the Comparison of the intrinsic elements of "The Proposal and Waiting for godot"

THE COMPARISON OF THE INTRINSIC ELEMENTS OF

“THE PROPOSAL BY ANTON CHEKHOV” AND

“WAITING FOR GODOT BY SAMUEL BECKETT”

I.                   CHARACTER AND CHARACTERIZATION

A.    The Character and Characterization of The Proposal

The kinds of character of The Proposal:

1.      Stepan stepanovitch Chubukov

His physical looks like 70 years old. We can look at this photos below to make sure that Chubukov’s phisical looks like 70 years old.

He is a landower who is a friendly man. We can know from the way he welcomed the Lomov’s arrival. He showed  the good behaviour when he welcomed his neighbour. He embraced and kissed Lomov. We can see from their dialogue below when Lomov visited the Chubukov’s house:

CHUBUKOV: My dear fellow, whom do I see! Ivan Vassilevitch! I am extremely glad! [Squeezes his hand] Now this is a surprise, my darling ... How are you?

LOMOV: Thank you. And how may you be getting on?

CHUBUKOV: We just get along somehow, my angel, to your prayers, and so on. Sit down, please do. ... Now, you know, you shouldn't forget all about your neighbours, my darling. My dear fellow, why are you so formal in your get-up? Evening dress, gloves, and so on. Can you be going anywhere, my treasure?

From the dialogue,we can see that Chubukov was so happy when he was visited by his neighbour. He also invited Lomov to sit down. It is the behaviour that really must be done by the people who welcomes his guest. In order to make sure that Chubukov is friendly, we can also see the dialogue below:

CHUBUKOV: [Interrupting] My dear fellow ... I'm so glad, and so on. ... Yes, indeed, and all that sort of thing. [Embraces and kisses LOMOV] I've been hoping for it for a long time. It's been my continual desire. [Sheds a tear] And I've always loved you, my angel, as if you were my own son. May God give you both His help and His love and so on, and I did so much hope ... What am I behaving in this idiotic way for? I'm off my balance with joy, absolutely off my balance! Oh, with all my soul ... I'll go and call Natasha, and all that.

When Chubukov knew that Lomov wanted to purpose Natalya, he embraced and kissed him directly. He was very excited and happy at the proposal. It is showed that he is friendly and recognize the other people.

Beside that, Chubukov also the Lover one. He loves his daughter and his family very much. I can say it because he always provided for his daughter when his daugher had problem with other people. He also supported the things which was done by  his daughter if it could make his daughter happy. For example, When Natalya asked him to bring Lomov back, whereas in fact that they got difference of understanding.  He still wanted to call Lomov back for natalya’s happiness.

Look at the dialogue below:

CHUBUKOV: What's the matter? What are you shouting at?

NATALYA STEPANOVNA: Papa, please tell to this gentleman who owns Oxen Meadows, we or he?

CHUBUKOV: [To LOMOV] Darling, the Meadows are ours!

LOMOV: But, please, Stepan Stepanitch, how can they be yours? Do be a reasonable man! My aunt's grandmother gave the Meadows for the temporary and free use of your grandfather's peasants. The peasants used the land for forty years and got as accustomed to it as if it was their own, when it happened that ...

CHUBUKOV: Excuse me, my precious. ... You forget just this, that the peasants didn't pay your grandmother and all that, because the Meadows were in dispute, and so on. And now everybody knows that they're ours. It means that you haven't seen the plan.

The dialogue above is the prove that chubukov loves his daughter and family very much. He will provide everything that relate to his family.

In the end of the play, we also know that Chubukov is kind man. Let’s check the following part of this play:

CHUBUKOV: Oh! ... What is it? What's the matter?

NATALYA STEPANOVNA: [Wails] He's dead ... dead!

CHUBUKOV: Who's dead? [Looks at LOMOV] So he is! My word! Water! A doctor! [Lifts a tumbler to LOMOV'S mouth] Drink this! ... No, he doesn't drink. ... It means he's dead, and all that. ... I'm the most unhappy of men! Why don't I put a bullet into my brain? Why haven't I cut my throat yet? What am I waiting for? Give me a knife! Give me a pistol! [LOMOV moves] He seems to be coming round. ... Drink some water! That's right. ...

