Sense of an Ending by Julian Barne

 

Sense of an Ending by Julian Barne

Sense of an Ending is a Man Booker Prize (2011) winner text by Julian Barnes. The novel is comparatively shorter, but has unique philosophical depth to think.

The novel centre arounds the Tony Webster - narrator, who is in his 60s, and recreates past about his school days, girlfriend Veronica, and friend Adrian through his memory.The book is divided into two segments, the first part is entirely his memory narrative. The same incidents are narrated again in second part with DOCUMENTS. and surprising thing is that what Documents says is quite opposite from his story told by memory- example is Tony's Letter written to Adrian and Veronica. so, it will open new discourse on memory- that how far can we rely on memory?? it opens up the gate to deconstruct many narratives that are based on memory. Tony turnes out as unreliable narrator.

Apart from memory novel also critically ponders upon History & Documentation, as well as Existentialism- Concept of Suicide (philosophically).

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

Lets begin the discussion with the question that why do we need to discuss Feminist discourse time and again?  Lets illustrate it with an example that "Man would be proud to call himself wizard, but will women be proud in calling her witch? definitely not. Because there is something wrong in the structure and language of society. obviously it is patriarchal. we tend to see everything in binaries.Where one automatically comes into dominating power position and Other is labled as "Lack", something that they doesn't have.

And to uncover, unearth this binaries we will require counter discourse which is obviously our point of discussion Feminist reading of Hermione's character.

When we judge any character we've to keep in mind with whom we are comparing? If we compare Hermione with Ophelia(Hemlet) or Hester Prynne (The Scarlet Letter) then definitely Hermione is far better female character. And we can also derive the conclusion that day by day the role and place of female in society as well as in literature also.She is very intelligent girl from childhood and beats boys also in learning magic tricks, which proves her a fast learner.And that's why in Deathly Hallows part Ron says to Harry that without Hermione they cant survive a day or two. Ron says but don't tell this to Hermione.  they admire Hermione's knowledge and strength as a great witch. so it looks very good . But is it so? Is there really no problem with the portrayal of Hermione?

Yes, there is problem. She is used as a OBJECT for the rivalry between Ron and Harry. This OBJECTIFICATION is problematic. Writer could have use something else for rivalry between two friends.

More than that 'Padma' and 'Parvati'- Patil sisters and 'Cho' are also Used as object, nothing else.

another thing is that All the intellectual talk happens between Harry and Dumbledore. why Hermione is not part of that? if she is really intellectual character then why she is absent from the scene? Other charge can be that "How many Horcruxes were really destroyed by Hermione? Unluckily, the answer is not favorable.

Because somehow it is deep rooted in our Psyche that women are always weaker than men.

But perhaps surrounded by Patriarchal structure Rowling can't do that. Some how she is also a subject. Imagine what would have been happen if Hermione will be protagonist, not harry??Then perhaps the series won't be as popular as it is. Only female protagonist will not work for sure. So even Rowling wish she cant do that.

So, after deeply pondering these points one can conclude that Strength of Hermione's character is superficial and surfacial only. If we dig deeper then Hermione fails as a strong character(compare to Harry).

2)      Discourse on the purity of Blood and

Harry Potter: How do the novels play with the

thesis of pure blood (Master Race) giving an

anti-thesis by belonging protagonists to half-

blood / Mud-blood? What sort of synthesis is

sought in this discourse in Harry Potter series?

Concept of purity of blood (race) is very much present in the Harry Potter. Establishing social order by master race is not a new idea. Killing other as inferior race is very prominent in the history.

Now the point is that what is attacked by J.K. Rowling in the Harry Potter? And what she finally wants to establish as a conclusion by the thesis- antithesis on race?

Protagonist- Harry Potter and Hermione Granger are  Mud -blood. Ron Weasley is a pure blood. Draco Malfoy is also pure blood. Where as evil Voldemort is Mud Blood but craving for pure blood.

