Az Eszterházy Károly Tanárképző Főiskola Tudományos Közleményei. 2004. Vol. 4. Eger Journal of English Studies. (Acta Academiae Paedagogicae Agriensis : Nova series ; Tom. 30)

TIBOR TÓTH Beckett and the Poetics of the Absurd

Beckett and the Poetics of the Absurd 37 Esttagon: What do you expect, you always wait till the last moment. Vladimir: (musingly). The last moment. .. (He meditates.) Hope deferred maketh the something sick, who said that? Estragon: Why don't you help me?

3 The reference to Proverbs

, 13:12—namely, "Hopes deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is, it is a tree of life"

—is created through the archaic discourse, placed in Vladimir's amnesiac discourse. The 'mask' employed at this point is intriguing. Vladimir is trying to remember something that might have a meaning, and might teach him whether taking off one's shoes makes sense or it does not, and whether waiting, hoping for help, perhaps helping makes any sense at all. Estragon's belated "Nothing" is a kind of an answer to the given situation and the underlying dilemma, or following the logic of the situation to neither of the two dilemmas. Vladimir's omission of 'heart' and 'tree' calls our attention to their respective un-revealed, 'avoided' symbolic meanings in relation to life (viz. heart-life and emotion, tree-symbol of life and desire). Critics speak of Godot's trees rather than tree, because the tree is referred to as a gallowstree and an object of exaltation, but not to be trusted: Vladimir: It's for the kidneys. (Silence. Estragon looks attentively at the tree.) What do we do now? Estragon: Wait. Vladimir: Yes, but while waiting. Estragon: What about hanging ourselves. Vladimir: Hmm. It'd give us an erection! Estragon: (highly excited). An erection! Vladimir: With all that follows. Where it falls mandrakes grow. That's why they shriek when you pull them up. Did you not know that? Estragon: Let's hang ourselves immediately! Vladimir: From a bough? (They go towards the tree.) I wouldn't trust it. (WG

t 17) Later Estragon refers to the gallows-tree as object of desire saying "Pity we haven't got a bit of rope" (53); then the gallows-tree seems to be unattainable: Estragon: (looking at the tree). What is it? Vladimir: It's a tree. Estragon: Yes, but what kind? Vladimir: I don't know. A willow. (Estragon draws Valdimir towards the tree. They stand motionless before it. Silence.) Estragon: Why don't we hang ourselves? Vladimir: With what?