Lady Di and I saw two of the plays featured at this year's Spoleto Festival: The Cripple of Inishmaan and "The Understudy". The Irish production of "The Cripple of Inishmaan" has gotten rave reviews in performances throughout the U.S. I haven't checked the reviews for "The Understudy", but I can tell you I enjoyed it immensely. Both plays focus on the absurdity and futility of life. You know: the meaning of life is that there is no meaning to life. That sort of stuff. The Understudy does it overtly, as it is centered around a play about Existentialist writer Franz_Kafka. The Cripple of Inishmaan doesn't refer to Existentialist writers, but, well, it's Irish, and absurdity is sort of in their DNA.That got me thinking about some of my favorite existential quotes through history. Here is a sampling:
"For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few and meaningless days they pass through like a shadow? Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?" Ecclesiastes 6:12 (NIV)
You think that Bible verse might've influenced the World's greatest playwrite?
"Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing."
William Shakespeare, "Macbeth" Act 5, scene 5, 19–28
Charlie isn't the only of Martin Sheen's kids that's into absurdity and futility: AndyMan likes to quote Emilio Estevez (who was playing the role of William Bonney in Young Guns II, and has this discussion upon being cornered by folks that meant to kill him): "You remember the stories John use to tell us about the the three chinamen playing Fantan? This guy runs up to them and says, "Hey, the world's coming to an end!" and the first one says, "Well, I best go to the mission and pray," and the second one says, "Well, hell, I'm gonna go and buy me a case of Mezcal and six whores," and the third one says "Well, I'm gonna finish the game." I shall finish the game, Doc."
Today's "Luanne" comic strip has a nice spin on team existentialism:
What's the meaning of life? Douglas Adams told us the answer in "The Life, The Universe, and Everything":
You guys do what you like. As for me? I shall finish the game.
6 comments:
........me too!...and hope I come close to getting it right! fdb
No doubt about it, Frandy. You're one of the good ones!
How kind!!!!!!!!!!!!!....you too! :) fdb
Not everyone shares your sentiment, Frandy, but I'm mighty glad you think so.
What was that quote from the Chairman of the board that pretty much settle the debate whether is was to be is to do, or to do is to be?
AndyMan
Great quote, A-Man. I saw it on the walls of a public restroom:
"To do is to be. Descartes
To be is to do. Sartre.
Do be do be do. Sinatra."
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