Rowling SUBVERTS the entire narrative by making protagonists who are mud bloods. And important thing is that they are equally or sometimes more powerful in magic than Pure blood. so, definitely it leads us to think that what should be criteria to judge the people - Race/ blood or merit?.

At the same time we have to keep in mind that Rowling is not despising Pure blood. Voldemort is evil and he is also mud blood. if writer make Voldemort as a pure blood, then definitely it is problematic.Witches and wizards consider themselves superior than non-magic people or non-human species like elves and giants. This act again shows racism working within the magical world. 

It is a satire on Voldemort kind of people that idea of superior race is dangerous/ harmful.  recent History has proved us that how dangerous it is.

many times reference comes in the novel they how pure blood were insulting mud bloods as inferior. And if we hear this kind of dialogue even today in and around us, then we've to be double careful.

5)      The discourse of Power and Politics in

Harry Potter: How does Ministry of Magic

control the resistance? How do they prosecute

the ‘Other’?

It will be interesting if we bring in Michel Foucault's view regarding Power, knowledge and Politics.According to Foucault Knowledge is created by those who are in power position about Other. For Foucault, power and knowledge are created by discourse. Truth, morality and meaning reside within discourse,

Where is the politics in the novel? The answer is that ministry of magic is  the law making body in the wizarding world. The information about Hogward or magical world is kept secret from the non magical people. It is also controlled that one should not strictly do magic in front of muggles outside the Hogward. and if one does then they are punished. This control and punishment itself are the sufficient example of power and politics in Hogward.

Lets quote Foucalt's views abut power......

In his “History of Sexuality” Foucault approaches the concept of power in this manner:

“ power is everywhere, not because it embraces everything but because it comes from everywhere. And power insofar is repetitious, inert and self-reproducing…power is not an institution, not a structure; neither is it a certain strength we are endowed with it; it is the name of a complex strategical situation in a particular society.”   

   

We can also apply Althusser's concept of ISA- ideological State Apparatus, Where Ministry of Magic functioning as a ISA.  they defy rules to gain knowledge. At the same Other (Students) those who are not in power position they are constantly under SURVEILLANCE. There are always two - one who Sees and other are being seen.(The kind of  phobia of constantly seen by somebody CCTV as shown in 1984 by George Orwell is also present here)  but one is trapped in this ideology. of one wants to get real/ true knowledge then they've to break the rules.

The specific function of a school means that essentially a power structure. Starting from the headmaster, professors, students and finally servants- Hogwarts presents a HIERARCHICAL POWER STRUCTURES  Students are split up in houses and each house has a common room that is accessed through a secret password. In order to navigate the school the students must be aware of the rules, the signs and symbols that regulate life. Harry Potter manages to defy these rules by gaining knowledge of the castle’s secret passages from the maradaurer’s map.

The White Tiger novel by Aravind Adiga

The White Tiger novel by Aravind Adiga

How far do you agree with the India

represented in the novel The White Tiger?

The White Tiger is a Man Booker Prize winning text by Arvind Adiga. The novel is both- praised and criticized. Praised because of its literary quality and criticized for ruthless portrayal of India.

Now the question is that at what extent we can believe in whatever said in  the text?? So the answer is at large extent anybody will agree that whatever written is real, it has grains of truth.

One of the advantages of studying text like The White Tiger is that, it is set in Indian background. We all are born and brought up here. So, whatever incidents are narrated in the novel, some of them may be experienced by each and every individual in his/ her personal life. For example...

→ Corruption in politics, police & education, pollution, prostitution, Hit & run, failure of governmental institution, Rich V/s poor conflict, tragic life of workers like rickshaw pullers, drivers, sweepers etc, Globalization and changing morality, two sides of India-Darkness and Light  etc.

 There is not a single object left out by Adiga. Whatever has come to his way, he has bluntly criticized it. Balram's  story is  a tale of bribery, corruption, skulduggery, toxic traffic jams, theft and murder.

