Proceedings of the 15th International Academic Conference, Rome

PANOPTIC GAZE IN “WAITING FOR GODOT”

MURAT GÖLGELI

Abstract:

The play “Waiting for Godot” initially reflects the theme of human suffering with its marvelously created characters. The suffering of mankind as it is reflected in the play has been continuous from the existence. Two of the characters, Estragon and Vladimir, from the very beginning of the play, appear as if they are stuck in a certain place and the behaviors of these two give some clues that they are being trapped in this nowhere land during the process of waiting someone called “Godot”. The waiting process of these two in some sense may reflect the suffering of mankind. They believe that when Godot comes, their boredom of life would be ended and they also think that this Godot would save them from the chaos which they live in and regenerate the social order and their status. In the play the suffering as an inevitable part of human existence is emphasized and these sufferings are stressed through the lines and the actions of the characters. Waiting meaninglessly, helplessness and meaningless of lives, fear of death and God, the meaningless attitudes in relationships can exemplify the sufferings of the characters in the play. However, the miserable, poor and unfortunate position of the characters under the dominant power of Godot can be considered as the most important suffering behaviors in the play. From the behaviors of the characters in the play it can be said that Godot is a powerful and all seeing figure. This paper aims to discuss the dominant figure of “Godot,” as a powerful institute over human beings in relation with Michel Foucault’s idea of Panopticism.

Keywords: Panopticism, Michel Foucault, Godot,

DOI: 10.20472/IAC.2015.015.059

PDF: Download