The inverted symbolism of the tree in Waiting for Godot by S. Beckett and The Cherry Orchard by A. Chekhov

Abstract

The symbolism of the tree in literature and in the cultural imaginary can acquire a relevant dimension for the analysis of literary works. If we think about the religious and mythological traditions, we find examples such as the tree of the science of good and evil of Paradise, the tree of the Hesperides, the multiple metamorphoses of mortals in trees or, finally, the Yggdrasil. In this article we will analyze how in two plays by Samuel Beckett and Anton Chekhov respectively, this element becomes crucial when used as an inverted symbol that transmits and condenses with great intensity one of the hermeneutic keys that allow to understand the dramatic plot and the relationships between the characters much better.