The Metamorphosis and Waiting for Godot Analysis | Dark humour in literature

The Metamorphosis and Waiting for Godot Analysis Dark humour in literatureMany writers have significantly utilized dark humor or black humor across various genres and time. Dark humor in Metamorphosis and Waiting For Godot have not and revealed to us through its various moments, ideas and issues that appeal to an audience at that time, but it in any case revealed to the readers and audience the nature of its characters. Although Vladimir, estragon, Pozzo and favored have been created almost like tenor characters, we await to understand through Samuel Becketts put on of dark humor moments of Pathos, meaninglessness and stagnancy in their lives. Franz Kafka on the other hand creates a transformation in his main character, Gregor Samsa, by turning him into a mere insect and watching not only Samsas family but his reading audience react to it.The opening painting of Waiting For Godot is a country road setting with a single tree, and we find Estragon trying to remove his boots wi th both his hands. After much struggle, he says Nothing to be done as if removing his shoes was such a profound thing to be doing and therefore nothing could be done somewhat his inability to remove his boots. A little later, as through out the play, each of them exchange dialogues that do not correspond or even plug into to each other in any way.Estragon Ah, stop blathering and help me off with this bloody thingVladimir handing hand from the top of Eiffel tower, among the first. We were presentable in those days. at once its too late. They wouldnt even let us up. whole of these dialogues would have sent the audience into splits but they also resound with the inability of Vladimir and Estragon living a full and meaning demeanor.Another example of black humor in this play is the part where Estragon negotiation about the Dead Sea and how the precise thought of it made him thirsty. This creates a roar of laughter amongst the audience as Estragon talks about the Dead Sea in contex t to the Gospels. But, the ingenuousness is that the water form the Dead Sea will quench no thirst, as it is highly saline. This brings out Estragons nave character as he talks about the Dead Sea in comparison to the Gospels Estragon The Dead Sea was pale blue. The very look of it made me thirsty.The entrance of Pozzo and Lucky on stage undoubtedly thrives on dark humor. Lucky is being led by a rope tied to his neck and pozzo says, Lets say no more. Up pig Every time he f anys, he falls asleep. Up hog Back Stop Turn These staccato instructions, almost phalanx style, seem to evoke a laugh or at least smile amongst the audience or readers. However, the slavish Lucky seems to be put into a demeaning situation, which doesnt fail to catch the audiences attention. The return of Pozzo held by Lucky on a rope seems to create a reverse emblem of the earlier situation. This image brings a certain satisfaction to the audience, a laugh no doubt, and yet makes the audience aware of how fortun e is fickle and can change with such a strong impact.The technique of contrast used by Beckett in Waiting For Godot is another attempt to bring out humor and reveal character. Estragons constant pertain of who Godot is and when he will come and Vladimirs attempt to constantly calm his nerves,Vladimir He said Saturday. I think.Estragon You think.Pozzos initial arrogance and later his dependence on Lucky while he crawls onto stage are humorous ways of representing the characters.Becketts constant use of repetition of language and actions are humorous but stagnant. This is push intensified when Vladimir and Estragon have nothing to eat but a single carrot and a rotten turnip,Estragon Im hungryVladimir Do you neediness a carrot?Estragon Is that all there is?Vladimir I might have some turnipsThey seem to be holding on to their dignity later in the play when they meet Lucky and Pozzo. They do not show their hunger nor do they ask for food. But the moment Pozzo and Lucky leave the stage, Estragon picks up the eaten chicken bones, trying to get some sustenance out of it, Estragon makes a dart at the bones, picks them up and begins to gnaw on them. All these action and dialogues used by Beckett derive a sense of black humor but reveal to us simultaneously the sterile, meaningless and unfulfilled life of its characters.When Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from troubled dreams he found himself alter in his bed into a monstrous insect. The very opening lines of The Metamorphosis stated in this casual style does not fail to bring a smile to the readers. For who can wake up and find themselves transformed into an insect and not panic. Strangely, Gregor seems untouched by this transformation, assuming life would go on with his spindly legs and squeaky voice.Kafka describes Gregor as this thing with a monstrous body and spindly legs. He has legs that dont seem to support him and neither is he aware how to use them. Kafkas humorous description of Gregor Samsa trying to get on those legs and out of the door and approve to work, Groping for support, he fell down with a little cry on his numerous legs brings out a roar of laughter as he falls back on his back and cries out in a squeaky voice for help. Gregor gave a start when he heard his voice irrepressible, painful squeaky The use of humor here reveals to us the helpless situation Samsa is trapped in and we as readers sympathize with this character.Later on in the book, Kafka describes how Samsas embarrassed father throws an apple at Gregors back and the apple sticks in the insects bodyIt was an apple. Immediately, a second one flew after it. Gregor stood still in fright.Gregors serious wound, from which he suffered for over a month -since no one ventured to remove the apple, it remained in his flesh as a visible reminder.Although this seems visually funny, it draws upon the readers sympathy and empathy with Gregor. From this moment on G regor seems to drop psychologically and physically and dies in a heap of dust, to be swept out and thrown into the trash by the Charwoman.At the end of The Metamorphosis Gregor Samsa is seen for the stand time when he hears his sister playing the violin. He sneaks out of his room unaware that his current image not only frightened his family but also the lodgers who had come to stay as paying guests. Gregor attracted by playing. This episode not only reveals to us almost like nestlingren playing Peek-a-boo, a child like humor, but we readers have become pained at such a transformation of Gregor. We have also unmistakably recognized that his family members have transformed too into selfish, heartless human beings who refuse to call the insect their son or brother (in the sisters case)I will not utter my brothers name in front of this monsterThus, through the examination of the two books, Waiting For Godot and The Metamorphosis, it can be concluded that it is through dark humor that the authors have brought out the several(prenominal) character istics of the individuals depicted. For example, the blunt Estragon, the clam Vladimir, the dominant Pozzo, the slavish Lucky or the tragic Samsa, all of these characteristics are brought out through the help of dark humor. We have encountered them all through humorous events, descriptions and pictures.