Waiting For Godot Essay, Research Paper

Waiting for Godot

1. In what way is Vladimir and Estragon two parts of the same whole?

Although Vladimir and Estragon are two different characters, it’s as though they are merged into one. They are very similar in their speech which makes it often hard to distinguish between them. They ask questions but it never leads them anywhere, it is rather pointless because they are not advancing, it’s as though they are frozen in time while things are revolving around them like in a dream sequence. A lot of the questions are repeated again and again and they have many arguments which create confusion, thus making them hard to distinguish. They depend on one another, for example when they are not together Estragon gets beaten up. “It’s because you don’t know how to defend yourself. I wouldn’t have let them beat you.” (39) Vladimir seems to be more independent however, “I missed you?.and at the same time I was happy.” This could mean that Vladimir can accomplish more on his own but because they have been together for so long their relationship has become too comfortable and so they are afraid to be alone or try new things.

They are also different in the fact that Vladimir seems to be the one that comes up with ideas and suggestions while Estragon repeats them. He may seem smarter in this sense but his questions never have answers. They are unassertive in their actions, waiting for Godot who may or may not come. In the process they are wasting their time and missing out on life. This shows that they have no imagination, creativity, and independence. They are waiting to be saved, waiting for Godot to bring answers to all their questions, waiting for something or someone to guide them. They are totally lost and trapped within themselves and have lost meaning for life.

2. How does the play change after the re-entrance of the blind Ponzo?