While studying The Waste Land, there was a line "The Waste Land is a collage of several Images"; so I must say "The White Tiger is a collage of several experiences".

From the beginning Balram satirizes various institutions of India. He says ....."And our nation, though it has no drinking water, electricity, sewage system, public transportation, sense of hygiene, discipline, courtesy or punctuality, does have entrepreneurs."(P-4)

Here in school teachers are selling uniform of students given by government. Why teachers do this?? Because govt. don’t pay them their salary on time.

The similar thing happens with hospitals also that there is no doctor in hospital; he is in his own clinic. He can run clinic by bribing officers.

I may not believe the representation of India, unless if it is proved. The major incident in novel takes place in Delhi - capital of India. While working as a driver Balram many times refers to traffic jam and air pollution. Is it true? Do we have any scientific proof proving it as truth?

In last Nov-Dec (2015), there was a summit about climate change in France. According to agency's report, most 150 polluted cities were identified from all over the world. 15 cities of India were also mentioned there, and surprisingly Delhi was top in list. This report came in 2015, but this problem discussed much earlier novel in 2008.

Right now Odd & Even formula started by Delhi govt. to control traffic and pollution. This step also proves narrative as right.

Chetan Bhagat ONe@TCC

Chetan Bhagat ON@TCC

(1) Contemporary issues in on@tcc:

From the beginning we are discussing the nature and function of literature. What is literature and what does literature do?Literature is not just imaginative stories written in leisure time only for entertainment. But it is reflection of time, place and society in which we are living. Literature is mirror or photographic image of society. Equally literature is also an X ray image portraying ugly, darker sides of society.

Similarly this novel also throws light on the contemporary issues of present society. All six major characters have their own problems in their personal life. Actually, they are not just imaginative characters, but they are mouthpiece or representative of majority of Indians.

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Call center  is a place which unites all the six major characters. Bhagat calls Call centers  as a Soul destroying, air conditioned sweatshops. Most of people were considering it as a great help in boosting our economy. It gives new job opportunities to young people with handsome amount of salary.

But nobody was able to see the under current damage it does. This is the most productive and educated young generation of India. India was never so young before. But this young generation has to work according to American clock, have to talk in American accents and have to change even names also. For example Varun - Vroom, Shyam- Sam, etc.How painful it is to lose identity of one's own for the sake of others or job!!!!!. This is the newer form of slavery and colonization.(Slavery was never abolished; it is just changed to include everyone.-New work culture in office).

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And more than that they condition the mind of youth by Ads. what does it mean to be young ?Being youth means  to eat pizza, to drink Coca-Cola, view item songs only. This conditioning is done to majority of people.

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Apart from this other issues are also beautifully touched upon like... Love/ arranged marriage, breakup & patch up, Bossism, exploitation in modeling or other sectors, OLD MORALITY- NEW MORALITY, family values, constant fight of parents and its effect on children, low self esteem, emotional blackmailing, hire & fire work culture, anti- American sentiments and many more......

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Anti- American sentiments are very strong in this novel. Bhagat through character of Vroom criticizes american policy. American DREAM is just myth. they are not happiest people. He also criticizes war mongering habit of america. those who fight a lot they are the most fearful people. vroom says  Americans suck the life blood out of our country’s most productive generation 

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 ‘a thirty-five-year-old American’s brain and IQ is the same as a ten-years-old Indian’s brain. This will help you understand your clients. You need to be as patient as you are when dealing with a child. Americans are dumb, just accept it. this quote explains strong anti American sentiments.

2. Can you justify this observation?

“Bhagat's tone is pitch-perfect, hisObserver’s eye keenly focused on nuanceand detail. Verisimilitude is all: The firsttwo thirds of the novel evokes, indeedreproduces, the way the young callCenter workers think, talk, eat, and drink,Dress, date and behave.” (Tharoor).

