Dear Reader;

‘Waiting for Godot’ is a piece by Samuel Beckett. It is an old piece because he wrote in 1953. In it there are interesting characters such as Vladimir, Gogo, Pozzo, Boy, and even Godot. Therefore, ‘Godot’ as mentioned in the title in also a character in the story. The essay will particularly investigate the two Characters, Vladimir and Gogo, to prove a thesis which implicates them as careless people, the kind without a purposeful like, and unable to live independent lives without looking up to Godot. The claims will get rationalized through making direct citations from the original piece so, it will be like also an analysis of the story and the characters as well. The same will be the pattern the essay will follow in the developing of ideas. Here we will think about what these two do? Do have an occupation? Why do they rely so much on Godot? Are there instances shown by Beckett which portray this people are careless? The arguments are that they are unable to conduct individual lives responsibly? We will look at where we get such impressions from the story. That will be answering questions like, where does it show they are lonely? We shall even go to the extent of determining the exact page to see these instances supporting our claims so that the reader will find this work authentic. Again, Vladimir and Estragon are the main characters in the story as they depend on each other, then the two rely on Gogo; in short, the story revolves are these two the most.

Your Faithfully;

Rafael Cargas

Baruch College – City University of New York

English 2850 – Great Works of Literature II

Prof. Jeffrey Peer

Rafael Cargas

Essay # 02 (First Draft)

Vladimir, in the story, is also known as Didi and Gogo is also called Estragon. It is arguable that the two are careless especially when considering the condition of their lives as narrated by Beckett. They do the same things every day unware that they are lifeless and do not keep track of what they do. In life, we expect that someone should make themselves useful to lead a responsible life by accounting for even actions. These are not people whom even Beckett shows us as having a certain work post. It is as if the two do not use their brains to full capacity to realize they need to make something out of themselves. The two constantly are not aware of the very vivid compressed vacuum in their lives.

In Act one of the play, some visible elements of literature are charade, pageant, and discourse. Becket starts with putting an impression, then makes us see it in the character’s conversations to solidify that impression, and then finally makes a discussion concerning the whole story. There is that instance where Vladimir vomits after getting to smell Estragon’s boot. At that very moment Estragon goes behind the stage with his back facing the audience the gives a remark for that scene by saying it is a charming spot. The irony of that remark left the two characters smiling but what happens even after that rationalized the general argument made here. What happens is that Estragon returns to stage and tells Vladimir they leave. Vladimir replies by suggesting that they should not and instead wait for Godot. After that, we see Estragon express despair. His tone implies that these two really waited for this Godot because he baffles them. Beckett once directed the preparations of the play in Berlin in 1975, and another in London in 1984. While, in the writing it is as if there is despair, in the play the Estragon character expressed excitement after hearing they would wait for Godot.There is no need to debate about that because what it just affirms to us is that audiences understand characters’ emotions and attitude. They know deception and actuality.

After Beckett introduces Godot to the audience, the excerpt which follows disqualifies completely that first idea of ‘waiting,’ as a despair for Estragon, or an excitement. Vladimir tells Gogo something he know will agree to but says it in a way it will trigger doubts in Gogo. That is visible at the point when Estragon asked Vladimir that they meet Godot at the tree. After Gogo asked which type of tree it was, Vladimir says, “I don’t Know. A willow” (Beckett, 1953). Those statements imply that he is not giving a specific answer. After Estragon asks him where the leaves of the tree are, Vladimir answers that it is probably dead or not in the season. The two even oppose each other by one saying it is a bush and the other claiming it is a shrub. Beckett evidently portrays Vladimir as a skeptical person. His words imply that there may be misfortune when meeting Godot but then the uncertainty. It is as if to make Estragon doubt. Godot or imply a terrifying situation. In addition to that, this may not even be the right spot where they expected to meet Godot as Vladimir asks whether perhaps they came to the wrong tree. He asserts that if Godot fails to appear, the two would return the following day. As if jokingly, Estragon says then that if would not show, they would return all the coming days to check if he would come.

