Beckett’s Main Themes Essay Example for Free

Beckett’s Main Themes Essay Samuel Beckett explores the purposelessness of life, lack of meaning and memory in Waiting for Godot. Aspects such as repetition, change, recognition, blind faith, silences and pauses illustrated the forgetfulness and purposelessness of the lives of Vladimir and Estragon. ‘Waiting’ is doing both something and nothing simultaneously; Vladimir and Estragon recognize this which is why they are in search for something to ‘do’. VLADIMIR: We are happy. ESTRAGON: We are happy. (Silence.) What do we do now, now that we are happy? VLADIMIR: Wait for Godot. (Estragon groans. Silence.) Things have changed here since yesterday. ESTRAGON: And if he doesnt come? VLADIMIR: (after a moment of bewilderment). Well see when the time comes. (Pause.) Their words are as empty and futile as their actions. There is a silence after they say that they’re â€Å"happy† which makes it apparent that they are just forcing the emotion on to themselves. The silence allows the audience to inquire if they really are happy and if their happiness is of value. Being happy doesn’t provide a function in life; Estragon wants to ‘do’ something now that they were supposedly happy. To ‘do’ something constructive is important to pass the time; the closest they can get to a functional action is to talk to each other. Having a purpose in life is probable to come with the emotion of happiness, since Estragon and Vladimir have convinced themselves to believe they encompass a purpose in life, they require the emotion of happiness to validate it. Rather than just telling Vladimir to ‘do’ something as they were â€Å"happy†, he asks him which is a technique to create conversation. The characters have blind faith in Godot, they don’t know what would happen if he didn’t come. Vladimir is bewildered when he comes to the moment of reality of contemplating that this being true would make their wait purposeless. He doesn’t want to admit that if Godot didn’t come then their long wait would have been for nothing, instead he says â€Å"We’ll see when the time comes†. This is a meaningless statement because if Godot never does come then the time will never come. However, Vladimir shows indication of acknowledging this when he starts talking about ‘change’ which is not only changing the subject but also implying that change in something proves that time is passing and that time will soon come. Moreover, towards the end of the extract when Estragon asks â€Å"What do we do now?† and Vladimir replies â€Å"Wait for Godot†. He ends the sentence there because he doesn’t know what would happen after h e did come and where their lives would lead. They show no reason to wait for Godot which highlights again the purposelessness of their lives. As Vladimir and Estragon are waiting, it is vital for time to pass and the thing to establish this is for things to change. VLADIMIR:†¦I was saying that things have changed here since yesterday. ESTRAGON; Everything oozes. VLADIMIR: Look at the tree ESTRAGON: it’s never the same pus from one second to the next VLADIMIR: The tree, look at the tree. The characters do not really have a conversation which follows in a logical pattern; they often misinterpret each other. Although the two pass their time, they pass it in ‘useless banter’ which is meaningless and gives their life no purpose. Estragon occasionally drifts off with his own thoughts but Vladimir brings him back to his. They both have their own ideas on change, Vladimir refers to the tree to prove that things have â€Å"changed† while Estragon notices ‘pus’ changing, even though they’re in their own individual worlds they both perceive a significance in ‘change’. Change is essential to them because they want assurance they have passed the time, and the only way to do so is to see change in their surroundings; change would also initiate some form of purpose. However, their dialogue in general dwells on their past and present which suggests that they are trapped in their current situation. The tree in the landscape helps illustrate a purpose because it is changing, it has to be changing for a purpose; Vladimir sees it as a sign of hope. There is only one tree rather than lots, this makes the landscape seem dull and gives a boring imagery. It is a symbol of life and contrasts with the bleak lifeless environment it’s in. Recognition comes conjointly with memory which Estragon doesn’t have. Estragon doesn’t find that there is any point in recognizing things. He says â€Å"what is there to recognize?†. Estragon lacks memory which is why he gets frustrated. He distinguishes physical things which he receives like Lucky kicking him and Pozzo giving him a bone. These things make a difference to Estragon which is why he remembers it. He realizes that he had just â€Å"crawled about in the mud† all his life which entails that he only recognizes the purposelessness of his life and the meaning it lacks. It is a commonly established idea that one’s experiences define a person. Vladimir says â€Å"He’s forgotten everything!† with regards to Estragon. Memory is important to them because what they went through yesterday was an accomplishment for them, if they can’t remember it then it is worthless. If Estragon can’t remember then Vladimir has no one to reminisce their achievement with, however reminding Estragon and describing it to him gives them something to talk about and passes the time. Since they both lack memory of most of their experiences, their individuality is unclear. Vladimir tries to compare the difference of their current landscape to the â€Å"Macon country† but Estragon fails to remember it, and derides at the word and states that he spent all his life in their current location, the â€Å"Cackon country†. The sound of the word is harsh and he says it as if it is meaningless to him even though that is where he is ‘Wa iting for Godot’, the place where they are establishing their decided purpose of life. Silences and pauses are uses to transport the meaning to the audience or reader; during the short intervals they realize the meaningless conversation Vladimir and Estragon indulge in. The two begin describing â€Å"All the dead voices† which â€Å"murmur†, â€Å"rustle†, â€Å"whisper† and â€Å"make a noise like feathers†. The silences are disseminated and their dialogues after each of the silences are repetitive which is parallel to their nearly reiterated everyday routine and dialogues. The silent and empty stage is filled with the sound of the ‘dead voices’; viewers are made to imagine the voices as Vladimir and Estragon describe them using similes. The dead voices contribute to the tedious mood of their lives; they argue over trivial things which is parallel to their depressed condition because they are too weak to make it better. The voices reflect the situation of the two characters, they murmur, rustle, whisper in their actions while they wait for Godot. Repetition of the dialogues conveys the forgetfulness of Vladimir and Estragon and their pointless lives. The extract begins with the characters speaking in ‘useless banter’ but as it nears towards the end of the extract, Vladimir and Estragon’s speech lessens and becomes quieter as they run out of things to say. This illustrates their life cycle, the beginning is a bustle of activity as they were younger and searching for a purpose and meaning for life, they did things like â€Å"pick grapes for a man† and go to â€Å"the Macon country†; but as they grow older, energy and enthusiasm decreases as they discover no purpose. Vladimir panics after the â€Å"Long silence†, because he doesn’t want to think of the reality of their situation; talking and actions distract their attention from reflection. Vladimir tells Estragon to â€Å"Say anything at all!† in â€Å"anguish†, he suffers a mental despair or distress if nothing is said or done because then he will apprehend the reality of their meaningless wait. It is as if their terrible actuality is in his subconscious mind which he keeps on pushing away. Estragon further confirms that the reason for their ‘useless banter’ is so they won’t â€Å"think†; language is utilized to neglect silence. To further emphasise their reiterated life, when they run out of things to say, they remind themselves of their purpose of their existence and the reason behind their endless wait which is to â€Å"Wait for Godot†.

