等待戈多论文

学科分类号（二级）7405011YUNNANNDRMALUNIVERSITY本科学生毕业论文（设计）题目WaitingfortheAbsentOther:AnExistentialisticAnalysisoffor姓学院、专Godot不在场的他者——从存在主义角度分析《等待戈多》名李秀才号094050113系外国语学院英语系业英语（师范4）指导教师职称（学历）(Wi)2013年04月30日 独创性声明本人声明所呈交的学位论文是我个人在导师指导下进行的研究工作及取得的研究成果。尽我所知，除文中已经标明引用的内容外，本论文不包含任何其他个人或集体已经发表或撰写过的研究成果。对本文的研究做出贡献的个人和集体，均已在文中以明确方式标明。本人完全意识到本声明的法律结果由本人承担。学位论文作者签名：年月曰学位论文版权使用授权书本学位论文作者完全了解学校有关保留、使用学位论文的规定，即：学校有权保留并向国家有关部门或机构送交论文的复印件和电子版，允许论文被查阅和借阅。本人授权云南师范大学可以将本学位论文的全部或部分内容编入有关数据库进行检索，可以采用影印、缩印或扫描等复制手段保存和汇编本学位论文。 学位论文作者签名:年月曰指导教师签名:年月曰STATEMENTOFAUTHORSHIPExceptwherereferenceismadeinthetextofthethesis,thisthesiscontainsnomaterialpublishedelsewhereorextractedinwholeorpartfromathesispresentedbymeforanotherdegreeordiploma.Nootherperson^workhasbeenusedwithoutdueacknowledgementinthemaintextofthethesis.Thisthesishasnotbeensubmittedfortheawardofanyotherdegreeordiplomainmytertiaryinstitution・Signed Dated AcknowledgementsIamdeeplygratefultomysupervisorXieNanforherpatientguidance,generalassistance,helpfuladviceandcontinualencouragement,allofwhichhavebeenofinestimableworktothecompletionofmypape匚Withoutherhelpfulinstruction,detailedcomments,andbeneficialadvice,thispaperwouldhaveneverbeenfinishedsosmoothly.MythanksalsogotoalltheteacherswhohavetaughtmeandhelpedmealotduringthefouryearsofmystudyinYunnanNormalUniversity.Withouttheirteaching,Icouldnothavelearnedsomuch・Atlast,Iwouldliketoexpressmysinceregratitudetomyfamily,whogavemegreathelpandencouragementduringmyfouryears'studyandthethesiswriting・ AbstractSamuelBeckett'smasterpieceWaitingforGodotisoneoffamousabsurdplaysintheworld.Itislabeledas"Anti・Theater'',"NewTheater",and“TheateroftheAbsuixT.Aswecansee,WaitingforGodotisaworkinthenameofTheateroftheAbsurd"coinedbyMartinEsslin.WaitingforGodotwhichisregardedastheclassicoftheTheatreoftheAbsurdisBeckett'sturningpointfromnovelwritingtodrama,andalsoarepresentativeworkofthe20lhcenturydramafrommodernitytopostmodernity.Basedonthecomplicatedsocialbackgroundandspiritualcrisisinthewesternworld,thisworktriestorevealtheabsurdlivingcondition,lonelinessandhopelessness,desolationandmeaninglessnessofwesternpeople・WaitingforGoclotarousedthousandsofpeopledresonanceafterthiswork'sfirstshowinParis.Thisworkalsoattractsmuchattentionofcriticsintheliteraryworld.Lotsofnewinterpretationscontinuouslyemergewithvariedviewsintheliteraryworld.Somecriticsarguethatthisworkdoesnotdisplaytheexistentialism,andsomeholditiscloselyrelatedtoexistentialism.SothispaperattemptstousetheliteraryandcriticismofexistentialismtoanalyzetherelationshipbetweenexistentialismandWaitingforGodotandtodiscussthemeaningsofwaitinginWaitingforGoclotandtheabsurdityoftheplay.Keywords:WaitingforGodot;Theabsentother;Existentialism;Absurdity摘要萨缪尔贝克特的巨作《等待戈多》是世界著名的荒诞派戏剧。它总是被冠名为“反戏剧”，“新戏剧”以及“荒诞派戏剧”。正如我们所知，《等待戈多》是马丁艾斯林荒诞派戏剧名义下的作品。荒诞派戏剧经典之作的《等待戈多》被认为是贝克特从小说写作到戏剧创作的转折点，也被认为是20世纪现代主义向后 现代主义过渡的代表作。在西方世界精神危机和复杂的社会环境大背景下，这部作品旨在揭诱西方人民荒诞的生活状况，孤独感，绝望感，分离感以及无意义的生活。《等待戈多》在巴黎上演处女秀过后，引起了成千上万人的共鸣。这部作品同时吸引了文学界大量学者的眼球。文学界从不同角度分析的著作源源不断，潺潺不息。许多评论员认为这部作品并没有呈现存在主义，但也有人认为它和存在主义有密不可分的关系。