What Does Estragon Do as Soon as His Leg Feels Good Enough to Walk Again in Act 1

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Waiting for Godot Friendship

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Friendship

Deed ane

Estragon

ESTRAGON
Expect! (He moves abroad from Vladimir.) I sometimes wonder if we wouldn't take been ameliorate off alone, each ane for himself. (He crosses the stage and sits down on the mound.) We weren't made for the aforementioned road.
VLADIMIR
(without acrimony) It's not certain.
ESTRAGON
No, nothing is sure.
Vladimir slowly crosses the stage and sits downwards beside Estragon.
VLADIMIR
We can still part, if y'all recall it would be improve.
ESTRAGON
It's non worthwhile now.
Silence.
VLADIMIR
No, it's not worthwhile now. (one.854-9)

Estragon and Vladimir inquire this question repeatedly in Waiting for Godot: whether or not they would be better off lone than they are with each other. The answer never seems to change, and is e'er passive or indecisive in nature. Or, in Estragon's earlier words, they don't do annihilation considering they believe "it's safer." Too uncertain to role, and besides hesitant to have a real friendship, the men are left in abiding limbo.

ESTRAGON
(restored to the horror of his situation) I was comatose! (Despairingly) Why volition you never let me sleep?
VLADIMIR
I felt solitary.
ESTRAGON
I had a dream.
VLADIMIR
Don't tell me!
ESTRAGON
I dreamt that—
VLADIMIR
DON'T TELL ME!
ESTRAGON
(gesture toward the universe) This one is enough for you? (Silence.) It's not nice of y'all, Didi. Who am I to tell my private nightmares to if I tin't tell them to you lot?
VLADIMIR
Let them remain private. You know I can't acquit that. (1.146-153)

Here we see the incredibly contradictory nature of Vladimir's human relationship with Estragon. He wakes him up for company, but can't commit emotionally to listening to the workings of Estragon's hidden (i.eastward., his dreams).

ESTRAGON
Let's hang ourselves immediately!
[…]
ESTRAGON
After you.
[…]
VLADIMIR
You're lighter than I am.
ESTRAGON
Merely so!
VLADIMIR
I don't understand.
ESTRAGON
Utilize your intelligence, tin't you?
Vladimir uses his intelligence.
VLADIMIR
(finally) I remain in the nighttime.
[…]
VLADIMIR
You're my merely hope.
ESTRAGON
(with endeavor) Gogo low-cal—bough not break—Gogo dead. Didi heavy—bender interruption—Didi lone. Whereas—
VLADIMIR
I hadn't thought of that. (one.174-189)

This is an interesting commutation. At nearly every other instance in the play, Vladimir is the more intellectual of the two men. Yet here, he needs Estragon to walk him through the scenario. Too, check out the line "I remain in the dark." On the 1 hand, Vladimir is confessing his ignorance; he remains in the night cerebrally considering he can't figure out what Estragon is talking about. But his response "I remain in the nighttime" is also the answer to the problem Estragon has proposed: what happens if Estragon goes commencement? Then the bender holds up and Estragon dies hanging. Then, when Vladimir tries, he is heavier and breaks the bender—leaving him lone and, in a sense, in the nighttime. This isolation for Vladimir would exist a worse fate than death.

ESTRAGON
(gently) Y'all wanted to speak to me? (Silence. Estragon takes a pace forward.) Y'all had something to say to me? (Silence. Some other stride frontward.) Didi . . .
VLADIMIR
(without turning) I've nothing to say to y'all.
ESTRAGON
(footstep forwards) You're aroused? (Silence. Step forward.) Forgive me. (Silence. Step frontwards. Estragon lays his hand on Vladimir's shoulder.) Come, Didi. (Silence.) Requite me your hand. (Vladimir half turns.) Encompass me! (Vladimir stiffens.) Don't be stubborn! (Vladimir softens. They cover. Estragon recoils.) You lot stink of garlic! (one.164-vii)

This time Estragon takes the step forward in their friendship. But nosotros notice yet another barrier in the way, this time olfactory property. Throughout the play Estragon will repeatedly cite smell as the reason he cannot go close to another, almost as if he is disgusted by others' visceral humanity.

ESTRAGON
Why doesn't he put down his bags?
POZZO
I too would be happy to meet him. The more people I meet the happier I become. From the meanest animal 1 departs wiser, richer, more witting of 1's blessings. Even you . . . (he looks at them ostentatiously in turn to make information technology clear they are both meant) . . . even you, who knows, volition take added to my store.
ESTRAGON
Why doesn't he put down his bags? (1.405-7)

Pozzo's lines are highly ironic here. He is busy declaring how much he benefits from personal interaction while he directly ignores 1) Estragon's attempts at communication and two) the suffering of his slave, Lucky, who is notwithstanding holding the heavy bags. The way his comment is couched in Estragon'due south repeated lines is a corking instance of how structure complements and builds meaning in Waiting for Godot.

