Drama 2 paper 2009

[rashidiqbal]

Actually i want to discuss a question's logical meaning in drama2-2009.



Question: What is the significance of the song in Act 2 in "Waiting for Godot"?

Please elaborate the literal or symbolic meaning of this question if someone has studied "Waiting for Godot"?

Thanks.

[shahid the poet]

song sung by Vladimir in act 2 is actually symbolic. It is related to human condition. Vladimir sings about a dog, a cook, death and tomb. When ever he reaches at tomb he could not sing further. He tries three time but could not surpass that point which shows the invitable condition of human being. Total some of uor life is death and a heap of rubish that is grave. Same thing is later in the play when Pozzo says,"They give birth astride of agrave, the light gleams an instant, then it's night once more". then same words are spoken by Vladimir,"Astride of a grave and a difficult birth".
There are silences during his song.In the silences there surfaces a desperate realisation that existence is a ritual without end: the dog's brief, doomed existence immortalised in the song; the brief, doomed existence of humanity immortalised on the stage.

[shahid the poet]

A dog came in the kitchen
And stole a crust of bread.
Then cook up with a ladle
And beat him till he was dead.

Then all the dogs came running
And dug the dog a tomb -
[He stops, broods, resumes.]

Then all the dogs came running
And dug the dog a tomb
And wrote upon the tombstone
For the eyes of dogs to come:

A dog came in the kitchen
And stole a crust of bread.
Then cook up with a ladle
And beat him till he was dead.


Then all the dogs came running
And dug the dog a tomb -
[He stops, broods, resumes.]


Then all the dogs came running
And dug the dog a tomb -
[He stops, broods. Softly.]

And dug the dog a tomb ...

[He remains a moment silent and motionless, then begins to move feverishly about the stage ...]



In the silences there surfaces a desperate realisation that existence is a ritual without end: the dog's brief, doomed existence immortalised in the song; the brief, doomed existence of humanity immortalised on the stage.

[rashidiqbal]

Dear Brother,

Thanks for precious remarks but i solved this question in exam from a different point of view that is creating conflict in me either that approach i right one or not.
I started this Question by depicting the synopsis of that song by Vladimir then i turned the attention of this song to the overall absurdity of life, meaninglessness of human existence and even elaborated the irrationality depicted in whole play i.e; no plot, no specific place, ambiguous religious&political imagery and no specific characters from Beckett's point of view or according to his philosophy of life.

So am i right in solving this question from this point of view or can i get some marks as i m very much desperated about my attempt?

[shahid the poet]

only thing that relates this song with the story is that in both 'story and song' one thing is common that is human life has no purpose. Martin Esslin, who used the turm absurd for first time, says that the number of people for whom God is dead has greatly increased in the present century. The theater of the Absurd is one of the ways of facing up to a universe that has lost its meaning and purpose. So the purposelessness is the right meaning of the song. If you wrote in this sense than I hope you will be able to get good marks. So don't worry beause whether your answer is to the point or not now its useless to be worried. So be possitive and happy.

[rashidiqbal]

dear fellow i really thankful to ur precious words regarding my confusion and now i am satasfied bcoz i solved the Q in the fashion and spirit of purposelessness and meaninglessness of this world and also added Martin Esslin's remarks in the Q.

Dear may i know about u? Have u done ur M.A English?

With Regards.
Rashid Iqbal.

[shahid the poet]

Brother Rashid Iqbal,
I'm a student and here on this forum I'm as a helper for all those who want to prepare for M.A. English from Punjab Univerity.