Yes, it is quite true observation depicted in the novel of young people in the novel. Vroom complains about America and its negative effect on Indians. He also criticizes call centers. At that time someone says that if this is what happens then why don’t you leave the job. But he replies that I can’t, because I also want to live the way my other friends live. And for that he requires money.

“Bhagat has a talent for tapping into the zeitgeist; that he is not much older than the people he writes about makes him a particularly credible portrayal  of their world.”(Tharoor). 

☆ zeitgeist =¤The spirit of the age; the taste, outlook, and spirit /characteristic of a period.

¤spiritus mundi   
temper of the times

It is interesting observation by Shashi Tharoor that this is what "New" India is. Generally YOUTH hadn’t found enough space in past, especially in Indian writing in English. But Chetan Bhagat is able to catch the spirit of the age. This is what we find happening in and around world. The way youngsters live, eat, talk, drink, behave, spend money is brilliantly capture here. In DRYDEN's word it is JUST & LIVELY IMAGE of contemporary India.


Had Bhagat’s vision been shallow, he wouldn’t’t have been able to see “call-centers as soul- destroying sweatshop, soaking up the energies of young Indians who could be doing better for themselves and their country”. 

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 Chetan Bhagat with this observation has captured the skeleton image of the undercurrents in the society

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Many people criticize Bhagat's novels as simple, childish things without philosophical depth and keen observation. Though book is written in simple diction, it is not good idea to neglect its importance. It does present the skeleton image or undercurrent of society. It is a kind of reality which may gave shock to many people. Because working in call centers makes them submissive. Why they have to speak in American accents only?? Because if this people identifies them as Indians, then they may abuse Indians. Even if they abuse this people has to speak in decent language. This creates huge Psychological damage/ impact on the minds of the youngsters. It generates LOW SELF ESTEEM, which is found in the character of Shyam.

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Corporate sectors USE energy of youngsters by showing dangling carrot. Success story of just 5% people are being told again and again. But what about other 95% people

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.their stories never come out. It gives more opportunities to younger people. Because they are full of energy and enthusiasm. Older people cannot work like them. So they are thrown out of job. The same will happen with young generation also, that when their stamina will decrease, when they grew old they will be thrown away from job. (THROW AWAY CULTURE) .they is trapped, used as ploy. And when one comes to know about this, it’s too late.

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This is what happening at present time. Everybody is not able to see the undercurrent effect. But Bhagat has very well presented these issues.

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Here it is appropriate to use words of Coleridge that :-“ Had Mr. Wordsworth's poems been the silly, the childish things … they must have sunk at once, a dead weight, into the slough of oblivion, and have dragged the preface along with them.”  Similarly after so many years of its publication the book and writer both are still alive- read a lot by large number of people. Had it been worthless, childish thing people might have forgotten it. It has something which appeals to many.


★
Mannepean satire is a seriocomic genre, in Greek literature and Latin literature, in which contemporary institutions, conventions, and ideas were criticized in a mocking satiric style that mingled prose and verse.

At much extent this novel is example of it, because it also satirizes many institutions and ideas and conventions. For example Marriage institution, Bossism, work culture



 Cyberpunk:-

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→(science fiction) A subgenre of science fiction which focuses on computer or information technology and virtual reality.

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A cyberpunk character, a hacker punk, a high-tech low life.

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There are few elements which leads us to read this novel as cyber punk.

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-The "BUG" found in MS office is turned out as plot mover.

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-open G mail account of Mr.Bakshi and as result fake mail drafted by Vroom is fine example of it.

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Narrative technique:-

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Apart from what is told in story, HOW part is also very important. Writer himself was traveling in train from Kanpur to Delhi. And then he meets a young girl, who tells him a story on condition of writing it as his  second novel. He listens the story, and story is told by  Shyam- one of the characters in the novel. In the beginning Shyam is introduced and then he introduces other major characters. So this narrative pattern in also very interesting.

