Key Facts of Waiting for Godot
Full Title: Waiting for Godot: A Tragicomedy in Two ActsEnglish subtitle: A Tragicomedy in Two Acts.
French: En attendant Godot.
Written in 1948-49 in Paris
First performed in 1953.
First performed in 1953.
Published:1952 in French and later English version was published in 1954.
Literary Period: Modernism, Postmodernism.
Genre: Tragicomedy, Drama.
Setting: The side of an unidentified road, near a tree, at an unspecified time.
In the second act in the same location, Estragon tells Vladimir that he has beaten the previous them night for no reason. Both of them again start waiting for Godot. Vladimir mentions Pozzo and Lucky, but Estragon does not remember who these people are. He also doesn't recognize the place where they were waiting for the day before. After a long silence, Vladimir asks if Estragon really doesn’t remember Lucky and Pozzo. Vladimir offers Estragon a radish. Estragon falls asleep, but then Vladimir wakes him up, and he begins to tell Vladimir about his dream, but Vladimir interrupts him. Estragon wants to leave, but Vladimir reminds him that they have to stay and wait for Godot. Vladimir notices Lucky's hat and both of them start playing with his hat.
Again, Pozzo and Lucky enter. Pozzo is now blind, following closely behind Lucky. Lucky stops when he sees Vladimir and Estragon, and Pozzo bumps into him. They both fall to the ground, and Pozzo cannot get up. Vladimir decides to help Pozzo up but falls over himself. Estragon tries to help Vladimir up, but he also falls down. Vladimir and Estragon try to stand up, and they are able to get up easily.
Estragon again wants to leave, but Vladimir tells him to keep waiting. They stand Pozzo up, and Pozzo asks what time it is. Estragon thinks it's morning, while Vladimir is sure that it’s evening. Pozzo and Lucky leave, and again, Estragon sleeps. Vladimir wakes up Estragon.
Once again, a boy enters with a message from Godot that he will not come this day but will certainly come the next. Vladimir asks the boy what Godot does? And the boy says Godot does nothing. The boy leaves; Vladimir and Estragon prepare to leave, but neither moves.
Thus, none of the characters in "Waiting for Godot" has a meaningful purpose. Waiting for Godot might seem to give Vladimir and Estragon a purpose, but the fact that Godot never arrives, leaving their waiting meaningless.
Literary Period: Modernism, Postmodernism.
Genre: Tragicomedy, Drama.
Setting: The side of an unidentified road, near a tree, at an unspecified time.
Characters:
- Vladimir
- Estragon
- Pozzo
- Lucky
- A boy
Summary and Analysis
“Waiting for Godot” is a two-act play written by Samuel Beckett translated from Beckett’s own French script “En Attendant Godot”. Samuel Beckett was an Irish novelist, playwright, short story writer, poet, and literary translator. He wrote in both French and English. This play was written by Beckett between 1948 and 1949 and first performed in 1953. In this play, two main characters, Vladimir and Estragon, engage in a variety of discussions and encounters while awaiting the titular Godot, who never arrives. It has been heralded as one of the most important plays of the 20th century.
"Nothing happens, nobody comesnobody goes, its awful!"
The play begins with two friends, Vladimir and Estragon, waiting at the side of the road. Estragon struggles to remove his boots. Vladimir asks him he has ever read the Bible? Estragon says, he remembers some colored maps of the holy land. Vladimir tells Estragon about two thieves crucified along with Jesus. One of the gospels says that one of the thieves saved, but Vladimir wonders if this is true. Estragon wants to leave, but Vladimir reminds him that they have to wait here for "Godot." Estragon and Vladimir debate whether they are in the right place and whether it is time for Godot to come.
Both of them fight, argue, and abuse each other but still stay together.
"Don't touch me! Don't question me!
Don't speak to me! Don't stay with me!"
Estragon falls asleep, and Vladimir immediately wakes him, saying he was lonely without him. Estragon starts to describe his dream, but Vladimir angrily stops him and tells him to keep his nightmare to himself.
Vladimir wonders what they should do, and Estragon says they should continue to wait. While waiting, Estragon suggests they hang themselves on the tree, but Vladimir says they should just wait for Godot. Estragon is hungry, and Vladimir offers him a carrot.
Sudden, both of them interrupted by a loud scream, Pozzo and Lucky enter. Lucky, a silent slave with a rope around his neck, is led by Pozzo, his master. Estragon asks if this is Godot, but then Pozzo introduced himself. Pozzo is pleasant to meet Vladimir and Estragon, but he treats Lucky very badly. He eats chicken and gives the bones to Estragon. Vladimir is outraged at Pozzo's horrible treatment of Lucky and wants to leave. But Pozzo prepares to leave and says goodbye to Vladimir and Estragon. Estragon, also wants to leave as well but Vladimir tells him they need to stay and wait for Godot. Then a boy comes bearing a message from Godot. He says Godot will not come today, but will come the next day. The boy leaves, and Estragon and Vladimir stay still.
Again, Pozzo and Lucky enter. Pozzo is now blind, following closely behind Lucky. Lucky stops when he sees Vladimir and Estragon, and Pozzo bumps into him. They both fall to the ground, and Pozzo cannot get up. Vladimir decides to help Pozzo up but falls over himself. Estragon tries to help Vladimir up, but he also falls down. Vladimir and Estragon try to stand up, and they are able to get up easily.
Estragon again wants to leave, but Vladimir tells him to keep waiting. They stand Pozzo up, and Pozzo asks what time it is. Estragon thinks it's morning, while Vladimir is sure that it’s evening. Pozzo and Lucky leave, and again, Estragon sleeps. Vladimir wakes up Estragon.
Once again, a boy enters with a message from Godot that he will not come this day but will certainly come the next. Vladimir asks the boy what Godot does? And the boy says Godot does nothing. The boy leaves; Vladimir and Estragon prepare to leave, but neither moves.
Thus, none of the characters in "Waiting for Godot" has a meaningful purpose. Waiting for Godot might seem to give Vladimir and Estragon a purpose, but the fact that Godot never arrives, leaving their waiting meaningless.
