Waiting for Godot and Nihilism, Exestentialism, and absurdity

Waiting for Godot exhibits many examples of existentialism, Nihilism, and absuirdity.

Nihilism is the belief that nothing really exists. All values are baseless and nothing can truly be known. A nihilist believes in nothing, has no loyalties and no purpose, other than the impulse to destroy what we do know. There are several examples of nihilism in Waiting for Godot. One example is the meaningless of each day. With the lack of memory, none of the characters can recall the events of yesterday. Thus, Vladamir and Estragon live out the same day, over and over, without even realizing it. They are always promised that Godot will come the next day, they always run into Pozzo and Lucky, and they always debate hanging themselves at the end of each day. To an extent, the previous days don't even mean anything to them.

Existentialism is the Philosophical theory or approach that emphasizes the existence of the individual person as a free and responsible agent determining their own development through acts of will. To an extent, this is the opposite of Nihilism. While Nihilists emphasize nothingness, Existentialists emphasize the ability to determine their own will. Existentialism applies to Waiting for Godot as each character has their own will, with their own intentions. Vladamir and Estragon love each other despite their conflict, so they aim to stay together and wait for Godot. Pozzo travels around with Lucky, who is binded to Pozzo.

Godot also emphasizes Absurdity. In an absurd atmosphere, man loses all control, logic breaks down, as man becomes a puppet to the world around them with eventually leads to silence. In Waiting for Godot, all reason is destroyed my the lack of memory of any of the characters. As the characters can't recall what happened the day before, Vladamir, Estragon, Pozzo and Lucky are bound to repeat the same events and thought processes day after day. All reason is replaced with thoughts and conversations of little merit and intellect. Eventually, there will just be silence.