AP Literature is Depressing.

So far, AP Literature has been a truly depressing class, perhaps rightfully so. Plays like Othello and Waiting for Godot reveal many unsavory truths about mankind. We are a jealous, savage, purposeless, bored, worthless bunch. That is not a sentiment that incurs much faith for the future of humanity. There have been many lively discussions about each of the works we read and each one gave me something new to think about. Often though, these discussions led me to the conclusion that humanity is terrible, has always been terrible, and there is not much hope for the future. Learning about Transcendentalism was the exception. That taught me to "suck out all the marrow of life" but nihilism taught me that we cannot know anything and that everything is meaningless. Overall my outlook on life is much dimmer now than it was at the beginning of the year, but the jury is still out on whether or not this is a good thing. Through reading and discussions I discovered many new ways to look at life, and many hidden truths about human nature and purpose. If these things are true, whether or not they make me happy, this was a valuable class and my knowledge has been greatly broadened.

Existentialism, Nihilism, and Absurdity

Existentialism:

Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot is full of fast-paced dialogue but in all that wordiness, the characters do not actually say much. Existentialism is an analysis of human existence and how individuals, through acts of will, are ultimately responsible for their own development. It has also been said that existentialism is "thinking about existence." This aspect of the philosophy especially relates to Waiting for Godot. The characters talk incessantly but without saying anything of real substance. By constantly talking about absurd things or in a confusing manner, they are freed from their thoughts and they do not have to think about their existence or make any real decisions in their lives.

[Long silence.]

Vladimir: Say something!

Estragon: I'm trying.

[Long silence.]

Vladimir: [in anguish] Say anything at all!

Estragon: What do we do now?

Vladimir: Wait for Godot.

Estragon: Ah!

[Silence]

Estragon: This is awful! (Waiting for Godot act II)

Silences play an important role in the play. The characters seem to fear silence because it would force them to think about their life, their position, their actions, and their existence. The characters try to avoid existential thinking but through this, Beckett is able to make a powerful statement about human existence and its futility.

Nihilism:

Waiting for Godot drips of nihilistic philosophies and undertones. Nihilism states that nothing can be known, everything is meaningless and that nothing can be believed in. Beckett especially emphasizes that nothing can be known in Waiting for Godot. Vladimir and Estragon do not know anything. They do not know what day it is, what time it is, or what they did the day before. They do not know if events really happened or if they were a dream. They do not know what Godot looks like. They do not know if the road with the tree is the right place to meet him. Estragon seems the be even more confused than Vladimir and does not believe him.

Vladimir: The tree, look at the tree.
[Estragon looks at the tree.]
Estragon: Was it not there yesterday?
Vladimir: Yes of course it was there. Do you not remember? We nearly hanged ourselves from it. But you wouldn’t. Do you not remember?
Estragon: You dreamt it. (Waiting for Godot act II)

Vladimir and Estragon are unreliable and make the audience question what is real and if any of these events are actually happening. They do not seem to have a purpose. They do nothing. They say nothing substantial. Nothing changes in their world and they do not ever do anything. They are inactive, skeptical, and know nothing. They are nihilists whether they chose to be or if their situation forced it upon them.

Absurdity:

Waiting for Godot is a truly absurd work of literature. The dialogue and story-line are unique to say the least. The made up words and crazy characters add to the confusion. Waiting for Godot pioneered the "Theatre of the Absurd" genre. It is characterized not by rigid constructs and logical argument but by irrational thought and illogical speeches.

"I resume but not so fast I resume the skull fading fading fading and concurrently simultaneously what is more for reasons unknown in spite of the tennis on on the beard the flames the tears the stones so blue so calm alas alas on on the skull the skull the skull" (Waiting for Godot act II)

The first time the character Lucky speaks in the entire play is to utter a long speech like the except above. It is illogical and full of repeated nonsense. It is truly absurd. Through all of this confusion though, there is sense of beauty and truth to what Beckett is trying to say. What is Beckett trying to say? No one knows. There are many theories and interpretations of the play but he crafted it in such a way that it does not fit any one mold perfectly. It is not just a nihilistic play. It is not just a Christian allegory. It is the absurdity of the play that keeps it from being interpreted in one set way.

