Briefly Discuss the Significance of the ‘Tree’ in the Setting of Waiting for Godot.

Significance of the ‘Tree’ in the Setting of Waiting for Godot

The ‘Tree’ generally represents the ‘cross’ on which Jesus Christ was crucified. As such, it is argued that the ‘Tree’ stands as a symbol of hope in the play; because it means that the religious dimension is not completely absent. Indeed, the cross, which is often referred to as the tree in Christian literature, is not a symbol of despair to the Christians. In the light of the Resurrection, it is in fact, the very opposite; it is a sign of the Victory over the forces of the world. Moreover it is claimed, this interpretation of the tree in Waiting for Godot is confirmed by the fact that the tree is seen to have grown leaves in the second Act.

 

But we see that the growth of leaves of the tree does not attract the attention of the tramps in the second Act. When Vladimir tries to convince his friend that they were in the same place the day before, Estragon describes the entire landscape as a ‘muckheap’.

In view of this lack of response, it is difficult to interpret the tree as a symbol of hope. The tramps hardly make any response to the growth of the leaves. Thus if there is hope, they certainly do not recognize it. So the tree would rather seem to be a symbol of the irrelevance of the Christian response to their predicament.

 

You Can also Read:

• Beckett’s treatment of time in Waiting for Godot

• "Waiting for Godot" as a Play Belonging to the Theater of the Absurd

• What does Waiting for Godot Imply for the Characters on Stage and for the Audience

• Impression of Estragon in Waiting for Godot