因此本论文将从存在主义的角度来分析《等待戈多》同存在主义的关系，讨论《等待戈多》找中等待的意蕴以及这部戏剧的荒诞性。关键词：《等待戈多》；不在场的他者；存在主义；荒诞 Contents1.Introduction1」SamuelBeckettandWaitingforGodot11.2Jean-PaulSartre'sExistentialism31.3TheOutlineoftheThesis2.Literaturereview32.1TheStudiesAboardandatHome42.2TheUniquenessoftheStudy53.TheoreticalFramework63」TheTheatreoftheAbsurd63.2Jean-PaulStare'sExistentialism4.WaitingfortheAbsentOther:AnExistentialisticAnalysisofWaitingforGodot84.1TheAbsurdityofWaitingforGodot84.1.1Plot84.1.2Characters4」.2TheIllogicalandMeaninglessDialogue94.1.3Circulation114」.4NoCertainSpace-timeEnvironmentandCompleteStructure.4.2WaitingfortheAbsentOther12421TheAbsentOtherIsNothingness13TheAbsentOtherIsSavior144.2.3TheAbsentOtherIsBelief4.3AnExistentialisticAnalysisofWaitingforGodot154.3.1Death16174.3.2TheMeaningofHumanExistence433ThePlaceofGod5.Conclusion18References19LIntroduction1.1SamuelBecketandWaitingforGodot SamuelBeckett(1906-1989)whoseworkoffersablack,tragicomicoutlookonhumannaturewasanIrishnovelist,playwright,theatredirector,andpoet.Beckettiswidelyregardedasoneofthemostinfluentialwritersofthe20thcentury,hisworkoftencoupledwithblackcomedyandgallowshumor.HeisconsideredoneofthelastmodernistsbecauseoftheinfluencefromJamesJoyce.Asaninspirationtomanylaterwriters,heisalsosometimesconsideredoneofthefirstpostmodernists.HeisoneofthekeywritersinwhatMartinEsslincalledtheTheatreoftheAbsurd.EspeciallyhisrepresentativeworkWaitingforGodotbecomestheclassicinthegenreofTheatreoftheAbsurd・Beckettwaswardedthe1969NobelPrizeinLiterature"forhiswriting,whichinnewformsforthenovelanddrama,inthedestitutionofmodemmanacquireitselevation"(TheNobelPrizeinLiterature1969)WaitingforGodotwaswrittenin1952,itwasfirstpublishedbyFrench,anditsfirstshowwasinParisin1953.TheWorldWarIIhadbiginfluencestotheplayandSamuelBeckett.PeoplearoundtheworldsufferedtoomuchfromtheWorldWarII,toomanypeoplewerestilldespair,helpless,panic,misgiving.SamuelBeckettwitnessedthecruelnessandinhumanityoftheWorldWarIIandthespiritcrisisofwesternpeople.WaitingforGodothasbecomeamodernclassicbecauseitgivesusahumansituationexpressedwithanemotionalforce.Theplayhasafar-reachinginfluence・Aswehaveseen,Beckett^dramaticandverbalartembodiesvividimagesofactionandaprofoundvisionofhumanexistence.WhereverwereadWaitingforGodot,wecanseeimagesofspiritualloss,andofhumansufferings・Aprofoundsenseoflossdoespervadeallthisplay・Theplayspeakstousoftherealworld,ofhumancondition.1.1Jean-PaulSartre^ExistentialismHereExistentialismwillbeagreathelptoanalyzemythesis-TherehasneverbeengeneralagreementonthedefinitionofExistentialism.ItisgenerallybelievedthatthefirstprominentexistentialistphilosophertoadoptthetermwasJean-PaulSartrewhodidmosttobringexistentialismintotheartsandintosearchofforanauthenticwayoflifeonthepartofmanydisaffectedyouthofEuropeandAmerica.1.2TheOutlineoftheThesisWhiledoingmyargument,thefirstthingFmgoingtodoistointroducestudieson