What are you waiting for?

Waiting for Godot is a thoroughly bizarre play. The fast-paced dialogue and strange characters seem to be completely absurd but in actuality the play is relatable. It asks the audience some truly great questions about humanity, society and even their personal lives. On the surface, many may see this play as a Christian allegory  and that Vladimir and Estragon represent all of humanity in our fruitless plight waiting for God to come save us. There may be some merit to this comparison and that may be one of the societal concerns that the play represents but there is so much more. One of the things that I take from this play is an overwhelming attitude that nothing we do or say really matters. This nihilistic message reflects a latent fear of all humans that they are truly insignificant. Many people would not be willing to admit that this fear exists, or they do not agree that they share this fear. Waiting for Godot also represents that we are all waiting for something. We don't always know what. We don't know if it will come. Sometimes we may even be scared that we actually might get what we want because that will bring changes and force us to do something new. There are so many human flaws, quirks, and idiosyncrasies that this play forces us to confront, even own up to.

What is Water?

One of my biggest fears in life is being unoriginal. I live under the constant awareness that probably every thought I have ever had, someone else has already had. It could have been yesterday or two years ago or a thousand years ago. It doesn't matter when, it just matters that my every thought or witty quip or action has probably already been done and that other person probably did it better, or had a better sense of comedic timing. David Foster Wallace hit this fear right on the nose in his speech and made my fear even more real and likely. I do not want to go through life live millions of other people are going through life at the same time all around the world. We are not all unique in our thinking and even if the thoughts themselves differ, the way we think or our "Default Setting" is practically the same. And that is what I want to fight against. I know that is a problem, one that I want to avoid at all costs. I want to be able to think for myself, use what I have been given to live a life that no one else has ever lived before. The key to this is all in the way we think and how we want to see the world. I want to see the world in a new light. I don't know everything, I never will, and I want to accept that and turn off my automatic negative reaction to most things. I want to be an original.

The Human Condition

“The Human Condition” is the subject of all literature. It has never been fully covered in all of those writings and will never be fully covered in centuries more. I cannot be fully explained or examined because it means something different to every person. To me it is, at any point in time, what it means to be human to a particular group of people. Their thoughts, dreams and actions. How they judge their worth. What it means to be a man or a women. What they think will make them happy and why they will never attain that elusive goal. The Human Condition encompasses everything that makes a human what we are. In light of that, I think that “Waiting For Godot” will be about what these particular characters think will make them happy and fulfill their lives and how they will never get it. It is in human nature to want more, always want what we don’t have and can never have. Once we do have what we thought we wanted there is always more. We are all waiting for something. Something that will never come. 

Clybourne Park by Bruce Norris

Clybourne Park left more questions than answers. In terms of action, it is considerable lacking. The first act merely consists of a lively discussion in the house in 1959. The second act consists of a meeting in that same house in 1959. A lot is packed into those two acts but when looked at as a whole, not much really happens. In a play like this, with little action, the emphasis is placed on the characters and dialogue. The dialogue in this play is crucial, but what is not said may be even more important. The racial issues introduced in the first act remain throughout the entire play but as it progresses, other minorities are brought under fire. By the end of the play nearly every group in society has been attacked in some way or another. By criticizing everyone, Norris unites his audience.

Much of the language in the play is crude and the vulgar jokes play a key role. While many people were shocked and appalled at some of the slurs that were lobbed, they were truly necessary to the play. They were not said to get a laugh or simply to shock for the sake of  the impact it will have. The jokes were supposed to make the audience feel a little uncomfortable. To allow them to have an initial reaction and then force them to question their own values afterwards. Why did you laugh at that joke? On some level do you think it is true or acceptable? Norris tries to make the audience think about how racial issues pertain to them personally, not about racism in general or in the 1950s or how it has changed. For the most part, he was successful in turning the critical lens on his audience and forcing them to question themselves.