Introducing: an existentialist play on existentialism with Parker-note!
This came into being when a certain teacher asked us to read one too many existentialist plays. I don't own Estragon (from "Waiting for Godot") nor do I own his boots. The student is mine, but to say "don't steal him" would be silly. Didn't I just steal a character?
I apologize for the formatting, but it's the best I could do. [] indicates stage directions. Without further ado:
"A Shoe in for Godot"
[Estragon enters from left, sits under a small willow at center stage. He begins struggling t o remove his boots. The labors appear to no avail. Presently a 17 year-old student (male British boarding school?) enters and considers the scene. Shortly...]
Student: [curious] What are you doing?
Estragon: Waiting for Godot. [continues tugging on boots with no pauses]
Student: And that requires the removal of footwear?
Estragon: Yes
Student: [slightly sarcastic] Not working to well, is it?
Estragon: But that's the point! It is symbolic, or... [looks around with confusion] is it?
Student: In some context maybe. [pause]
So, how long have you been waiting?
Estragon: Since yesterday. Or maybe yesterday's yesterday. It doesn't really matter. I'm waiting for Godot.
Student: So, the struggle with your boots, does that always happen? [Estragon nods distractedly] Every time? You struggle often, but get nowhere. So... In your wait, the boots are an introduction, a point of consistency that everything else falls into place around. [pauses] I see the function, but what is the purpose?
Estragon: [angrily] There is no purpose! [calms suddenly] I'm waiting for Godot!
Student: [sarcastically] Right. Literature has no purpose. The boots certainly say something about you!
Estragon: [mildly curious] Oh?
Student: Two things, actually. The first is that you obviously don't know your shoe size; but the second... there's the rub.
Estragon: What rub? [stops tugging and searches around boot and looks at it curiously] I see no rub?
Student: Beckett, you author of existence, is saying something. By showing your inability to succeed at removing boots, he highlights you inability to take decisive action.
Estragon: [angrily] Oh really! I'm leaving! [continues sitting. Calms and resumes tugging on boot again.]
Student: Exactly! You can no more leave or make a decision than you can remove your boot. Basically, your boots symbolize your personal helplessness.
[Estragon ignores the statement with studious obliviousness. Keeps on tugging]
But, I suppose it goes farther. This symbol, it's like a kick towards a theme. A greater meaning. We all struggle with boots, do we not? [pauses, waiting for a response. Estragon continues purposeful obliviousness] Really, don't we? After all, Vladimir could not leave either. You both wait for Godot for all eternity - never making an independent decision, waiting for Godot to tell you what to do. [Pauses, looks around]
Of course, he is a bit late, or maybe I'm just a bit early. Still Struggling?
Estragon: [with a vehement tug on boot] Of course! [Pauses, glares at student, continues struggle]
Student: Yes, you struggle and struggle, wait and wait, but little really gets done. But that is the point of course. Hey, want a carrot?
Estragon: [looks up] Yes. [accepts carrot, holds in mouth while tugging on boots]
Student: This man, Samuel Beckett, created you in "Waiting for Godot"; he created your never ending struggle to tell us something.
Estragon: [speaking around carrot] He tells me nothing; I wait for Godot.
Student: [in singsong] He uses you.
Estragon: [stops tugging, pulls carrot out of mouth angrily] I'm leaving! [Doesn't move. Looks at carrot, takes a bite, then again holds the rest in mouth and resumes tugging on boots]
Student: Exactly! Humanity cannot leave, humanity can change little, a single person is ineffective! We are all struggling with our boots, awaiting a purpose! But the world has no plan to give us. Godot will never come, but we will sit here, tugging on our boots.
Estragon: [looks up curiously at student. Pauses tugging to hold carrot contemplatively] You're not struggling with your boots. [looks down at his boot, starts tugging again.]
Student: [sighs] It's a symbol. Enjoy your wait... [in a singsong] Godot could not make it today, but he will surely come tomorrow. [exits]
The End
Parker Note: You may have a future as an existential playwright. But as an AP essay, it's a 1.
My Response: So?
Author's note: Unless you've read Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot" this probably made no sense. Of course, if you have, it probably still made no sense. I'm not sure if this work is technically "fan-fic" but it doesn't really seem like anything else either. I hope you enjoyed... or at least didn't end up banging your head into a wall screaming "why".