WaitingforGodotfromabroadandChina.Inthispart,wecanhaveageneralknowledgeofjudgmentsonWaitingforGodotandunderstandthesignificanceofWaitingforGodotinliteraturefieldandotherfields.Thenfollowingpartistopresenttheoreticalframeworkwhichwillhelpmetoanalyzemyargument.ThisthesiswilltouchExistentialismandTheTheatreoftheAbsurd.ThroughpartofSartre'sExistentialismandEsslin'sTheTheatreoftheAbsurd,thisthesiswillconcentrateonthefollowingtopic:TheabsurdityofWaitingfarGodot;ThemeaningoftheAbsentOther;ThereflectionofExistentialisminWaitingforGodot.Thenfinallythisthesiswillgiveaconclusion.2.LiteratureReviewThecriticalresponsetotheworksofSamuelBecketthasbeenoverwhelming,especiallyafterthesuccessfulfirstshowofWaitingforGodotinParisin1953・AndtheplaymadeBeckettahouseholdword・AndthennumerousbooksandthousandsofarticleshavebeenpublishedonBeckett,primarilyinEurope,theUnitedStates,andCanada・SincehewrotemostofhisworksinFrench,andthentranslatedthemhimselfintoEnglish.AndthediversityoftheinterpretationstoBecketteswokshasbeenvaried:political,psychological,philosophical,historical,thematic,postmodernism,Christian,autobiographical,homoerotic,andsoon.StudiesAbroadandatHomeThefirstperiodisfrom1960sto1970s.Duringthisperiod,studiesmainlyfocusonformandcontent,theinfluenceofliterary,philosophicalandhistoricalideas.AndMartinEsslinwroteTheTheatreoftheAbsurd,itwasthemostfrequentlycitedresourcesfortheresearchofWaitingforGodotandotherfamousabsurdplays.EsslinreallythoughthighlyofWaitingforGodotandgavespecialappraisementsonit.IntheShapeofChaos:AnInterpretationoftheArtofSamuelBeckett,DavidHeslaexaminesSamuelBeckettesnovelsandplaysfromtheperceptionofthehistoricalideas-HeshowshowSamuelBeckettwasinfluencedbythetheoriesofthepre-Socratics,therationalistsoftheseventeenthandeighteenthcenturies,Schopenhauer,Bergson,Hegel,Kierkegard,Sartre,andHusserl.Anydramacan'tlivewithoutthestage,soRubyCohn^sSamuelBeckett:the ComicGamutconcernedWaitingforGodot'sstageperformance.HeusedBergson'scatalogofcomictechniquesasastartingpointforherstudyofthecomicelementsinBeckettproseanddrama.Thesecondperiodisintheearly1980s.Lotsofcriticsmadeanin-depthanalysisofartandidentity.Someofthemevaluatethethemeofself-consciousnessinBeckett'sworks,forinstance,HannahCaseCopelandillustratedthisinhisbook:ArtandArtistintheworkofSamuelBeckett.SomeconnectedSamuelBeckettesworkswithExistentialism.LanceSt.JohnButlerinSamuelandtheMeaningofBeing:AStudyinOntologicalParableaimstotrytolightentheBeckettiangloomwiththosephilosophicallampsthatseemtoworkthebest:Heidegger,Sartre,andHegel.InWaitingforGodotandPhilosophy,LanceSt.JohnButlerarguesthatWaitingforGodotisnotaphilosophicalplaybysayingthatWaitingforGodotistheparableofhumanwaiting.Thethirdperiodiscontemporarytimes.Thestudieshavechangedsomuchfrom1950storecentyearsabroad・Tillnow,Beckett'swork,weretermedthebannerofpost-structuralismpostmodernism,reader-responseandfeminism.Especiallyfrom1980sto2001lotsofessaysappeared,manyofthemfromAmerican,whichusenew-foundlibertyofinterpretation.Forinstance,JamesCalderwood^sessay"WaysofWaitinginWaitingforGodoffirstappearedintheinfluentialjournalModernDrama,itdemonstratesthatdeconstructivecriticismentailsnottheaggressiveandonce-for-allliquidationofthecoherencepossessedbyagiventext,however,anattentivediscussionofwaysinwhichatextcansimultaneouslyestablishandundermineitsowntruth.Amongthem,therearefewconspicuousworksfromthefeminismaspect.SeveralpiecesoffeministapproachtoWaitingforGodotcouldbefoundinWomeninBeckett:PerformanceandCriticalPerspectiveswhichwaseditedbyLindaBen-Zui.ThestudiesofWaitingforGodotandSamuelBeckettsworkhaveaveryshorthistoryinChina.TheatreoftheabsurdaswellasWaitingforGodotwasintroducedtoChinabytranslatorsandcritics.WaitingforGodotwasfirsttranslatedbyShiXianrongin1965・ButitwassimplyusedasanexampletocriticizedecayedlifevalueofwesterncapitalismatthattimebecauseoftheinfluencefromCulturalRevolutioninChina.Soit，sreallyhardtospreadthetheatreoftheabsurdandWaitingforGodotinchinawidely atthattime.ZhuHongwhowrotethePrefaceofthisbooksaidthatWaitingforGodottriestoexpressthelifeconditionofhumanbeing,thecrisisofspiritandthedecadencyofthebourgeoisie・In1980,ShiXianrongtranslatedTheAnthologyoftheTheatreofAbsurd.Thisbookgivesusanoverallintroductiontotheworksofabsurdist.ZhangHongshengassumedthatWaitingforGodotwasaninterpretationofexistentialisminhispaperOntheTheatreoftheAbsurd.ButChengGewasstronglyagainstthatWaitingforGodotcannotbeinterpretedastheillustrationofexistentialismsimplyandhastily,moreover,therearegreatdisparitiesbetweenabsurdandexistentialdrama.Frommid1980s,thescholarsofchinabegantodrawattentiontothetheatreoftheabsurd.AndtheystartedtocriticizeWaitingforGodotobjectively,however,mostofthestudiesarejusttranslationandtheachievementsoftheforeignstudies,onlyafewofthemareoriginalandinitiative.Anywaysomecreativepapersandbookshaveworkedout.Amongtheseworks,mostofthemarederivedfromsomejournalsandbooks,suchasForeignLiterature,ForeignLiteratureReview,ForeignLiteratureStudyandotherpapers.Andduringthisperiod,thecollectionsoftheTheatreoftheAbsurdwerefirstpublishedbyShanghaiTranslationPublishingHouse.Somethematicandlinguisticinterpretationshadbeenflourishingfrom1994to2004.AndtherearelotsofremarkablepapersandbooksonWaitingforGodot.SuchasOntheArtofBeckett'sAbsurdTheatrebyCaoBo:WaitingforGodot:theDisillusionandReestablishmentofBeliefbyXiaoSixin;TheLinguisticFeaturesinWaitingforGodotbyShuXiaomei;OnWaitinginWaitingforGodotbyWangShanshanandsoon.ThedevelopmentofChinesedramawasobviouslyinfluencedbythetheatreofabsurdandWaitingforGodotdeeplyandprofoundly.PlaywriterssuchasGaoXingjianwhohasgreataccomplishmentonliteratureandhealsoisatremendousmasterofaforeignlanguagebecameinterestinginthetheatreofabsurdandabsorbfromthiskindofdrama.Theyintroducedthetheatreofabsurdbytranslation,performanceandetc.ButthetheatreoftheabsurdwasnoteasilyspreadinChina.SowearenotsurprisethattheperformanceofWaitingforGodotpresentedbyGaoXingjianin1970scouldn^tcatchpeople'seyes.Andin1983,GaoXingjianwroteTheBusStopwhichwasinspiredby