SOURCE: Bugliani, Ann. “The Biblical Subtext in Beckett's Waiting for Godot.” Journal of Dramatic Theory and Criticism 16, no. 1 (fall 2001): 15-38.

In the following essay, Bugliani highlights the parallels between Waiting for Godot's characters' blind beliefs and the faith required of Christians concerning God, Christ, and redemption.

More has been written on Samuel Beckett and his opus than on any other twentieth century author. There are over 2500 entries on Beckett in the MLA bibliography. Yet despite this intense critical attention, the Nobel prize laureate's use of Biblical material remains controversial. Some critics dismiss its importance, basing themselves on his famous remark: “Christianity is a mythology with which I am perfectly familiar, and so I use it.”¹ Others clearly overestimate it, placing Beckett in the tradition of Old Testament prophets.² Still others, perhaps most, acknowledge its importance but debate its meaning or significance. All the major Beckett scholars have...