ESTRAGON
(coldly) There are times when I wonder if information technology wouldn't exist meliorate for united states to part.
VLADIMIR
You lot wouldn't arrive. (1.154-5)

Vladimir speaks repeatedly of Estragon'due south dependence on him. At times this seems warranted, just at other times we wonder whether he isn't only assigning a concrete dependence to Estragon when he himself is emotionally dependent on the presence of another.

ESTRAGON
(on one leg) I'll never walk again!
VLADIMIR
(tenderly) I'll carry you. (Pause.) If necessary. (1.459-460)

And notwithstanding another example; Vladimir begins to express his feelings of friendship for Estragon, but, mayhap embarrassed, quickly pulls back.

ESTRAGON
(feebly) Help me!
VLADIMIR
Information technology hurts?
ESTRAGON
(angrily) Hurts! He wants to know if it hurts!
VLADIMIR
(angrily) No one always suffers but you. I don't count. I'd like to hear what you'd say if you lot had what I have.
ESTRAGON
It hurts?
VLADIMIR
(angrily) Hurts! He wants to know if it hurts! (1.23-28)

One of the barriers preventing an authentic friendship between these two men is that neither can truly sympathise what it means for the other to suffer. This sounds a lot like the primary thesis of The Plague, the existentialist work of fiction published merely one twelvemonth before Beckett wrote Waiting for Godot.

Vladimir

VLADIMIR
I'm going.
POZZO
He tin no longer endure my presence. I am peradventure not peculiarly human, but who cares? (1.401-2)

Pozzo straight contradicts his before statement that he is only like Estragon and Vladimir—that they all are made in God's image. He thinks of himself every bit somehow higher up mere humans, perhaps even divine. Simply the line "who cares?" is an interesting one. He may mean to say that he can notwithstanding relate to the men despite his not being "particularly human," only we tin can interpret this in another, less optimistic way: it could be that, since men can't connect to one another anyhow, it doesn't matter whether or not Pozzo himself is man. He's going to be isolated either way.

VLADIMIR
I'm glad to come across yous back. I thought you lot were gone forever.
ESTRAGON
Me also. (one.four-v)

The ambiguity of Estragon'southward respond (in one of the earliest lines of the play) sets united states of america up for a cardinal uncertainty in regards to this friendship. His response "Me as well" could refer to Vladimir'southward claim that he's glad to run across him, or it could refer to the comment that he thought Estragon was gone forever. We are forever unsure every bit to whether these two men achieve a friendship or are emotionally isolated from each other.

VLADIMIR
(exploding) It'southward a scandal!
Silence. Flabbergasted, Estragon stops gnawing, looks at Pozzo and Vladimir in turn. Pozzo outwardly calm. Vladimir embarrassed.
POZZO
(To Vladimir) Are you alluding to anything in item?
VLADIMIR
(stutteringly resolute) To care for a man . . . (gesture towards Lucky) . . . similar that . . . I retrieve that . . . no . . . a man being . . . no . . . it'south a scandal!
ESTRAGON
(not to be outdone) A disgrace!
He resumes his gnawing. (1.386-ix)

Estragon's chiming in here is a brilliant addition to the exchange; he clearly holds no genuine concern for Lucky, equally he's busy eating his basic while the human is abused. Vladimir, too, is aghast at Pozzo's treatment of Lucky, just wait a bit and watch him berate Lucky for mistreating Pozzo. There's no logic or consistency in his business, so his try at sympathy is negated by its absurdity.

VLADIMIR
Together again at terminal! We'll accept to celebrate this. Merely how? (He reflects.) Get up till I embrace you.
ESTRAGON
(irritably) Not now, not now. (1.half-dozen-seven)

This early substitution also established an important dynamic in Waiting for Godot; one man attempts to get closer while the other pulls back. This motif will repeat itself, though Estragon and Vladimir will frequently switch roles.

VLADIMIR
Who told you?
POZZO
He speaks to me again! If this goes on much longer nosotros'll presently be old friends. (1.403-iv)

Pozzo defines friendship past mere interaction. Advice—fifty-fifty poor communication—is plenty to break isolation, at least in his mind.