Wife of Martin Guerre :: essays research papers

Throughout my travels I had always been mistaken for Martin Guerre, that is how I have come to be here today. He was always spoken about with such respect. A dignified young man, from a well respected peasant family, it was a let down to me that I myself was not a respected man like this Martin. As these occurrences continued to happen I began to wonder about his life, why such a well respected man could leave his wife and son behind, I had been told that he had left his family in Artigues for many years, and they were waiting for his return. His father had past on, and the farm was now waiting for their master. I had no place to go and thought that if I am mistaken so many times for martin then maybe I could go to his household, my intentions were not to stay even this long, but only enough to collect some gold and silver. Over the last few days I have been drawn to the loving and caring nature of this household. Built on strong foundations I have been welcomed back like a triumpha nt army from a great war. Praised for returning, as if nothing had happened.. The feast that was prepared was like none that I had seen before, all they would do was listen to the stories of my travels. This family did not about the eight years that had past, without notice or communication, but relief that the family is complete again. My past has not been one that I have been proud of. I have not been loyal to my family, nor my Kingdom. My family has put a lot of trust in me, but I have let them down, traveling with the wars from town to town. I know it upsets them, and I cannot return to them. I do not want to put some more false hope in their hearts, as I am sure that my past will catch up with me, and again let them down. I am also not one who has abided by the law in the past, committing crimes of theft from many as I pass by, not two weeks ago had I stolen from a man traveling on the same road as I. But since I have come to this caring and loving family, I have seen what I myself have neglected and betrayed in my home town.