PROLOGUE & EPILOGUE:-

Chetan Bhagat makes very good use of prologue and epilogue in his novel. In prologue, writer himself comes as character and talks with the reader.
It looks like Bhagat is well aware about the literary tradition of writing. Exact time and place of action is given. Which follows the Aristotelian unities of time, place and action. Deux ex Machina, is something which must be avoided. So he gives alternative narrative of  entire novel .which proves that God's intervention is not a mistake, but author deliberately does so.
There are many parallel/ similarities in Narrative technique of One Night @ The call center  by Bhagat and "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel- the  Canadian writer. For example beginning of the novel- Prologue. Both the writer himself present in the prologue telling how they got inspiration about writing their second novel. Both the writers meets person who tells them stories - a young lady in ON@tcc and an old man in Life of Pi. Both tell that you can meet the real people to collect more information.

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Other parallel is Experience of God. There is not clarity about God, but rather it’s indicated and experienced. One can't say with surety that God is present or not.

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And one more point is First person Narration in both the novels- Shyam and Pi- narrator and protagonist in both the novels.

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EPILOGUE:-

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And in the epilogue of both the novels alternative reading is given. When Japanese insurance agents listen the story of Pi, they are not ready to believe it. They say our company won’t believe this. So Pi tells another story replacing Animals with human beings. When Yann Martel asks what correct story is, Pi tells a story which I told you. But now it’s your story, you can write the way you wish. The same lines are also found in ON@tcc also. When Bhagat asks that people may not believe story with God's call. so the lady tells that you can replace the lines of God with Military uncle.

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So, this is the parralel in Narrative technique in both novels, which is quite interesting.


★ Popular literature:-

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ON@TCC is charged by many critics as popular literature.

But what is popular literature ??
Popular literature
Commonly lacks a sustained plot, worked

Out with close regard to cause and effect.
a good literary text should have cause &  effect justified. But here it is not so. God's call is there but its justification is not given. effect is there but cause is not justified.☆Still more characteristically it lacks the study of character and the intellectual analysis of such varied problems as occupy the fiction of the present age.
Why Bhagat's novel not won awards or critical acclaim ??- the reason is that characters are not well developed. All the characters are flat characters. God’s call comes and they easily accept without doubting or questioning. The details about characters upbringing is not given as it is given in Life of Pi. Pi believes in God, because from childhood he was grown up with stories of god. He believed in all the religions. So when he tells in the novel that I experienced god, it looks appropriate. Whereas in Bhagat's book it isn’t happening.

→The popular romances lay their stress chiefly on incident and adventure or simple intrigue, and set forth only the more familiar and accepted moral teachings.

ON@TCC:-

It is not about something very great adventure characters are doing. What is written is the book is the day to day life of many people.And the moral teaching given by God is not something very great, because it is Chetan Bhagat's god. The kind of Teaching given in the book is already told in many books. He is just putting it in simple language. So it lacks that high seriousness. So it is appropriate to say that ON@TCC present an instinctive or traditional, rather than a highly reflective, philosophy of life. It does not raise or answerabstract questions also. It has happy ending, but life is actually not so. But Post Modern text never ends in clear cut way, but it does so.Because of all these reasons critics  have come to be regarded chiefly as the literature of children- because this kinds of stories were told in the beginning or at childhood of civilization. and if still these kinds of stories are told and people enjoy then we have to doubt whether humanity has evolved or not???

So, from much perspective this novel falls under the category of popular literature. But then even to degrade the text because it is popular is not a good idea. To be popular or classic is not in book's hand. Every text has its pros and cons.

Poe's short story

Poe's short story

Edgar Allan Poe is famous for his horror story. He has written masterpiece stories like "The Black Cat", "The Purloined Letter", "The Cask of Amontillado", "The fall of house of Usher", "The Gold Bug" and many other.

