Question 1
The play “Waiting for Godot” functions with explicitly stipulated rules. The main characters in the play are Vladimir and Estragon. They are referred to as tramps in the play. The world in the play contains a lot of uncertainty. Nothing happens in the play, and there is always nothing to do. Vladimir and Estragon are waiting for a man referred to in the play as Godot. The tramps are uncertain about their actions. There are not sure they are waiting for Godot at the correct location and if it is on the right day. They are also unaware if Godot will indeed show up. They are also uncertain if they have ever met Godot. They are thus doing nothing.
Lucky and Pozzo later joins the tramps. The four thus continue waiting for the Godot arrival. Pozzo and Lucky eventually depart leaving the tramps behind. Estragon is, however, unable to recall with the two immediately they leave. They are thus informed that Godot is not arriving today but will be there the following day. They fill confused and are unsure whether to leave or to stay. The same happens the next day, and they contemplate on committing suicide. Unfortunately, they lack a rope. They thus resolve to leave, as Godot is no longer coming but none of them moves. The play thus ends with several uncertainties. It makes the readers remain unsure of different actions that may happen in the next course of the play (Grogan & Joshua, 1954).
The artistic intent behind waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett greatly expands on the play. The play is believed to be a true reflection of the dramatic movement that resembles human nature, and they believe that individuals posses innately very attractive intentions. According to various commentaries by artists, Waiting for Godot play came as a surprise to the further also. Some believed that art was revolutionary while others believed the art was out of order. Some artists believed that Godot was the eternal life while others thought it was the unattainable quest possessed by all men. It is the urge that people wait for so long to achieve and the power that gives them strength to live longer.
According to the famous novelist Allain Robbe-Grillet, the play Waiting for Godot by Beckett achieved dramatization of the human situation. It achieves the status of just being there. The characters are constantly waiting for Godot and are experiencing neither the past nor the future.
According to G.S Fraser, the play is a metaphor symbolizing the conditions of human life. Fraser is very critical of the uncertainty experienced in the play. Ambiguity is thus a critical aspect of the play, and the audience and the readers of the play may not understand the intentions of the author (Grogan & Joshua, 1961).
The artistic intent behind Waiting for Godot compares to the works of contemporary artists such as Gwendolyn Brooks, Betye Saar and Robert Mapplethorpe.
We Real Cool play is a powerful short poem developed by Gwendolyn Brooks. It primarily aims to educate the readers on life issues. The play mainly criticizes the act of dropping out of school. The author postulates that dropping out of school is dead end street. The play also stipulates that dropping out of school is not cool and eventually results in roaming of the streets. The message in the play is entirely ironical. The title of the play symbolizes a group of wealthy individuals and living a very luxurious lifestyle. However, the story mainly stresses on the seven players considered school dropouts. They mainly play drink alcohol and play pool in the streets. The play thus concludes that this kind of lifestyle is not cool and should experience elimination in every livelihood. The author states that such lifestyle only leads to death.
The play compares to the play Waiting for Godot by Samuel Becketts In various ways. The play like Waiting for the Godot results to uncertainties. The readers at the beginning think of individuals living a very flamboyant lifestyle but conclude by discouraging school dropout and states such lifestyle is never cool. Different artists believe the author is sarcastic and is developing contradictory statements.
The play by Robert Mapplethorpe is comparing to Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett since it also contains several contradictions. The play develops by the use of various pictures that postulate different meaning every time. The pictures make the readers, and the audience remains uncertain about various aspects of life. The uncertainty and the unsure of the events in the play make the artistic intent of the play compares with that of Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett.
Question 2
Are there intended meanings of these works more or less apparent than the intended purposes of Samuel Becketts play?
The intended meanings of the works resemble the meanings of the play by Samuel Beckett. The meanings of the plays are thus less apparent than the intended meanings of Samuel Becketts play. In Samuel Becketts play, the meaning mainly focuses on the uncertainty and unsure of life, future and past events. These plays, however, stress on other aspects of life such as feminism and commercial aspects.
Question 3
What does the juxtaposition of these works suggest about the uses of art since the end of World War 2?
The use of art since the end of the World War 2 has substantially developed. The use of pictures, images and other modern aspects of art indicate the enhancement of art since the end of World War 2. Art is also used to explain various aspects of life such as feminism, business and the aspects of equality in the society.
Question 4
Can the action of Becketts play (Waiting for Godot) be said to constitute a plot
The actions of Beckett represent the main theme these plays. The events in these plays greatly relate to those in the play Waiting for Godot by Samuel Becket. Actions of Beckett thus constitute the main aspects of the play and can thus constitute a plot.
Question 5
Can a play have an artistic meaning without a recognizable plot, or is the absence of a standard plot line a meaning and of itself?
Yes. A play can have an artistic sense without a recognizable plot. A play can omit various details but capture the key events by the use of other poetic devices such as images and pictures. The play waiting for Godot lacks a complete plot but contain an artistic meaning. Beckett did not intend to satisfy the audience with the solution to the problem on the play. However, the play still included an artistic meaning and the author achieved the primary goal of uncertainty.
Work Cited
Beckett, Samuel. "Other literary forms Samuel Beckett is far better known for his fiction and plays than for his poetry, even though it was a poet that he began his writing career. In fact, Beckett." Critical Survey of Poetry-European Poets (2015): 87.
Grogan, Joshua. Samuel Beckett and the theatrical expression of the human psyche: five major post-war plays: from Waiting for Godot to Not I (1953-73). BS thesis. University of Malta, 2016.
