Write short notes on any two of the following in about 200 words each
a. Lucky
Lucky is a character from Samuel Beckett’s play Waiting for Godot. He is a strange and silent figure who is led around by his master, Pozzo, by a rope around his neck. Lucky hardly speaks, except in one long, confusing monologue that surprises both the audience and other characters. His speech is full of random thoughts and unfinished ideas, showing the breakdown of logical language. Lucky represents the suffering, obedience, and meaninglessness that are key ideas in the play. He obeys every order, carries heavy bags, and never protests, reflecting the theme of human helplessness. His name “Lucky” is ironic, as his life is anything but lucky. Through Lucky, Beckett shows how people can lose their identity and freedom. His presence in the play makes the audience think about the role of suffering in life and how people accept it without question.
d. Gender issue in Look Back in Anger
In John Osborne’s Look Back in Anger, gender roles are a major theme. The main character, Jimmy Porter, often insults and dominates his wife Alison, who comes from an upper-class background. Alison is quiet and submissive at first, fitting the traditional image of a woman in the 1950s. Jimmy’s anger toward her shows how gender and class combine to create tension. He wants her to feel pain and emotion, accusing her of being cold. Later in the play, Alison leaves him, showing that she also has strength and independence. Helena, another female character, is more confident and openly challenges Jimmy, representing a modern woman who refuses to stay silent. The play shows women struggling to find their voices in a male-dominated world. Osborne uses gender conflict to explore deeper issues of identity, power, and emotional connection between men and women.