WaitingforGodot,andthenTheBusStopwasperformedinBeijingPeople'sArtTheaterforseveraltimes.ThestoryraisedheateddiscussionamongtheaudienceandcriticsaftertheperformanceandWaitingforGodotbecamemoreandmorewell-knowninChina.Andin1990s,WaitingforGodot,directedbyMenJinghui,wasofficiallyactedonthestageatlast.Itwasstillnoteasyfortheaudiencestototallyunderstandthemeaningsoftheplayatthattime.HoweverWaitingforGodothadagreatinfluenceonChinesedrama.AnewkindofdramawhichwasnamedasAvant-gardeTheatreappearedinChinaundertheinfluenceofthetheatreoftheabsurdespeciallyWaitingforGodot.AndGaoXingjianbecametherepresentativeofAvant-gardeTheatre.HisidealoftotalTheatreexpandedtheperformancespaceandemdchedthevarietyofChinesedrama.2.2TheUniquenessoftheStudySomeoneonceaskedSamuelBecketttheprecisemeaningofwaitinginWaitingforGodot,heansweredifonlyheknew.Itprovedwhyhisworkarousedsomanycomments.WecanresearchWaitingforGodotfromdifferentangles,aswecanseetheauthorgivesushugespacestoexpressourownunderstandings.Fromtheabove-mentionedliteraturereviewshomeandabroad,thispaperwillfocusonthefollowingtopics:theabsurdityoftheplay;themeaningsofwaitinginWaitingforGodot;therelationshipbetweentheplayandexistentialism;themassagefromtheplaytohumanbeing.Fromdifferentaspects,wecanfindoutthatitistoodifficulttofindthemeaningoflife.Andwefallintothelostofselfpursuitandtheabsurdlife.Ourlivesareballons,thoughwehavenoideaswhatwewant,wecarfthelpblowingtheballonsconstantlytilltheballonscan，tstandanymore.Waitingmightbeagleamofhope,butmightbenothingness.Andwhatweshoulddotomakethelifemeaningful?Therefore,considerations,choices,actionsplaytheimportantrolesforselfexistenceandself-fulfillment.Andhumanityandindividualismwouldbetheeternaltopic.AndweshouldsaythattheretoomanystudiesonWaitingforGodot,definitelymostofthemaremeaningful,however,theyareinsufficient.Andthefurtherworkisneededtomakethestudiesmorecomprehensiveandcomplete.HopefullythispaperwouldbeapartofthecomplementofthestudiesonWaitingforGoclot. 3・TheoreticalFrameworkWhiledoingmyargument,IwillemploysomerelevanttheoriesabouttheTheatreoftheAbsurdandexistentialism.Thispaperfocusesontheanalysisofthemeaningofwaiting,theabsurdityoftheplay,thereflectionofhumanbeings.Andthesestheorieswillhelptomyargument.TheTheatreoftheAbsurdTheTheatreoftheAbsurdcoinedbytheBritishcriticMartinEsslininhis1960essayTheatreoftheAbsurd(French:TheatredeUAbsurde)isadesignationforparticularplayswrittenbyanumberofprimarilyEuropeanplaywrightsinthelate1950s,theirworksexpressedthebeliefthathumanexistencehasnomeaningpurposeandthereforeallcommunicationbreaksdowninirrationalandillogicalways.Theseplaystrytoshowhowmancontrolledbyinvisibleoutsideandforcesreacttoaworldapparentlywithoutmeaning.ThoughTheatreoftheAbsurdisappliedtoawiderageofplays,somecharacteristicscoincideinmanyoftheplays:broadcomedymixedwithhorrificortragicimages;characterscaughtinhopelesssituationsforcedtodorepetitiveormeaninglessactions;dialoguefullofnonsense;plotsthatarecyclicalorabsurdlyexpansive.PlaywrightscommonlyassociatedwiththeTheatreoftheAbsurdincludeSamuelBeckett,EugeneIonesco,JeanGenet,HaroldPinter,TomStoppard,FriedrichDtirrenmatt,AlejandroJodorowsky,FernandoArrabalandEdwardAlbee.ExistentialismInfluencedbyMartinHeidegger'sBeingandTime.Sartrewrotethebook人BeingandNothingness:AnEssayonPhenomenologicalOntology(French:LEreetleneant:Essaid'ontolo^iephenomenologique)in1943