Syntactic Deconstruction of Beckett’s Dramatic Text: A Transitivity Analysis of Waiting for Godot

This study examines the dominant elements of Transitivity (Ideational meaning) of Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot. The analysis of data was conducted by using computational tool, UAM Corpus Tool (UAMTC). The study has found that Beckett’s dramatic text has a considerable amount of Material processes going on in the world of the play but these processes are less directed to a Goal and are even agentless too. The processes are also not spatially and temporally situated. The characters are out of time in Waiting for Godot (Esslin, 1980). The text is a linguistic paradox; lexically simple but structurally complex. The fragmented syntax of the play corresponds with the chaotic existence of man. The meaninglessness of human life has been conveyed through broken language. It is due to these qualities that the play is able to make a mark on the minds of its readers. The present study has explored of the possibility of reconciliation between literary and linguistic approach to the study of literary texts in general and modern drama in particular.