Pozzo

POZZO
(halting) You are homo beings none the less. (He puts on his glasses.) Equally far equally one can see. (He takes off his glasses.) Of the same species every bit myself. (He bursts into an enormous laugh.) Of the same species as Pozzo! Made in God's image! (i.314)

Pozzo here admits that, at to the lowest degree biologically, he is exactly the same as Vladimir and Estragon. This seems incompatible with his status every bit a God, or his belief that he is somehow above these two men (and above Lucky, who is too clearly a human beingness). Just like Didi and Gogo, Pozzo struggles betwixt a desire to get close to others and a belief that he is somehow separate from them.

POZZO
Make haste, earlier he stops. (Estragon approaches Lucky and makes to wipe his eyes. Lucky kicks him violently in the shins. Estragon drops the handkerchief, recoils, staggers well-nigh the stage howling with pain.) (1.454)

This is a perfect instance of the way isolation works in Waiting for Godot. I man makes an attempt to connect to some other, and the second man violently pushes him abroad.

POZZO
Practiced. Is everybody set up? Is everybody looking at me? (He looks at Lucky, jerks the rope. Lucky raises his head.) Will you expect at me, pig! (Lucky looks at him.) Skilful. (He puts the piping in his pocket, takes out a little vaporizer and sprays his throat, puts back the vaporizer in his pocket, clears his throat, spits, takes out the vaporizer again, sprays his pharynx again, puts back the vaporizer in his pocket.) I am ready. Is everybody listening? Is everybody set up? (He looks at them all in turn, jerks the rope.) Hog! (Lucky raises his caput.) I don't similar talking in a vacuum. Good. Allow me see.
He reflects. (i.426)

Pozzo is arguably the loneliest graphic symbol in Waiting for Godot. While he makes a big show out of interacting with others and praising the benefits of human being connection, he is always focused on himself, not on others. When he says "I don't like talking in a vacuum," it's articulate that his business is with his own ego, non in whether others hear or do good from what he is maxim.

POZZO
I do. But instead of driving him abroad equally I might have done, I mean instead of but kicking him out on his arse, in the goodness of my middle I am bringing him to the fair, where I promise to go a good toll for him. The truth is y'all can't drive such creatures abroad. The best thing would exist to kill them.
Lucky weeps. (i.450)

This brings us back to the earlier substitution in which Vladimir and Estragon debate killing themselves. It became clear and so that isolation was a worse fate than death, and Pozzo reiterates that here. Lucky's response—weeping—is unclear. Does he cry at the thought of being driven away? Or of beingness killed? Or is he simply distraught that Pozzo no longer wants his company?

POZZO
(He jerks the rope.) Upward pig! (Pause.) Every time he drops he falls asleep. (Jerks the rope.) Up hog! (Noise of Lucky getting upward and picking up his baggage. Pozzo jerks the rope.) Back! (Enter Lucky backwards.) Stop! (Lucky stops.) Turn! (Lucky turns. To Vladimir and Estragon, affably.) Gentlemen, I am happy to have met you. (Earlier their incredulous expression.) Yes yeah, sincerely happy. (He jerks the rope.) Closer! (Lucky advances.) Terminate! (Lucky stops.) […] (Pozzo finishes buttoning up his coat, stoops, inspects himself, straightens upwards.) Whip! (Lucky advances, stoops, Pozzo snatches the whip from his mouth, Lucky goes back to his place.) Aye, gentlemen, I cannot become for long without the club of my likes (he puts on his glasses and looks at the two likes) fifty-fifty when the likeness is an imperfect one. (He takes off his spectacles.) Stool! (Lucky puts down bag and basket, advances, opens stool, puts it downwards, goes back to his place, takes up bag and basket.) (1.336)

Find the aforementioned sort of conflict here; Pozzo alternates between treating Lucky as scum and declaring that he cannot exist without others for visitor. He is obsessed with what he considers his superiority, merely he tin can't bargain with the loneliness and isolation that superiority brings.

Act 2

Vladimir

VLADIMIR
(vexed) And so why do you ever come crawling back?
ESTRAGON
I don't know.
VLADIMIR
No, but I do. It'southward because you don't know how to defend yourself. I wouldn't have let them beat out you.
ESTRAGON
You couldn't have stopped them.
VLADIMIR
Why not?
ESTRAGON
At that place was ten of them.
VLADIMIR
No, I hateful before they trounce you. I would have stopped you from doing whatsoever it was you were doing. (2.24-30)

We are told repeatedly that Estragon is dependent on Vladimir, but is Vladimir similarly dependent on Estragon? It almost seems here as though he needs to exist needed by his companion; that he grasps at a self-designed purpose through his helping Gogo.