The most interesting thing about these story is that not a single word is unnecessary. it helps in building environment of horror, terror and supernatural elements. Gothic elements are also important characteristics of his stories.

The Black Cat is a story in which Narrator kills an old man only because he dont like his vulture eye. He himself confesses that this old man has never done any wrong thing to him. For many days Narrator observes that man during night as a part of planing and later on executes the plan.

The Fall of house of Usher is mysterious story with heart beating horror.

The Purloined Letter is a bit different than other stories. it is about the stealing of important letter and detective Dupin's search for it.

The cask of Amontillado is a story in which one friend buries other alive behind the wall because other had done something to him earlier. This story is example of height of cruelty and revenge.

 Poe portrays the psychological complexity of these two supposedly opposite emotions, emphasizing the ways they enigmatically blend into each other. Poe’s psychological insight anticipates the theories of Sigmund Freud.Poe, like Freud, interpreted love and hate as universal emotions.

Self vs. Alter Ego

In many of Poe’s Gothic tales, characters wage internal conflicts by creating imaginary alter egos or assuming alternate and opposite personalities. In “William Wilson,” the divided self takes the form of the narrator’s imagined double, who tracks him throughout Europe. The rival threatens the narrator’s sense of a coherent identity because he demonstrates that it is impossible for him to escape his unwanted characteristics. The narrator uses the alter ego to separate himself from his insanity. He projects his inner turmoil onto his alter ego and is able to forget that the trouble resides within him. The alter ego becomes a rival of the self because its resemblance to the self is unmistakable. Suicide results from the delusion that the alter ego is something real that can be eliminated in order to leave the self in peace. In “The Black Cat” the narrator transforms from a gentle animal lover into an evil cat-killer. The horror of “The Black Cat” derives from this sudden transformation and the cruel act—the narrator’s killing of his cat Pluto—which accompanies it. Pluto’s reincarnation as the second cat haunts the narrator’s guilty conscience. Although the narrator wants to forget his murder of Pluto, gallows appear in the color of his fur. The fur symbolizes the suppressed guilt that drives him insane and causes him to murder his wife. (Sparknote)

Love and Hate, power of living over dead  is brilliantly captured in the story. Animals as a symbol also plays vital role in the stories.  

Waiting for Godot

Waiting for Godot

It is one of the most discussed and debated play by critics and scholars. Story is very simple- Vladimir and Estragon- two tramps are waiting for someone called Godot, but Godot never comes. Who or What is Godot? Why he is not coming? Why both tramps are waiting for Godot? What will happen if Godot comes??Since how long time Estragon and Vladimir are waiting?? These and many other similar kinds of questions remains unanswered.

Samuel Beckett's language is very simple, but that simplicity is deceiving.

Waiting for Godot falls under the category of Theatre of Absurd. It has no plot, neither beginning nor end. it ends at similar mode from where it begins.Existentialism is prominent theme of this play.

• Waiting for Godot as a Modernist Literature

Introduction:-

• Waiting for Godot is a French play, translated into English by the author himself Samuel Beckett.
• Waiting for Godot is the most debated play, since its first premiere in very small theatre of Paris in 1953.
• This play has many characteristics of modernist literature. The play is not traditional. Protagonist of the play is two tramps.
• Making two tramps protagonist itself makes it Modernist text, because from traditional way of looking towards literature- it is believed that protagonist should be great person like king, prince, great warrior etc.
• Aristotle told that play should be of high seriousness, but if we look at Waiting for Godot, we find that nothing serious happens. Two tramps Vladimir and Estragon are just waiting on the stage for someone called Godot.
• It has no story, no plot - neither beginning nor end.
• Waiting for Godot is full of anxiety and interrogation. There are so many questions, but not a single answer- what is this all about?
• Modernist Literature is also experimentative in language & form. The language of the play is simple- but that simplicity is deceiving.
• Waiting for Godot explores the working of the human consciousness. It also rejects realism and the idea that art has to capture reality. (Bloom)
• Modernist fiction also defamiliarizes or makes strange what is common. Make it new is the modernist slogan. The play has no story or plot to speak of. Characters are almost mechanical puppets.
• If a good play must have fully explained theme, which is neatly exposed and finally solved, Waiting for Godot have neither beginning nor end.
• "Waiting for Godot does not tell a story, it explores static situation. Nothing happens, nobody comes, nobody goes, it’s awful".