It can be seen when he thought that Lomov was dead, he repented what he did to him. It is the evidence that Chubukov is kind man.

2.      Natalya stepanovna

She is Chubukov’s daughter. She is twenty five years old. She is fussy and talkative. It can be known from her conversation with Lomov below:

NATALYA STEPANOVNA: It's not true!

LOMOV: Why shout, madam?

NATALYA STEPANOVNA: Why talk rot? It's awful! It's time your Guess was shot, and you compare him with Squeezer!

LOMOV: Excuse me; I cannot continue this discussion: my heart is palpitating.

NATALYA STEPANOVNA: I've noticed that those hunters argue most who know least.

LOMOV: Madam, please be silent. ... My heart is going to pieces. ... [Shouts] Shut up!

NATALYA STEPANOVNA: I shan't shut up until you acknowledge that Squeezer is a hundred times better than your Guess!

LOMOV: A hundred times worse! Be hanged to your Squeezer! His head ... eyes ... shoulder ...

NATALYA STEPANOVNA: There's no need to hang your silly Guess; he's half-dead already!

LOMOV: [Weeps] Shut up! My heart's bursting!

NATALYA STEPANOVNA: I shan't shut up.

She will give some explanations till she defeats Lomov in the debate. She didn’t want to stop talking although Lomov said he can’t continue the debate. It is the evidence that she always want to be the winner in everything.

Natalya is very much attached to her father. Her wishes must be fulfilled by her father. Like the following part below:

NATALYA STEPANOVNA: To propose to me? Ah! [Falls into an easy-chair and wails] Bring him back! Back! Ah! Bring him here.

CHUBUKOV: Bring whom here?

NATALYA STEPANOVNA: Quick, quick! I'm ill! Fetch him! [Hysterics.]

CHUBUKOV: What's that? What's the matter with you? [Clutches at his head] Oh, unhappy man that I am! I'll shoot myself! I'll hang myself! We've done for her!

NATALYA STEPANOVNA: I'm dying! Fetch him!

CHUBUKOV: Tfoo! At once. Don't yell!

[Runs out. A pause. NATALYA STEPANOVNA wails.]

NATALYA STEPANOVNA. What have they done to me! Fetch him back! Fetch him! [A pause.]

[CHUBUKOV runs in.]

Natalya forced Chubukov to bring Lomov back whereas they engaged in long debate.  It can be prove that Natalya is very spoiled. From the Lomov’s statement below, we also know about the characteristic of Natalya:

LOMOV: It's cold ... I'm trembling all over, just as if I'd got an examination before me. The great thing is, I must have my mind made up. If I give myself time to think, to hesitate, to talk a lot, to look for an ideal, or for real love, then I'll never get married. ... Brr! ... It's cold! Natalya Stepanovna is an excellent housekeeper, not bad-looking, well-educated. ...

That is the supporting data for the characterictic of Natalya. She is an excellent housekeeper, beautiful and clever.

3.      Ivan Vassilevitch Lomov

He is Chubukov’s neighbour. He is 35 years old, a critical age. He is a large and hearty. He always speak needlessly long sentences or the other words he never speak to the point. Let’s check the dialogue below:

LOMOV: Well, you see, it's like this. [Takes his arm] I've come to you, honoured Stepan Stepanovitch, to trouble you with a request. Not once or twice have I already had the privilege of applying to you for help, and you have always, so to speak ... I must ask your pardon, I am getting excited. I shall drink some water, honoured Stepan Stepanovitch. [Drinks.]

CHUBUKOV: [Aside] He's come to borrow money! Shan't give him any! [Aloud] What is it, my beauty?

LOMOV: You see, Honour Stepanitch ... I beg pardon, Stepan Honouritch ... I mean, I'm awfully excited, as you will please notice. ... In short, you alone can help me, though I don't deserve it, of course ... and haven't any right to count on your assistance. ...

CHUBUKOV: Oh, don't go round and round it, darling! Spit it out! Well?

LOMOV: One moment ... this very minute. The fact is, I've come to ask the hand of your daughter, Natalya Stepanovna, in marriage.

