ABSURDITY AND THE UNMASKING OF MEANING: EXISTENTIAL AWAKENING IN BECKETT’S WAITING FOR GODOT
In the desolate landscape of Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot, absurdity emerges as the catalyst for existential awakening, stripping the veneer of societal constructs to reveal the naked truth of human existence. Through Vladimir and Estragon's futile wait, Beckett exposes the inherent meaninglessness of life, forcing characters to confront the abyss of uncertainty. This confrontation with absurdity sparks an existential crisis, compelling them to create their own meaning in a seemingly indifferent universe. As the play's bleak humor and cyclical inaction underscore the futility of seeking external validation, Beckett's masterpiece becomes a powerful testament to the human condition's resilience and capacity for self-defined purpose.
Keywords: Absurdism, Existentialism, Beckett, Meaninglessness, Awakening, Human Condition