• Nothingness:-

• 'Nothing to be done'.

• The very first line of the play is 'Nothing to be done'. Nothingness is very remarkable characteristic of modern age. Nothing is something of the play.

• Setting:-

• A country road. A tree. Evening.

• Even in their waiting for Godot, Estragon and Vladimir are unsure of the place where they are waiting.

• V: He said by the tree. Do you see others?
• E: What is it?
• V : I don’t know.....A willow.

• In this doubt & uncertainty, there is no authenticity to the existence of Vladimir and Estragon. Therefore nothing is certain. Life is meaningless.
• Estragon and Vladimir are also coming to the opinion after long waiting that nothing can be done. So it is great satire on positive thinking.

• ·        Existentialism & Absurdism

• Existentialism became popular in the year following World War 2, and strongly influenced many disciplines besides philosophy including theology, drama, art, literature and Psychology.
• Existentialist recognizes that human knowledge is limited and fallible. Waiting for Godot falls under the category of Theatre of Absurd, a term coined by drama critic Martin Esslin.
• Vladimir and Estragon caught in hopeless situation forced to do repetitive or meaningless actions, dialogues are full of clichés, wordplay and nonsense, plot that is cyclical or absurdly expansive.

• Who are we?
• Why are we here?

• Existentialist themes are displayed in the Beckett's Waiting for Godot, in which two men divert themselves while they wait expectantly for someone named Godot who never arrives. They claim Godot to be an acquaintance, but in fact hardly know him if they saw him.
• Samuel Beckett, once asked who or what Godot is? replied, ' if I knew, I would have said so in the play'.
• To occupy themselves, the men eat, sleep, talk, argue, sing, play games, exercise, swap hats and contemplate suicide - anything “to hold the terrible silence at bay.
• The play "exploits several Archetypal forms and situations, all of which lend themselves to both comedy and pathos".

• The play also illustrates an attitude toward human experience on earth: the poignancy, oppression, camaraderie, hope, corruption, & bewilderment of human experience that can be reconcile only in the mind & art of the Absurdist. The play examines questions such as death, the meaning of human existence and the place of God in human existence.
• The characters of the play are strange caricatures who have difficulty in communicating the simplest concept to one another as they bide their time awaiting their arrival of Godot.
• Whereas traditional theatre attempts to create a photographic representation of life as we see it, The Theatre of Absurd aims to create a ritual like, mythological, Archetypal, allegorical vision closely related to the world of dreams.
• The focal point of this dream is often man's fundamental bewilderment & confusion, stemming from the fact that he has no answer to the basic existential questions:
• Why we are alive?
• Why there is injustice and suffering?
• All actions become senseless, absurd and useless...

The Birthday Party

The Birthday Party is written by Harold Pinter- Nobel winner author. The play is severely criticized by critics but Pinter clearly says that we don't need critics to tell public what to read.

The play is heavily a political play. Then even nothing is said in crystal clear style. From other work, and his Nobel speech we come to know that Pinter was strongly Anti- American. This open the gates for reader to read the play as  a political play.

Stanley Webber is a protagonist, who seems to be an artist(pianist), lives in a boarding house owned by Meg and Petey Boles, near somewhere cost in England. There two stranger named Goldberg and McCann comes who threatens and takes Stanley away to some unknown place.

Who were strangers?? Why they take Stanley away? What is the relationship between Stanley and Strangers?? Is Stanley really artist?? What is his past?? Etc. questions nearly remains unanswered.