From the dialogue above, we can see that Lomov spoke with long sentences before he said the main purpose of his coming. Beside that he also has Hipocondriac illness. It is such a psychological illness. Actually his body is find but he always feels sick. If he got nervous, his heart was palpitating awfully, especially when faced with Natalya. He always feels that he want to die. Let’s see the part of the play below:

(1)

LOMOV: It's cold ... I'm trembling all over, just as if I'd got an examination before me. The great thing is, I must have my mind made up. If I give myself time to think, to hesitate, to talk a lot, to look for an ideal, or for real love, then I'll never get married. ... Brr! ... It's cold! Natalya Stepanovna is an excellent housekeeper, not bad-looking, well-educated. ... What more do I want? But I'm getting a noise in my ears from excitement. [Drinks] And it's impossible for me not to marry. ... In the first place, I'm already 35--a critical age, so to speak. In the second place, I ought to lead a quiet and regular life. ... I suffer from palpitations, I'm excitable and always getting awfully upset. ... At this very moment my lips are trembling, and there's a twitch in my right eyebrow. ... But the very worst of all is the way I sleep. I no sooner get into bed and begin to go off when suddenly something in my left side gives a pull, and I can feel it in my shoulder and head. ... I jump up like a lunatic, walk about a bit, and lie down again, but as soon as I begin to get off to sleep there's another pull! And this may happen twenty times. ...

                   (2)

NATALYA STEPANOVNA: You dare!

LOMOV: [Clutches at his heart] Oxen Meadows are mine! You understand? Mine!

NATALYA STEPANOVNA: Please don't shout! You can shout yourself hoarse in your own house, but here I must ask you to restrain yourself!

LOMOV: If it wasn't, madam, for this awful, excruciating palpitation, if my whole inside wasn't upset, I'd talk to you in a different way! [Yells] Oxen Meadows are mine!

Those are the kinds of dialogue that consist of prove that Lomov has Hipocondriac illness.

B.     The character and characterization of Waiting for Godot.

Actually there are six characters in this play. The five characters are real and one character is only mentioned. There are two main characters. They are protagonists. They are:

1.      Vladimir and Estragon.

Vladimir and Estragon have different characteristic. Vladimir is rasional and intelect but Estragon is emosional one. They are two tramps who were waiting for Godot. They spent their time to do meaningless things. Vladimir is optimistic person but Estragon is pesimistic person. We can see in the following dialogue below:

VLADIMIR:

He didn't say for sure he'd come.

ESTRAGON:

And if he doesn't come?

VLADIMIR:

We'll come back tomorrow.

ESTRAGON:

And then the day after tomorrow.

VLADIMIR:

Possibly.

ESTRAGON:

And so on.

.

.

.

VLADIMIR:

We've nothing more to do here.

ESTRAGON:

Nor anywhere else.

VLADIMIR:

Ah Gogo, don't go on like that. Tomorrow everything will be better.

ESTRAGON:

How do you make that out?

VLADIMIR:

Did you not hear what the child said?

ESTRAGON:

No.

VLADIMIR:

He said that Godot was sure to come tomorrow. (Pause.) What do you say to that?

ESTRAGON:

Then all we have to do is to wait on here.

From long dialogue above, we can know that Estragon felt  pessimist that Godot will come and always want to give up ,but Vladimir always optimist that Godot will come. Beside that we also can see if Estragon is forgetful person. He didn’t remember that he ever did the same things in the past and Vladimir will remind him what happen in the past. Let’s check the following part of this play:

ESTRAGON:

What did we do yesterday?

VLADIMIR:

What did we do yesterday?

ESTRAGON:

Yes.

VLADIMIR:

Why . . . (Angrily.) Nothing is certain when you're about.

ESTRAGON:

In my opinion we were here.

VLADIMIR:

(looking round). You recognize the place?

ESTRAGON:

I didn't say that.

VLADIMIR:

Well?

ESTRAGON:

That makes no difference.

VLADIMIR:

All the same . . . that tree . . . (turning towards auditorium) that bog . . .

From this play, we also recognize that Vladimir needed the existence of Estragon because he felt lonely if he must wait for Godot by him self. Let’s see the following part:

ESTRAGON:

(restored to the horror of his situation). I was asleep! (Despairingly.) Why will you never let me sleep?

VLADIMIR:

I felt lonely.

                            

                   Vladimir is the kind and lover person. He loved estragon very much although they often had different opinion in many things. It can be known in the following part below:

ESTRAGON:

(violently). I'm hungry!

VLADIMIR:

Do you want a carrot?

ESTRAGON:

Is that all there is?

VLADIMIR:

I might have some turnips.

ESTRAGON:

Give me a carrot. (Vladimir rummages in his pockets, takes out a turnip and gives it to Estragon who takes a bite out of it. Angrily.) It's a turnip!

VLADIMIR:

Oh pardon! I could have sworn it was a carrot. (He rummages again in his pockets, finds nothing but turnips.) All that's turnips. (He rummages.) You must have eaten the last. (He rummages.) Wait, I have it. (He brings out a carrot and gives it to Estragon.) There, dear fellow.

He gave carrot to Estragon who felt hungry. It is the good behaviour as a friend. When our friend has difficulties, we must help as we can and it is the things that Vladimir’ve done for Estragon.

Beside that Vladimir is also curious one. We can know for the following dialogue below:

VLADIMIR:

Let's wait till we know exactly how we stand.

ESTRAGON:

On the other hand it might be better to strike the iron before it freezes.

VLADIMIR:

I'm curious to hear what he has to offer. Then we'll take it or leave it.

ESTRAGON:

What exactly did we ask him for?

VLADIMIR:

Were you not there?

It is the one evidence that Vladimir is curious. He always want to know about everything.

2.      Pozzo and Lucky

There is a second couple of man, Pozzo and Lucky. They are minor character in Waiting for Godot’s play. They appeared in the central part of the act. Their appearance in the first and second act goes on static. Pozzo is brutal and crude master and Lucky is his slave. Their relationship has been interpreted in different ways. We can imagine both of them like a circus. Lucky is as a cruel master and Pozzo is poor slave that must do anything what Pozzo wants. In order to make sure that Lucky is cruel master. Let’s see the part of dialogue below:

 

POZZO:

(with magnanimous gesture). Let's say no more about it. (He jerks the rope.) Up pig! (Pause.) Every time he drops he falls asleep. (Jerks the rope.) Up hog! (Noise of Lucky getting up and picking up his baggage. Pozzo jerks the rope.) Back! (Enter Lucky backwards.) Stop! (Lucky stops.) Turn! (Lucky turns. To Vladimir and Estragon, affably.) Gentlemen, I am happy to have met you. (Before their incredulous expression.) Yes yes, sincerely happy. (He jerks the rope.) Closer! (Lucky advances.) Stop! (Lucky stops.) Yes, the road seems long when one journeys all alone for . . . (he consults his watch) . . . yes . . . (he calculates) . . . yes, six hours, that's right, six hours on end, and never a soul in sight. (To Lucky.) Coat! (Lucky puts down the bag, advances, gives the coat, goes back to his place, takes up the bag.) Hold that! (Pozzo holds out the whip. Lucky advances and, both his hands being occupied, takes the whip in his mouth, then goes back to his place. Pozzo begins to put on his coat, stops.) Coat! (Lucky puts down the bag, basket and stool, helps Pozzo on with his coat, goes back to his place and takes up bag, basket and stool.) Touch of autumn in the air this evening. (Pozzo finishes buttoning up his coat, stoops, inspects himself, straightens up.) Whip! (Lucky advances, stoops, Pozzo snatches the whip from his mouth, Lucky goes back to his place.) Yes, gentlemen, I cannot go for long without the society of my likes (he puts on his glasses and looks at the two likes) even when the likeness is an imperfect one. (He takes off his glasses.) Stool! (Lucky puts down bag and basket, advances, opens stool, puts it down, goes back to his place, takes up bag and basket.) Closer! (Lucky puts down bag and basket, advances, moves stool, goes back to his place, takes up bag and basket. Pozzo sits down, places the butt of his whip against Lucky's chest and pushes.) Back! (Lucky takes a step back.) Further! (Lucky takes another step back.) Stop! (Lucky stops. To Vladimir and Estragon.) That is why, with your permission, I propose to dally with you a moment, before I venture any further. Basket! (Lucky advances, gives the basket, goes back to his place.) The fresh air stimulates the jaded appetite. (He opens the basket, takes out a piece of chicken and a bottle of wine.) Basket! (Lucky advances, picks up the basket and goes back to his place.) Further! (Lucky takes a step back.) He stinks. Happy days!