There is no explanation to this kind of skepticism by Vladimir but for us, what this does is that is confirms these are relentless individuals. Though it is arguable that both characters were weak, it is as if Estragon is possibly weaker. The two are willing to spend their life coming on a daily to the spot to meet somebody that they are even not sure will come. One could argue and say that probably that is the same thing that would happen even in their previous days. Again, it is as if they cannot recall what they had done previously. This is especially so for Vladimir who does not seem certain of anything, that is if he is not skeptical. Precisely why we are arguing it is like they live a hopeless as they are in the same situation and condition every day of their lives. With that picture of the two having no regard for their time, it dignifies that their present condition is a bad case. If this is not Vladimir’s smart play by skepticism, then it means that he is also not clever it is just that the two live in problems. Their shortcomings include the fact that they live without being conscious of what they are doing, and they lack individual independence.

As the two cannot come to a consensus, Estragon suggests that they be quiet to one another for a brief moment. It was like he wanted to have some nice peace and quiet. That is notable from the fact that after that he sat and slowly dozed off. At this point, Vladimir was frightened but after pacing up and down came back to stare at Gogo as if seeking relief after their conversation ended. Tired of staying alone in the silence he then wakes up Gogo by force. Estragon still feels hateful from their earlier talk, and so he decides to pretend he is having a dream which Vladimir won’t intervene. That implies that Gogo did not wish to part with Vladimir even with his sarcastic way of talk which was annoying. The whole scenario here again also implies the lack of independence between these two characters. Though, things are not going smooth between them, they still chose to be each’s companion. That implies that these are individuals who even have nowhere else to go.

Any reader gains interest to understand why Vladimir seems more confident in waiting than Estragon. This is a conscious decision made. It is as if Vladimir is willing to wait and come back to the same spot even in the following days because he cannot handle the fact that they could be waiting and Godot may never show up. He is the one who incites Estragon that they wait for Godot for he believes that he will have all the answers. That also possess the impression that these individuals are in mental problems and a hopeless state. It is as if they expect that Godot will come solve all their problems. We can also argue that the two are aware that the waiting could bear no fruits, but they go ahead and consider to wait without an end. How can you wait for someone you are not sure of where to meet, who he is, and when he will come? Did the two not have anything else better to do? The road these folks are in their destination. The do not even know what to expect from Godot? They have made all the time in their miserable and useless lives for waiting for probably nothing. It becomes their goal. It is as if they are on a blind journey without a sense of direction.

The more weakness in Estragon is visible at the point where we see Estragon wait for someone whom he even does not have an appointment with, probably Vladimir is the only who knows something real about Godot because he takes the waiting to be of much significance and rewarding (Beckett, 1953). Again, to some extent, one can see that he sees no point of waiting but due to his weak mind he does it anyway. The final fact that shows Gogo’s weakness is the fact that he goes not get any concrete information from the same person he is will to stay and wait with, that is notable from the uncertainty expressed by Vladimir. The way he looks up to Godot, is as if he is some sort of God. That is why other scholars also suggest that this Godot may also imply God, the Christian God. The determination in Vladimir seems to be also what influences Gogo to wait too.

The two are the people we can call idlers because even Vladimir, who seems perhaps could be more sensible but playful waits for someone whom they do not even have an agreed appointment. His wait is also a gamble especially from his suggestion that if Godot would not show they would wait for even the coming days. The reader gets it that everything is like going in a circle with these two having to live the same life with the same actions and activities on a daily basis. It is unfortunate that even though Vladimir seems to have no direction in life, he probably knows how to get a companion to give him psych while waiting for Godot. That is if he used skepticism to lure Estragon to stick with him in the wait. It also means that Estragon has no idea of whatever is even happening around him.

References

Becket, Samuel. Waiting for Godot. Grove Press.