Waiting for God – A Critique of Christianity Olivia Ferraro College

How does civilization progress? How do the ideals and standards of a society change over time and adapt to technological advances? Throughout the majority of recorded history, progress and change in this sense is the result of an antithesis, or an opposition to the societal standards, often found in the form of a counterculture. This change is the result of the population’s dissatisfaction with the current state, whether it is a political, economical, religious, or cultural one. The counterculture succeeds through spreading ideas and influence to the general public to seek more support from the population, as there is power in numbers. This encourages artists, writers, musicians, directors, and anyone else with a creative output to promote their beliefs and viewpoints, as they possess the freedom to express their views and can use their popularity to influence the public. Contributing to the Theatre of the Absurd in support of the existentialism movement, Samuel Beckett’s play Waiting for Godot challenges religious values, particularly Christian values, through highlighting the faults and shortcomings of Christianity.

Released in 1953, Waiting for Godot was written at a significant pivotal point in British and American history,...