He drinks from the bottle, puts it down and begins to eat. Silence.

After we look at how Pozzo treated Lucky. We can conclude directly that Pozzo is cruel and make suffer to other people. In the other hand, Lucky is a poor man that can think but he must obey the Pozzo’s order.

POZZO:

Is is enough? No doubt. But I am liberal. It's my nature. This evening. So much the worse for me. (He jerks the rope. Lucky looks at him.) For I shall suffer, no doubt about that. (He picks up the whip.) What do you prefer? Shall we have him dance, or sing, or recite, or think, or—

ESTRAGON:

Who?

POZZO:

Who! You know how to think, you two?

VLADIMIR:

He thinks?

POZZO:

Certainly. Aloud. He even used to think very prettily once, I could listen to him for hours. Now . . . (he shudders). So much the worse for me. Well, would you like him to think something for us?

It is the prove that Lucky can think but he can’t avoid the orders of Pozzo.

3.      The Boy

The boy is also minor character in this play. He is a man who give information to Vladimir and Estragon that Godot will not come tomorrow. We can not sure whether he is the same boy who had come the day before or not. He is the only one who give us information about Godot.

4.      Godot

If we talk about Godot, it is the interesting one. How come?? It is because Godot is not real character. He never exists in  the play. We just got information about him from the boy. He said that Godot is “a man with a white beard”, but in fact we never known who is Godot. There are so many interpretation about Godot. It happen because the Waiting for Godot’s writer said that he also didn’t know who Godot is. Samuel Beckett said that “If I knew, I would have said so in the play”. His statement makes the readers have many interpretation about Godot. There are some interpretation that Godot is God, Death or human that has strenght to solve the problems. We never know who Godot is.

C.     The Comparison of Waiting for Godot and The Proposal’s Character and Characterization.

The comparison of the character and characterization between The Proposal and Waiting for Godot is very clear. All of the characters in The Proposal’s play are major character without any minor character but in the Waiting for Godot’s play, there are two major character and also three minor character. The proposal consists of all real character. It means that all of the characters truly exist in the play without any character that only mentioned. On the other hand, there is one character that only mentioned in the Waiting for Godot’s play. It is Godot itself. There are many interpretation that Godot is God, Death or human that has strength to solve the problem. It can’t be explained till now, but the clearly one is Godot never exist. It is the reason why Waiting for Godot is full of absurdity. Beside the explanation above, we can conclude the comparison between The Proposal and Waiting for Godot’s character and characterization into following part:

1.      Traits of the major Character

The traits of major characters of both plays is similar but not same at all. Lomov has big wishes in his life  and so is Vladimir and Estragon. Lomov has wishes to propose Natalya and Vladimir and Estragon have wishes in waiting for Godot. The differences here is Lomov can reach his wishes without waiting for, but he always postpone it. He always make a problem out of little thing and unfortunatelly it can defeat his planning. In the other hand, actually Vladimir and Estragon are waiting for uncertainly thing. They have nothing to do but filling in their time while waiting and they do that with meaningless conversations. It is the similarities from both plays. The main characters do meaningless conversation. They do silly talk which actually are usefull.

2.      Background of the major character.

The major characters of The Proposal’s play come from the rich family. We can know from the clothes of Lomov. He wears evening dress. Beside that they are landower and well-educated. It can be known when Lomov want to take their matter to court. It means that they come from well-educated family.

In the other hand, Vladimir and Estragon are two tramps. We can know from their clothes. They just wear dirty clothes, hat and boots. Let’s see the picture to make sure the comparison.

THE PROPOSAL AND WAITING FOR GODOT’S CHARACTERS.

II.                PLOT

A.    The Plot Summary of The Proposal

There is Landowner, his name is Chubukov. Someday, he was visited by his neighbour. His name is Lomov. Lomov entered the Chubukov’s house. Chubukov welcomed him friendly. Lomov told that he wanted to purpose Chubukov’s daughter. Her name is Natalya. Finally, Chubukov went and called Natalya.

