Modern Man’s Religious Plight: Harvey Whitehouse’ Modes of Religiosity in Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot

Abstract

This study textually analyzed Samuel Beckett’s ‘Waiting for Godot’ which shows dispositions of religion to man and man’s behavior to religion. Moreover, the study highlights Beckett’s depiction of man’s belief of waiting for his survivor to come for his help. This paper questions the purpose of religious interpretations and man’s dwindling belief in God at the time of his utmost trial. To debate on the hypothesis, Beckett’s Play “Waiting for Godot is chosen. For the purpose of investigation Harvey Whitehouse’s theory, “Mood of Religiosity” is hence considered. To carry out research, textual analysis is applied. The paper comprises of two levels of investigation, first on theoretical model and second on dimensional model. The paper sets new trends for the future researchers to analyze religion in text through different ways.

Keywords: Religiosity, dimensional, behavior, dwindling belief, trial, religious interpretations.