Recommendation letter for OJT Essay

MRS. MERCEDES B. RODIEL June 3, 2013 Head, Document Processing Unit Bureau of Internal Revenue Cabanatuan City Dear Mrs. Rodiel: Christian Greetings! Our Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Major in Financial Management requires student in Office Practicum to undergo a 240-hour On-the-Job Training outside the campus to expose and orient them to actual business practices. In this connection, may we recommend Ms. Kristine Rhonalyn Rodiel, BSBA Student to undergo training in your office, to enable her to complete the requirements in the subject. Rest assured that she is given the necessary orientation with respect to office protocol, such as keeping confidential information. We hope she will be assigned to do a job related to his field of concentration. Also, may we ask your good office to give the necessary certificate at the end of his training period, to attest the satisfactory completion of his office training. Thank you very much and more power. Very truly yours, DR. LUISA S. ZERRUDO Program Head, Business Administration Noted: DR. MARIA VICTORIA C. MONES Dean, College of Business and Accountancy MRS. MERCEDES B. RODIEL June 3, 2013 Head, Document Processing Unit Bureau of Internal Revenue Cabanatuan City Dear Mrs. Rodiel: Christian Greetings! Our Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Major in Financial Management requires student in Office Practicum to undergo a 240-hour On-the-Job Training outside the campus to expose and orient them to actual business practices. In this connection, may we recommend Ms. Roxanne P. Calderon, BSBA Student to undergo training in your office, to enable her to complete the requirements in the subject. Rest assured that she is given the necessary orientation with respect to office protocol, such as keeping confidential information. We hope she will be assigned to do a job related to his field of concentration. Also, may we ask your good office to give the necessary certificate at the end of his training period, to attest the satisfactory completion of his office training. Thank you very much and more power. Very truly yours, DR. LUISA S. ZERRUDO Program Head, Business Administration Noted: DR. MARIA VICTORIA C. MONES Dean, College of Business and Accountancy MRS. MERCEDES B. RODIEL June 3, 2013 Head, Document Processing Unit Bureau of Internal Revenue Cabanatuan City Dear Mrs. Rodiel: Christian Greetings! Our Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Major in Financial Management requires student in Office Practicum to undergo a 240-hour On-the-Job Training outside the campus to expose and orient them to actual business practices. In this connection, may we recommend Mr. Jan Paul  Valdoviezo, BSBA Student to undergo training in your office, to enable him to complete the requirements in the subject. Rest assured that he is given the necessary orientation with respect to office protocol, such as keeping confidential information. We hope he will be assigned to do a job related to his field of concentration. Also, may we ask your good office to give the necessary certificate at the end of his training period, to attest the satisfactory completion of his office training. Thank you very much and more power. Very truly yours, DR. LUISA S. ZERRUDO Program Head, Business Administration Noted: DR. MARIA VICTORIA C. MONES Dean, College of Business and Accountancy

Impact of Computer on Mass Media - 1605 Words

Computer And Society Computer and Society Society can be defined as â€Å"a community, nation, or broad grouping of people having common traditions, institutions, and collective activities and interests. To understand the full impact of computers on society, we will first have to understand the meaning of computer. Almost everything we know in today’s society is either operated or made by computers. Cars and jets were designed on computers, traffic signals are operated by computers, most medical equipment use computers and even space exploration was started with computers. Most of the jobs today require the use of computers. Our Reliance On Computers The society in which we live in has been so profoundly affected by computers†¦show more content†¦Large hole punched cards were used by the loom to create geometric patterns. Aside from producing beautiful patterns, the punched cards were later modified to become the main form of computer input. The system of punch cards led to the first successful semi-automated computer, a punch-card tabulating machine invented during the 1880s by American Herman Hollerith. It was used to tabulate the results of the U.S. census. Each punch card contained the data of each individual. Operators fed the countless cards into the computer. When the spring-mounted nails of the computer passed through the holes of the punch-card, an electric circuit was completed. As seen in diagram C, the results of each card were displayed on rows of dials.... The impact of computers on our economic and business life has indeed been immense. Businesses now have to be computerised or they risk failure. Every big corporation bases its operations on computing, regardless of which sector they are in. Coca-Cola, the BBC and Levi’s market and sell different products and services, yet they all share one basic property – without computers their operations would collapse. Moreover, computing is an economic dynamo. 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