Question

Estragon remembers what from the Bible, instead of the stories, in "Waiting for Godot"?

• A. The psalms
• B. The colored maps of the Holy Land
• C. The Ten Commandments
• D. The story of the Good Samaritan

Answer 1

Answer:

B. The colored maps of the Holy Land

Waiting for Godot and its Absurdist Themes

• Playwright: Waiting for Godot was written by Samuel Beckett, an Irish novelist, playwright, short story writer, theatre director, and poet. He was a key figure in the Theatre of the Absurd.
• Genre: The play is a seminal work of the Theatre of the Absurd, a theatrical movement that emerged in the 1950s. This genre typically explores the meaninglessness of human existence, the breakdown of communication, and the futility of human efforts.
• Setting and Plot: The play features two tramps, Vladimir (Didi) and Estragon (Gogo), who spend their days waiting endlessly for a mysterious figure named Godot who never arrives. This waiting represents the human condition of searching for meaning or purpose in a world that offers none.
• Themes: Key themes include existentialism, the absurdity of life, the search for meaning, the passage of time, suffering, companionship, and the unreliable nature of memory.

Estragon's Memory and the Bible

• Character of Estragon: Estragon is often portrayed as the more physical and less intellectual of the two tramps. He is frequently hungry, tired, and focused on his physical ailments (like his boots). His memory is typically poor and unreliable.
• The Bible Reference: In the play, when Vladimir tries to recall stories from the Bible, Estragon interrupts him, stating that he remembers not the parables or teachings, but specifically the colored maps of the Holy Land found within the Bible.
• Symbolism of the Maps: This particular detail highlights Estragon's pragmatic, almost childlike engagement with a sacred text. It suggests a focus on the tangible, visual, and superficial aspects rather than the deeper spiritual, moral, or intellectual content. It underscores his detachment from conventional sources of meaning or salvation.
• Contrast with Traditional Belief: The remembrance of maps instead of stories also serves to subtly mock or critique traditional religious frameworks, implying that for these characters, even faith offers no real comfort or understanding, only mundane, visual details. It contributes to the play's overall theme of disillusionment and the absence of definitive answers.

Competitive Exam Facts

• Nobel Prize: Samuel Beckett was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1969 for his writing, which, according to the Swedish Academy, "for his new forms for the novel and drama—in which the destitution of modern man acquires its elevation."
• First Performance: Waiting for Godot (original French title: En attendant Godot) was first performed in Paris in 1953. Its English translation premiered in London in 1955.
• Other Notable Works by Beckett: Include Endgame, Krapp's Last Tape, and the novels Molloy, Malone Dies, and The Unnamable (collectively known as "The Trilogy").
• Impact: The play revolutionized modern drama and is often cited as one of the most important plays of the 20th century, profoundly influencing subsequent playwrights and theatrical movements.