What is the nickname Estragon uses for Vladimir in "Waiting for Godot"?
AGogo
BDidi
CAlbert
DEstragon
Answer:
B. Didi
Read Explanation:
Waiting for Godot - Key Information
- Waiting for Godot is an iconic play by the Irish playwright Samuel Beckett.
- It is a seminal work in the genre of Theatre of the Absurd.
- The play was originally written in French as En attendant Godot and premiered in 1953 in Paris, before Beckett himself translated it into English.
- It consists of two acts and features two main characters, Vladimir and Estragon, who wait endlessly and futilely for the arrival of someone named Godot.
Characters and Their Nicknames
- The relationship between Vladimir (often called Didi) and Estragon (often called Gogo) is central to the play.
- Their nicknames, Didi and Gogo, highlight their childlike dependency on each other and their simple, almost primal, bond amidst the existential void.
- Vladimir is generally perceived as the more rational, perhaps even intellectual, of the two, often trying to remember past events and make sense of their predicament.
- Estragon is more focused on physical discomfort, hunger, and sleep, often forgetting things quickly.
- The use of nicknames underscores the intimate and long-standing nature of their relationship, despite their constant bickering and occasional thoughts of separation.
Significance in Competitive Exams
- Knowledge of key characters and their relationships (including nicknames) is frequently tested in literature exams.
- Understanding the core themes of Waiting for Godot, such as existentialism, the meaninglessness of life, waiting, and human companionship, is crucial.
- Samuel Beckett was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1969, largely for his body of work which includes Waiting for Godot.
- The play's structure, lack of traditional plot, and repetitive dialogue are hallmarks of the Theatre of the Absurd movement.
- Other notable works by Beckett include Endgame, Krapp's Last Tape, and Happy Days.