The Purposeless Purpose

The Purposeless Purpose

Many people, when they read “Waiting for Godot” are appalled at the babble and confusion of the play. There seems to be no purpose, so viewers or readers react in disapproval. Maybe the actual purpose of the play, is what would seem impossible, to have no purpose.

Every day in the human world each individual that is alive is doing something for a purpose. There is a purpose, it seems, for everything. “Waiting for Godot” is the exact example of not having a purpose rather than to show there is no purpose. Let’s think for example the main reason why Estragon and Vladimir were at the tree in the road, they were waiting for Godot. Their purpose to be there at that certain point around the specific time was to see Godot. Waiting for Godot was the thrive of their existence, these lines from the play are an example of Godot’s strong role in their current lives “VLADIMIR: We have to come back tomorrow. ESTRAGON: What for? VLADIMIR: To wait for Godot.”

Estragon and Vladimir’s conversation often had no point whatsoever. Usually they would ask each other questions, almost purposeful questions, and would answer each other in an obscure manner or quickly change to another topic. An example of this purposeless babble is “VLADIMIR: He said by the tree. (They look at the tree.) Do you see any others? ESTRAGON: What is it? VLADIMIR: I don't know. A willow. ESTRAGON: Where are the leaves? VLADIMIR: It must be dead. ESTRAGON: No more weeping.” This type of dialogue almost pokes fun at humanity in a way. It makes fun of the way we do things and why we do them and do them in that way.

As humans it is natural for us to always search for a purpose, because without a purpose we feel purposeless and empty. No man wants to feel that way, it is one of the most despaired feelings to be lonely inside. This is why when there is no purpose, it is looked upon as almost crazy. But what most people miss because of their purpose determined-selves is that the purpose can be purposeless.

 

Two Sides to Every Story

After completing Beowulf and reading a partial section of Grendel, my opinion for both characters have changed. I say this because Beowulf showed Grendel as a vicious enemy who has always been an evil wicked monster. But in Grendel it portrays Grendel how he truly is and the reasons for his actions. 

I believe there is a reason for every action that someone commits. Although that does not mean that the action is justified. In Beowulf, Grendel terrorizes the Danes in a violent manner, by murdering many of their men. Beowulf in turn, kills Grendel to stop his actions. If you were only to read Beowulf  you would think that Grendel was a wicked monster who had no feelings for others and solly cared for himself. But Grendel says otherwise.

In the short part of Grendel that I can read it completely changed my view of Grendel himself. Grendel views the Danes as monsters because they kill for no reason, not even for consumption. They would kill animals and pike them up to let them rot. They would kill each other. They were wasteful people and this confused Grendel greatly. Grendel then when to the mead hall, but was attacked. In Grendel it says all he wanted was someone to talk to. 

I think it is important always to hear two sides of the story. Even though Grendel was still in the wrong for murdering all of those men, there was innocence and good in him. He was denied from the Danes, he wasn't excepted in their society, so he felt the only way out for him was to become a figure of fear. This could of been prevented if only he was excepted. But we even see this today in our society, people who feel they are different sometimes become angry at others and will commit rationalized actions in reaction to not being excepted. It is important to not judge someone until you hear the truth behind it all.