This week, we were reading Waiting for Godot, when something popped out at me.
Vladimir: What is terrible is to have thought.
I think this is the greatest moment in the play that made me think. It is also the greatest truth.
In our readings, again and again the characters are hindered by their own thoughts. In Hamlet, Hamlet wanted to kill his Uncle, but also wanted to wait until the timing was right and he was sure that the king was guilty. He planned how to trick the king into inadvertently admitting his guilt, as well as how to best exact his revenge. But Hamlet waited while he thought. He never acted, and this resulted in the death of his love, his mother, and many other innocent or almost innocent characters. He eventually recieved his revenge, but at a great loss.
Vladimir and Estragon were waiting for Godot. Who or what Godot is isn't really important. They were just waiting. Maybe it was for something better, something happier, or just something more. The point is, they were waiting and thinking and waiting and thinking and spent the whole day doing nothing, for any number of days. Although these characters seemed crazy, I think they just thought too much to function. The play was full of pauses and meaningful statements, almost as if they didn't speak unless something needed to be said, and gave it meaning. As brilliant as that is, the overall feeling I got from the play was contentment. Not happiness or fulfilment. Contentment. These characters thought brilliant and amazing ideas and then did nothing with them, wasting their days away.
This sort of thing happens far too often in real life as well. As individuals, we tend to overthink every decision we have to make, and this leads to great opportunities passing us by. While I was searching so hard to find the perfect college and weigh each university's pros and cons, deadlines for merit scholarships were passing me by. And maybe now that I've found the perfect place, I won't be able to afford to go. As a nation, our congressmen and representatives seem like they can never come to a decision before a deadline.We talk and talk and talk. "What if-" "How come-" "Why don't we-" "Instead-" We're still arguing about global warming and taxes, even though these issues have been on the table for as long as I can remember.
I believe that we need to be secure in our decisions and stop over-thinking every aspect of our lives. Thought is great. It's what separates us from turtles and squirrels. But it should be more of a gift, and less of a curse.
