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tree_branch's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Violence
mbomersheim's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I literally could not wait for this work to be over.
Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett is a play where not much happens, and it is infuriating. I hated this work, and the time it took me to read it is time I will never get back. The entire dialogue is very stream of consciousness, making the conversations disjointed and hard to follow. It gives Gertrude Stein vibes, which I’m not a fan of. I’m not going to even bother with writing a spoiler-free review because I just have a lot to say, and I don’t want to take the mental energy to decide what is a spoiler.
Spoilers ahead, tread with caution:
This play has a total of 5 characters: Estragon (a man who’s been suicidal for the past 50 years — casually mentioned), Lucky (a slave?), Pozzo (his owner?), an unnamed boy who works for Godot, and Vladimir (the seemingly only sane man in this show). The entire plot takes place in an unnamed location with a tree as Estragon and Vladimir wait for Godot to arrive for two days. In the play's opening, it is unclear how many days they have been waiting for him to arrive. They discuss hanging themselves at the tree but ultimately decide that they don’t have adequate rope and the branches might not be thick enough to hold their weight. That’s kind of just glanced over in the story, but like what the heck. Things just get funkier when Pozzo comes onstage with Lucky carrying all of Pozzi’s things while having a rope wrapped around his neck, and nobody really discusses how messed up that is. The language directed towards Lucky is extremely dehumanizing and problematic and the largest reaction we get from the characters is them acting curious and stating that it is a “scandal”.
Act 2 is almost a repeat of Act 1 taking place the next day with minor variations on the theme. Vladimir is the only one who seems to remember the previous day. If it was a different medium, I would just say that Vladimir is an unreliable narrator, but since it is a play and there is an audience witnessing this whole thing, so theoretically you’d know if it was really all real. Things just get a bit convoluted. Anyway, this time Pozzo is blind, Lucky is dumb and on the verge of death, and once again, Godot does not show at the end (shocker I know).
Also, there are a good number of biblical references throughout this play. From my reading, I think the unseen Godot is supposed to be a representation of God because nobody knows what he looks like and he never shows up. The characters talk about how Godot has the ability to punish them if they leave. Essentially their waiting is futile, but Vladimir, Estragon, and to some degree, Pozzo feel drawn to the spot and have difficulty leaving. This whole thing made me think, "What is the point?" I think it’s ironic that I read this during Lent.
TLDR: I never want to experience this again, and I would not recommend picking this up unless you enjoy causing yourself pain.
Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett is a play where not much happens, and it is infuriating. I hated this work, and the time it took me to read it is time I will never get back. The entire dialogue is very stream of consciousness, making the conversations disjointed and hard to follow. It gives Gertrude Stein vibes, which I’m not a fan of. I’m not going to even bother with writing a spoiler-free review because I just have a lot to say, and I don’t want to take the mental energy to decide what is a spoiler.
Spoilers ahead, tread with caution:
Act 2 is almost a repeat of Act 1 taking place the next day with minor variations on the theme. Vladimir is the only one who seems to remember the previous day. If it was a different medium, I would just say that Vladimir is an unreliable narrator, but since it is a play and there is an audience witnessing this whole thing, so theoretically you’d know if it was really all real. Things just get a bit convoluted. Anyway, this time Pozzo is blind, Lucky is dumb and on the verge of death, and once again, Godot does not show at the end (shocker I know).
Also, there are a good number of biblical references throughout this play. From my reading, I think the unseen Godot is supposed to be a representation of God because nobody knows what he looks like and he never shows up. The characters talk about how Godot has the ability to punish them if they leave. Essentially their waiting is futile, but Vladimir, Estragon, and to some degree, Pozzo feel drawn to the spot and have difficulty leaving. This whole thing made me think, "What is the point?" I think it’s ironic that I read this during Lent.
TLDR: I never want to experience this again, and I would not recommend picking this up unless you enjoy causing yourself pain.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Cursing
kydnmthws's review against another edition
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery
Minor: Violence
letiross's review against another edition
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
Moderate: Suicide, Death, and Ableism
racheltrow_'s review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Violence
jakepasseri's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Horribly boring and difficult but the dark humour was good. Seeing this performed would probably be much better than just reading the play.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Suicide
axeles's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
easily my favourite play. always gets to me
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery
Moderate: Violence
imrereads's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
4.0
The first time I read this I was when I was in the drama program in school at around 17, and I remember it as endless and confusing, interesting and thought provocing, but ultimately it primarily went over my head. I think I owe this play my interest in absurdism though. This is pretty nuch where it started!
I reread it now, at 27, and I still find it confusing and hard to grasp, but still so thought provocing. At it's core it's an absurdist comment on the meaningless of existence, but we also have the importance of the friendship between Vladimir and Estragon. I feel like those two points are the opposites that make the play what it is.
I reread it now, at 27, and I still find it confusing and hard to grasp, but still so thought provocing. At it's core it's an absurdist comment on the meaningless of existence, but we also have the importance of the friendship between Vladimir and Estragon. I feel like those two points are the opposites that make the play what it is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
dovewrites's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“Didi?” “Yes?” “I can’t go on like this.” “That’s what you think.” Idc what anyone says I’m fully convinced that Beckett is not actually a nihilist or that the way we approach nilihism is flawed in some way. I have not academically studied philosophy nor am I a psychologist so everything from here on out is just a laymen’s opinion. To me this play blurs the lines between nihilism and absurdism. I also think this book exemplifies a trauma response called “learned helplessness.” The stuck feeling of the setting, the fact that neither Vladimir or Estragon seem to be capable of deciding what they should do - all reminds me of that trauma response. Their relationship is so interesting to me, and I think there is meaning in this story, it can be found between these two characters. I find myself constantly going back to my copy to reread certain passages of dialogue. It’s funny and sad and weird and I loved it. I wish Beckett was alive so I could grill him about this play!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Violence
malarki's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence and Slavery
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