We Can T W. We's Waiting For Godot: Character Analysis

Humankind has a habit of misusing the word ‘can’t’ once they feel unsatisfied with their lives, but it’s up to them to improve their circumstances. For example, one of the main character, Vladimir, says, “We can’t… We’re waiting for Godot” (Beckett 8). Everything in life is about priorities. Because we can’t have all the things we desire in life, we must make sacrifices. All of the choices we make reflect what we care about most. In Vladimir’s case, he chooses to spend his time waiting for Godot rather than engaging in other activities that may be more entertaining. However, he states that he and Estragon can’t leave, which is false. Had Vladimir taken some time to think through his decisions, he would’ve realized that he had no reason to wait
Andrew, from the film Garden State, decides to follow his heart despite what others say when he stops taking lithium. Although his doctor advises him to stay on the medication, he disregards his doctor’s advice because he believes that getting off of the drugs will help him feel true emotions again. This reveals that Andrew is not easily influenced by others. Most would say that it is not wise to go against a doctor’s instruction, but what the doctor wants for Andrew is not what he wants for himself. Following one’s heart may sound ridiculous, but it ensures that one will be able to feel pure joy. For instance, Andrew wants to go back to LA in order to work on himself, but at the last second, he changes his mind and runs back to Sam. Nobody is perfect, so everybody has room to better themselves. Evidently, Andrew's issues and his hopes to better himself was the reason for attending therapy since he was in an unhealthy state of mind. Since he fired the one he was already seeing, perhaps back in LA he would’ve hired a new psychologist to restore his well-being. However, what he really wants is to spend his life with Sam. His decision reflects the importance of following one’s emotions. If he left Sam, he probably would’ve regretted it because the things our souls truly crave will never go away. Similarly, listening to our heads rather than our hearts will cause our minds to be consumed by
Google defines existentialism as, “a 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 the will.” Determining one’s own development clearly suggests that we shouldn’t let others influence us unless we decide we truly want them to. Such a case would be allowing a teacher to affect one’s work ethic. If I think I must work harder, I’ll take the teacher’s advice into consideration because I myself believe that I need to be more focused. On the other hand, if I feel like no change is necessary, I will not take anyone’s advice into consideration because we should never make a decision solely based on what others think. For example, I’d like to major in accounting because it seems to be my best fit. I’m good at math and like routines, but some friends and family members disagree with my choice. They believe I should look into careers that have the highest pay, such as being a doctor or an engineer. Despite their wishes, I will ignore them and do as I please because the route I want to take is what will be best for me. Beckett and Braff would also agree because Beckett satirizes the boys for mindlessly waiting for Godot, and Braff writes Andrew to be a man who thinks for himself. Allowing others to change