Setting ANALYSIS OF CHARACTERISTICS OF THE THEATRE OF THE

54

3.3. Setting

Setting of this play is about unclear, absurd and seemingly is the embodiment and the reflection of dreams and nightmares. The lack information of setting serves abnormal condition and atmosphere which leads to absurdity. As the play begins, the playwright mentioning that the play takes place in a country road near the single-tree in the evening time. There is no specific explanation about the condition of the place. In the beginning of the play, Estragon, as mentioned in the text, is sitting on a low mound and he is trying to take off his boots. A country road. A tree. Evening. Estragon, sitting on a low mound, is trying to take off his boot. He pulls at it with both hands, panting. He gives up, exhausted, rests, tries again. As before. Act I: 9 Both Acts are started with genuinely same idea. The explanation of the place is few. As in the beginning of Act I, Act II also begins with general explanation about the place. Next day. Same time. Same place. Estragons boots front center, heels together, toes splayed. Luckys hat at same place. Act II: 55-57 The similarity between Act I and Act II is also explicitly stated by the playwright in the last pages of Act II. …The sun sets, the moon rises. As in Act 1. Vladimir stands motionless and bowed. Estragon wakes, takes off his boots, gets up with one in each hand and goes and puts them down center front, then goes towards Vladimir. Act II: 92 The text above shows that in every Act, the setting is the same. The story begins as the sun sets and the moon rises then we will see Estragon, who is sitting Universitas Sumatera Utara 55 in a low mound, tries to take off his boot and eventhough fails he will try again until he is very exhausted and then Vladimir enter the stage. The atmosphere of the country road which the play takes place is also clarified by Vladimir in Act II, as he tries to describe the condition to the poor Pozzo who has lost his sight. POZZO: Where are we? VLADIMIR: I couldnt tell you. POZZO: It isnt by any chance the place known as the Board? VLADIMIR: Never heard of it. POZZO: What is it like? VLADIMIR: looking round. Its indescribable. Its like nothing. Theres nothing. Theres a tree. Act II: 86 Vladimir in the text above says that the place is indescribable. Furthermore, he states that this place just like nothing, there is nothing and yet there is a tree. Vladimir seems so confused in describing the place, because he himself does not sure about what he sees. Although Vladimir tries to conclude that there is nothing but still there is a skeletal tree. Both acts, the actions of the whole play take the same time is that in the evening and approximately started at 7p.m. This particular time indicates that the playwright wants to emphasize the constant atmosphere in reflecting dreams and nightmares.

3.4 Dialogue