children succeed in life. In today's world, it is imperative that everyone have access to higher education. Once you get in, it is important to stay on track.

Autism Research Paper Topics

Autism Research Paper TopicsAutism research paper topics are set aside for the areas of study in autism, ranging from a child's health and development to general theory of autism. These topics are aimed at helping students learn about autism and the development of the mind and body of children with autism. The paper topics also help teachers and parents become more familiar with autism and provide assistance to them when educating a child with autism. They also provide a great deal of fun during the process of conducting research and writing papers that are ideal for high school students with autism.There are many different research paper topics that students can choose from. One of the best topics for research is called the 'Autism Epigenetics Syndrome.' This is an emerging area of research and is one that is being used to help find new treatments for autistic children.Autism is not believed to be genetic in nature but is believed to be caused by a combination of environmental facto rs that contribute to autistic behavior. It is said that there is some evidence that suggests the genetic influence might be causal but there is no strong evidence to support this. Research shows that most autism research paper topics are addressed to general theories. A topic of the same category as this one is 'The Comorbidity of Social and Communication Disorders' which states that there is a possibility that one of these disorders might be caused by the other.'The Science of Autistic Communicative Development' is another autism research paper topic. This is an area of study that addresses how the environment interacts with the child during development. A paper like this is very important to many scientists who are involved in autism research. Topics that have this level of specificity to allow a researcher to make discoveries that are specific to a certain type of autism spectrum disorder.Autism research paper topics also include special education research papers, or PERSD. This one examines the differences in teaching and learning styles of students with and without autism spectrum disorders. Researchers believe that learning styles vary depending on the individual student. Different student's have different learning styles and even social skills and these are all variables that are studied.Autism research paper topics also focus on the different types of therapies that are available for autism patients. One of the main goals is to provide autism patients with treatments that will allow them to be independent in daily life. Different medications are also studied and what effect they have on a patient's brain and behavior.All of the autism research paper topics that person studies must be submitted to a journal for review. Once a topic has been reviewed, it will then be assigned to an author who will write an article based on that topic. Once this article is written, it will then be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal and published.Although there are many different autism research paper topics, there are still others that are difficult to narrow down. The goal is to have a topic that is both unique and interesting to the reader.

Research Paper Citation Format

Research Paper Citation FormatA good research paper will not exist if there is no reference to the research paper format. The research paper citation format plays a significant role in linking the research paper to the source document.The first thing to consider in all the preparation of a research paper is to establish a research plan, and an appropriate Ai Study Design. It is also advisable to create a standard typeface for the texts. These should not be very different from the ones used in the references, and should be presented with the same spellings.In most cases, the references will contain the research plan, because it was made at the beginning of the research. The reference should provide the sources of the reference material. In case of a journal article, the researcher must always state where the article can be found. He or she should also give the number of copies available and the conditions for reuse.References are also of great importance when working on a project that requires the assistance of an expert. A researcher must always remember that a reference must never represent the research plan. Sometimes, the references are to a single section or a single chapter of the report. They are the basis for the review of the research.Some research documents have been produced using a certain format that does not meet the necessary format for such documents. These formats are said to be duplicate text format and online format.If it is possible, it is advisable to work with a consultant who has experience with duplicate text format. This person can help in developing a special format that will suit the requirements of the research. The format is generally used when there is a need to refer to a specific paragraph from the original document. The research paper citation format should be referred to this format.Tresearch paper citation format Many people want to have a copy of the original research. Using the original document can be very helpful in the fu ture.