How is the human condition defined through literature and society? The concept of the human condition is used to analyze how characters interact with their environment as well as the behaviors they exhibit in omnipresent situations. In both the texts Waiting for Godot and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, the protagonists explore the depths of the human condition. Waiting for Godot is about two protagonists named Estragon and Vladimir who spend the majority of the book waiting for the ‘higher power’ known as Godot, to show up. The text titled Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, was written by Tom Stoppard in an absurdist and meta-theatrical tradition which is about two protagonists named Rosencrantz and Guildenstern who are essentially …show more content…
Stoppard uses imagery as well to show how Ros’ overthinking of an insignificant situation is a common trait of the human condition. The quality of over analyzing situations directly ties into the human emotion of retaining hope. Ros imagines that he is enough of a critical thinker to satisfy himself that his comments and reasoning are appropriate for the situation at hand.
This opens the gateway to analyzing common themes within both books which examines the theme of human condition through a bigger picture.
In both texts, Waiting for Godot and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, futile waiting without progress toward bettering one’s self manifests into feelings of frustration and ineffectiveness in both Ros and Guild and Vladimir and Estragon. The act of waiting for progress without making any contribution is an emotion that can be connected to the human condition. This is seen in the following quote
Guil: As soon as we make a move they'll come pouring in from every side, shouting obscure instructions, confusing us with ridiculous remarks, messing us about from here to breakfast and getting our names wrong. (Stoppard,