.ItsmainpurposeistoasserttheindividuaFsexistenceaspriortotheindividuafsessence.Sartre9soverridingconcerninwritingBeingandNothingnesswastodemonstratethatfreewillexists.Sartre^sprimaryideaisthatpeoplearecondemnedtobefree.Thistheoryreliesuponhispositionthatthereisnocreator.SartresaidthathumanbeingshavenoessencebeforetheirexistencebecausethereisnoCreator.Thus:existenceprecedesessence.Inotherword,accordingtoSartre,humanityisnotgivenbeing,butonlyexistence,andthereisnoGodandnoabsolutestandardsofmoralityoftruth. Inexistentialism,theindividuafsstartingpointischaracterizedbywhathasbeencalledHtheexistentialattitude”orasenseofdisorientationandconfusioninthefaceofanapparentlymeaninglessorabsurdworld・Followingarethemainconceptsofexistentialism:3e2JExistencePrecedesEssenceExistenceprecedesessenceisthecentralpropositionofexistentialism.Itmeansthatthemostimportantconsiderationfortheindividualisthefactthatheorsheisanindividual一anindependentlyactingandresponsibleconsciousbeing("existence”)一ratherthanwhatlabels,roles,stereotypes,definitions,orotherpreconceivedcategoriestheindividualfits("essenceJ.InExistentialismandHumanism,Sartreproclaimedthatexistenceprecededessence."Manfirstofallexists,encountershimself,surgesupintheworld-一anddefinedhimselfafterwards气May7).Whenanindividualisborn,thereisnoessencecomingbeforehimoffollowinghim.ThereisnoessenceforhimtopursueforandtoshapehimselfManisnottobecomeacertainkindofpeoplewhichisalreadysettledbeforehecomestotheworld.Theindividualisfreetochoosetobewhatkindofpersonhewants.Therearenosuchlimitationsasthesettledessencetofollow・Theauthenticessenceofindividualliesintheactionswhichheshapeshimself.Theessencedoesnotcomebeforetheexistence.ItisanessencechangingallthetimeaccordingtotheindividuaFswillsandactions.Boththeexistenceandessenceofindividualsaredeterminedbytheindividualsthemselves・Individualsarenotcreatedaswhattheyshouldbe,butareshapedallbythemselves.322BeingandNothingnessIn1943SartrewroteabookBeingandNothingness:AnEssayonPhenomenologicalOntology.ItsmainpurposeistoasserttheindividuaFsexistenceaspriortotheindividuaFsessence・Sartre'soverridingconcerninwritingBeingandNothingnesswastodemonstratethatfreewillexists.InBeingandNothingness,manisacreaturehauntedbyavisionofHcompletion0,whichreligionsidentifyasGod.Bornintothematerialrealityofone'sbody,inamaterialuniverse,onefindsoneselfinsertedintobeing.Consciousnesshastheabilitytoconceptualizepossibilities,andtomakethemappear.Sartrecontendsthat humanexistenceisaconundrumwherebyeachofusexists,foraslongaswelive,withinanoverallconditionofnothingnessthatultimatelyallowsforfreeconsciousness.Butsimultaneously,withinourbeing(inthephysicalworld),weareconstrainedtomakecontinuous,consciouschoices.Sartrecontendsourconsciouschoicesruncountertoourintellectualfreedom-Yetweareboundtotheconditionedandphysicalworldinwhichsomeformofactionisalwaysrequired.inaword,thereisnomeaningtobefoundintheworld.Worldisabsurdandmeaningless.Atanypointintimeandspace,anythingcouldhappentoanyonenomatterheorsheisgoodorbad,andanytragicandabsurdeventcouldhappentoanyone.4