Natalya came to the drawing room and met Lomov. They greeted each other. Lomov did not tell that he wanted to purpose her. He said with needlessly long sentences and not to the point until he said about Oxen Meadows. It is the first conflict that happen in this play. Lomov said that Oxen Meadows are his own, but Natalya said that it was hers. Chubukov entered the room again and asked Natalya what actually happen. Natalya told to her father that Lomov claimed if the Oxen Meadows are his own. Chubukov refused directly and said that Oxen Meadows are his own. Lomov wanted to take it to court and showed Chubukov and Natalya that Oxen Meadows are his own and at this moment, Chubukov was also ready to take it to court. They said about the wickedness of their family until Lomov felt dizzy. After that, he staggered out the Chubukov’s house. While Lomov went out, Chubukov told to Natalya that the Lomov’s coming was to propose her. Natalya was suprised and asked to her father to bring Lomov back.

Lomov entered the Chubukov’s house again and started to have conversation with Natalya. As the first coming, he spoke about something that make Natalya was angry and make a debate between them. At this time is about their dog. Lomov claimed that Guess was the best dog but natalya claimed that Squeezer was better than Guess because Squeezer was young and might develop a bit. They debated each other like the first conflict until Chubukov came again to the room and helped Natalya to debate Lomov. After they took long conversation, Lomov felt he could’t debate again because he felt that he wanted to die. When Chubukov and Nalatya thought  that Lomov was dead, they are very confuse and afraid. Chubukov said that he regreted what he had done to Lomov, suddenly Lomov woke up and Chubukov asked Lomov and Natalya to get married. However, This is not the end yet, because after they kissed each other, they got debate again about something that actually not important.

B.     The Plot summary of Waiting for Godot.

ACT 1

This act began on a country road by a tree, with old man who wanted to remove his boot. His name was Estragon. The other old man joined him. He was Vladimir. After that they started to chat and shared conversation, food and memories. They were waiting for Godot. We can look their conversation below:

Estragon: Nothing to be done.

Vladimir: I’am beginning to come round to that opinion. All my life tried to put it from me, saying vladimir, be reasonable, you haven’t yet tried everything. And I resumed the struggle. So,there you  are again.

Estragon: Am I?

Vladimir: I’am glad to see you back. I thought you were gone forever.

Estragon: Me too.

Vladimir: Together again at last! We’ll have to celebrate this. But how? Get up till I embrace you...

From the sentence “So,there you  are again”.  we can know that they had apparently known each other for years. They were still waiting for godot. And then there were two men came to them. They were Pozzo and Lucky. Pozzo was master and Lucky was slave. Lucky entertained them by dancing. After they were gone, there was boy came to Estragon and Vladimir. He was as messanger from Godot. He told that Godot would not come that day and would come tomorrow. So, Estragon and Vladimir decided to continue to wait. Let’s check from their dialog below in the end of act  1:

Vladimir: It’s not certain.                                                                         

Estragon: No, nothing is certain.

Vladimir: We can still part, if you think it would be better.

Estragon: It’s not worthwhile now.

Vladimir: No, It’s not worthwhile now.

Estragon: Well, shall we go?

Vladimir: Yes, let’s go.(They do not move)

ACT II

The beginning of Act II is almost same with Act 1. There is no change in this act. The tree has four or five leaves now. Estragon and Vladimir were still waiting for godot. They did conversation as the first act. We can look the dialog below in the beginning of act II.

Vladimir: You again! Come here till I embrace you.

Estragon: don’t touch me!

Vladimir: Do you want me to go away?Gogo! Did they beat you? Gogo! Where did you spend the night?

Estragon: Don’t touch me! Don’t question me! Don’t speak to me! Stay with me!

Vladimir: Did I ever leave you?

Estragon: You let me go.

Vladimir: Look at me. Will you look at me?

(Estragon raises his head. They look long at each other, then suddenly embrace...)

From the dialog above, we have a proof that the plot is parallel. Nothing variation in the next Act. After they took conversation, there were two men came. They were Pozzo and Lucky. But this time, Pozzo was blind and Lucky was dumb. They didn’t remember that they ever met Estragon and Vladimir. As the first act, after Pozzo and Luccky were gone, there was boy came to estragon and Vladimir. He told anymore that Godot would not be there today and would be there tomorrow. Let’s check the last dialog in this play:

Estragon: well? Shall we go?

