Student Essay on The Use of Repetition as a Symmetrical Structural Device in Waiting for Godot

The structure is one of the most important aspects of a play and should revolve around the play's "proper tautness" or how structurally sound it is. Waiting for Godot does not have an exposition, rising action, climax, denouement, or even a conclusion. As a matter of fact, we know by the first line, "Nothing to be done," that this play will have relatively little action.

The structure is one of the most important aspects of a play and should revolve around the play's "proper tautness" or how structurally sound it is (Fletcher 18). Waiting for Godot does not have an exposition, rising action, climax, denouement, or even a conclusion (19). As a matter of fact, we know by the first line, "Nothing to be done," that this play will have relatively little action (Beckett 2). Instead the play is held together by a firm structure of repetitions and the act of balancing and contrasting different elements to create symmetry (Fletcher 19). Although Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot is at the very least confusing, tedious, and an outright struggle to follow for his audience, Beckett's use of repetitious phrases and actions helps form the symmetrical structure the play needs.

One must first examine.....