Vladimir : "Yes, yes, we're magicians."

Day 3 of the challenge in which I was tagged by Lata. 

Today I am reminded of Beckett and his powerful play Waiting for Godot. I remember reading it many years back when I was studying literature. It was a play that would bewilder me at times as it was open to multiple layers of interpretation. Till today I cannot forget it. It is an absurdist play, a satire on the kind of lives we live by repeating certain acts in a Sisyphean manner. The following lines aptly justify certain acts of ours which we do only to fulfill a void in our lives. These acts give an illusion of a meaningful existence and yet in the end, all we do is 'wait' for 'Godot' who never arrives. In doing this, we become what Vladimir calls "magicians".

Estragon: We always find something, eh Didi, to give us the impression we exist?

Vladimir: Yes, yes, we're magicians.”
― Samuel Beckett, Waiting for Godot

Do share your thoughts on the quote, or the play if you have read.

On Day 3, I am tagging the following four bloggers:

Elly Stornebrink

Vyomi Malik

Kokila Gupta

Tomichan Matheikal

'Without music, life would be a mistake'

On Day 2 of the 3 Day Quote Challenge, I again thank Lata for tagging me. 

The rules for the 3 Day Quote Challenge are simple.

1. Post a favorite quote of yours for 3 consecutive days,  obviously  a different quote each day from any book, any author of your choice. It could also be your own quote.
2. Nominate 3 bloggers with each post to challenge them.
3. Thank the person who nominated you.

Today's quote is from one of the greatest philosophers of all times Friedrich Nietzsche:

“Without music, life would be a mistake.” 

― Friedrich Nietzsche, Twilight of the Idols, Or, How to Philosophize With the Hammer

I have often felt that only those with a sensitive heart love music. Appreciation of arts, in any form, be it music, painting or theatre comes from someone who can empathize, someone who has a receptive personality. My grandfather often used to tell the story of the ruthless Mughal king Aurangzeb who hated and banned music from his kingdom. In recent history, Taliban are an example of the same brutal force that stifled art in any form. Do read a fictional piece by me here - Have they come to take my Doll? It is a short story of a girl who loves her doll a lot. She does not understand what animosity can someone have with her precious toy. 

I do not know the context in which Nietzsche wrote these lines but they hold the truth of life. Without music, there is no life. We are mere robots dancing to the tune of things that happen to us on a day-to-day basis. When music happens, the heart beats in a lively tone. When music happens, life sings to us the songs of joy as well as sorrow. When music happens, ego melts away. 

My mom was a wonderful singer. She still has a great voice but does not follow her passion anymore. Do read a short write-up on her I wrote a few days back - Songs Mom Sang

Today I am tagging the following bloggers

Alok Singhal

Maniparna

Top10reviews.in

For Day 1 quote, read my entry here - A Small Ration of Tools...

'A Small Ration of Tools'

I have been tagged by Lata Subramanian who blogs at Lata Wonders for the 3 Day Quote Challenge.

The rules for the 3 Day Quote Challenge are simple.

1. Post a favorite quote of yours for 3 consecutive days,  obviously  a different quote each day from any book, any author of your choice. It could also be your own quote.

1. Nominate 3 bloggers with each post to challenge them.

1. Thank the person who nominated you.

He had what he called just a small ration of tool:

A painted book.

A handful of pencils.

A mindful of thoughts.

Like a simple puzzle, he put them together.

- The Book Thief by Markus Zusack

For an avid book lover inside me, the title of this book was intriguing enough. I did not know what the book was about until the day I grabbed a copy of it from the library and started reading it. It is one of the most poignant books I have ever read. This is just one of the most memorable lines from the book. I don't know if it will fall in the category of a proper 'quote' but I begin the challenge from this one.

Thanks to Lata who has nominated me for this challenge. 

I am nominating the following bloggers for Day 1

Prateek

Manisha Sharma

Purba Chakraborty