Vladimir: Pull on your trousers.

Estragon: What?

Vladimir: Pull on your trousers.

Estragon: You want me to pull off my trousers?

Vladimir: Pull ON your trousers.

Estragon: True.

Vladimir: Well? Shall we go?

Estragon: Yes, let’s go.

(They do not move)

From the dialog above, we can conclude that The denouement of the play is another beginning. So, ones again that the plot of this play is circle and parallel.

C.     The Comparison of  The Proposal dan Waiting for Godot’s Plot.

The plot of both plays are cyclical and parallel. The action, in the same way, describes a circle and sequence. The differences between both plays are the one act for “The Proposal” and two acts for “Waiting for Godot”. Look at the following part of these play:

NATALYA STEPANOVNA: But ... still you will admit now that Guess is worse than Squeezer.

LOMOV: Better!

NATALYA STEPANOVNA: Worse!

CHUBUKOV: Well, that's a way to start your family bliss! Have some champagne!

LOMOV: He's better!

NATALYA STEPANOVNA: Worse! worse! worse!

CHUBUKOV: [Trying to shout her down] Champagne! Champagne!

The end of The Proposal’s play is circle. It means that the first conflict and the second conflict had never been solved till the next conflict was set. The first conflict is about Oxen Meadows and the second conflict is about their dog. On the other hand, Waiting for Godot’s play consists of two Acts. However, Act I and Act II has no differences. Act II ends exactly the same as Act I . It suggests that nothing will change, and the next Act (if there was to be one) would proceed in exactly the same fashion. It is a proof that the plot of The Proposal and Waiting for Godot is Parallel and Cyclical.

III.             SETTING

A.    The Setting of The Proposal

The setting of the proposal is in the Chubukov’s country house and exactly in a drawing-room in Chubukov’s house.  It happen at evening, we can know from the Chubukov’s statement:

CHUBUKOV: Then why are you in evening dress, my precious? As if you're paying a New Year's Eve visit!

The setting of the proposal is static. There is no moving of setting at this play. Let’s see the pictures below:

All of characters always do conversation in the same place. That is in  the a drawing room of Chubukov’s house.

B.     The setting of Waiting for Godot.

This play consists of two acts. There is static setting between Act I and Act II.  Those are shown in single place. That is in Country road with a tree. The tree is bare in the first act and has four or five leaves in the second act. This play happen on two continued days. From this play, we can know that there is no problem about time. There is no past and future. They just repeat the present. Let’s see the pictures below:

ACT I

ACT II

 

C.     The Comparison of  The Proposal dan Waiting for Godot’s Setting.

If we look at the setting of these plays, we can know that The Proposal and Waiting for Godot have similarities in setting. These plays are set in one location or static location. Although both plays are set in one location but The Proposal’s setting is more clearly than Waiting for Godot’s setting. We can look from the location and time setting in The Proposal’s play. It is set in exact place. That is in the country house of wealthy landowner Stepan Stepanovitch Chubukov and it happen in evening. While in the Waiting for Godot’s play, the setting is very absurd. We can not know what the exact place in this play. There is only explanation that the setting of place is in the country road. It makes a question for the readers. “Where does this play take place exactly?”. There is no explanation where the country road take place. It can clarify that Samuel Beckett want to make Waiting for Godot’s play is full of absurdity. That is the difference of Waiting for Godot’s setting with The Proposal.

IV.             THEME

A.    Theme of The Proposal.

After we read The Proposal’s play, we can conclude that the theme is:

It is difficult to choose between LOVE and SELF-ESTEEM.

B.     Theme of Waiting for Godot.

When we talk about theme of Waiting for Godot’s play, it is interesting one. It happen because this play is very absurdity. However, we can conclude that the main theme of this play is:

The humanlife is very hard and they must be patient in waiting for something and struggle to always exist.

C.     The comparison of the Proposal and Waiting for Godot’s theme.

Although both plays have different themes but they also have similarities of theme. Both plays take humanlife condition to be told in the play. The proposal tells about human who is difficult to choose between love and self-esteem, so they must struggle to solve problem which concern their self-esteem to reach their truly love. While in Waiting for Godot tells about human who struggle to wait for something which never happen in their life but they must continue to wait to kill their time.