Question

What does Estragon compare himself to, prompting a scolding from Vladimir in "Waiting for Godot"?

• A. A king
• B. An animal
• C. Jesus Christ
• D. A beggar

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Jesus Christ

Context of Estragon's Comparison in "Waiting for Godot"

• In Samuel Beckett's absurdist play, Waiting for Godot, Estragon and Vladimir are two tramps who endlessly wait for a mysterious character named Godot, engaging in various conversations and activities to pass the time.
• The particular scene occurs in Act I when Estragon, suffering from physical pain (especially his feet), tries to remove his boot.
• He struggles, complaining bitterly about his pain and suffering. This suffering often leads him to existential reflections and comparisons.

Estragon's Comparison to Jesus Christ

• Estragon, while lamenting his pain and the suffering he endures, exclaims: "I'm like Christ!" or words to that effect, drawing a direct parallel between his own physical agony and the suffering of Jesus during the crucifixion.
• He even points to his struggling with his boot, equating it symbolically with the difficulty of Christ's passion or the nails in his feet.
• This comparison highlights Estragon's feeling of immense, undeserved suffering, which he perceives as being on a cosmic scale, similar to the ultimate sacrifice.

Vladimir's Scolding and Its Significance

• Vladimir, often the more rational and grounded of the two, immediately scolds Estragon for this comparison. His reaction is multi-layered:
  • Blasphemy: For a religious or culturally sensitive individual, comparing one's trivial suffering (like struggling with a boot) to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ can be seen as blasphemous or sacrilegious.
  • Trivialization of Suffering: Vladimir likely finds Estragon's comparison melodramatic and an inappropriate trivialization of a profoundly significant religious event.
  • Absurdity vs. Seriousness: While the play is absurdist, Vladimir often tries to maintain a semblance of order or seriousness amidst their chaotic existence. Estragon's outlandish claim disrupts this.
  • Despair and Manipulation: Vladimir might also see it as Estragon's way of wallowing in self-pity or trying to elicit sympathy through an exaggerated claim.
• Vladimir's scolding serves to highlight the characters' differing approaches to their suffering and their differing views on religion and meaning in their desolate world.

Competitive Exam Relevant Facts about "Waiting for Godot"

• Author: Samuel Beckett (Irish playwright, novelist, and poet).
• Genre: Absurdist drama, tragicomedy.
• Original Language: French (En attendant Godot), written in 1949, first performed in 1953.
• English Translation: Beckett himself translated it into English.
• Key Themes: The meaninglessness of life, existentialism, hope and despair, the passage of time, companionship, routine, and the human condition.
• Literary Movement: Theatre of the Absurd.
• Nobel Prize: Samuel Beckett was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1969, largely for his body of work which included this seminal play.
• Structure: The play is divided into two acts, with parallel events and dialogues, emphasizing the cyclical and repetitive nature of their existence.