VLADIMIR
We could play at Pozzo and Lucky.
ESTRAGON
Never heard of it.
VLADIMIR
I'll do Lucky, you exercise Pozzo. (He imitates Lucky sagging nether the weight of his baggage. Estragon looks at him with stupefaction.) Go along.
ESTRAGON
What am I to do?
VLADIMIR
Curse me!
ESTRAGON
(after reflection) Naughty!
VLADIMIR
Stronger!
ESTRAGON
Gonococcus! Spirochete!
Vladimir sways back and forth, doubled in 2.
VLADIMIR
Tell me to think.
ESTRAGON
What?
VLADIMIR
Say, Remember, grunter!
ESTRAGON
Think, squealer!
Silence. (two.359-370)

Considering they don't know how to take a existent human relationship themselves, the best Vladimir and Estragon tin can exercise is imitate what they see around them. The tragedy is that they are imitating an abusive and unhealthy relationship, as it's the only instance they take.

VLADIMIR
Make sure he's alive before you lot start. No point in exerting yourself if he's dead.
ESTRAGON
(bending over Lucky) He'due south animate.
VLADIMIR
Then let him have information technology.
With sudden fury Estragon starts boot Lucky, hurling abuse at him as he does so. Merely he hurts his foot and moves away, limping and groaning. Lucky stirs. (2.735-7)

It'due south difficult to reconcile this callous comment (nigh making sure Lucky is alive) with Vladimir's before outrage at Pozzo's mistreatment of Lucky. Yous might want to check out our character analysis of Vladimir, where we jump right into this messy business concern.

Enter Pozzo and Lucky. Pozzo is blind. Lucky burdened as before.
[…]
VLADIMIR
At last! (He goes towards the heap.) Reinforcements at terminal!
POZZO
Help!
[…]
VLADIMIR
Nosotros were beginning to weaken. Now we're sure to encounter the evening out. (two.456-63)

This is a bang-up example of the way Vladimir sees other people just for purposes of entertainment. He ignores the fact that Pozzo is blind and that both he and Lucky have fallen helplessly to the ground. Instead, he rejoices that he has something to exercise to pass the time until evening. In this way, Vladimir could be seen as the virtually isolated character in Waiting for Godot, since he tin't even recognize the humanity of some other.

VLADIMIR
That seems a good thought all right. But could nosotros exercise information technology? Is he really comatose? (Pause.) No, the best would be to take reward of Pozzo'due south calling for assist—
POZZO
Assistance!
VLADIMIR
To help him—
ESTRAGON
We help him?
VLADIMIR
In anticipation of some tangible return. (2.520-4)

This is a lowly low for Vladimir; while his earlier focus on the self was indifferent, this one is malicious—he's plotting to dispense some other for personal gain.

VLADIMIR
You're a hard human to become on with, Gogo.
ESTRAGON
It'd be improve if we parted.
VLADIMIR
You lot always say that and you lot ever come crawling back.
ESTRAGON
The best thing would exist to impale me, like the other.
VLADIMIR
What other? (Break.) What other?
ESTRAGON
Like billions of others. (2.85-ninety)

Whoa in that location. Like billions of others? We're thinking this isn't literal. First, let's go back to that line in Act 1 when Pozzo says that it would be amend to kill Lucky than to send him away. Estragon is definitely repeating what he's heard, fifty-fifty as he denies remembering anything nigh Lucky and Pozzo from the day before (this deprival is what prompts Vladimir to declare he's a hard human to get along with). It would seem then that Estragon is either mindlessly repeating things, intelligent-parrot-way, or he agrees with the merits that death is meliorate than isolation. Every bit to the comment about others, Estragon is merely equating his and Vladimir's relationship with all the other "billions" of relationships in the earth. The thought that expiry is better than loneliness, and so, applies to everyone, not just these crazy guys on the phase.

VLADIMIR
Moron!
ESTRAGON
That's the thought, permit's abuse each other.
They turn, motion apart, turn again and face up each other.
VLADIMIR
Moron!
ESTRAGON
Vermin!
VLADIMIR
Abortion!
ESTRAGON
Morpion!
VLADIMIR
Sewer-rat!
ESTRAGON
Curate!
VLADIMIR
Cretin!
ESTRAGON
(with certitude) Crritic!
VLADIMIR
Oh!
He wilts, vanquished, and turns away.
ESTRAGON
Now let's arrive up. (2.413-24)

Information technology's as if Estragon and Vladimir use each other only to pass the time; each homo is only seen as entertainment, not every bit some other real, genuine human being.

VLADIMIR
Was I sleeping, while the others suffered? Am I sleeping now? Tomorrow, when I wake, or think I do, what shall I say of today? (2.795)

This is an oft-quoted line from Waiting for Godot, since it seems an incredibly human and sympathetic expression. However, in context, you'll observe that such an interpretation is incredibly ironic. Vladimir utters this while ignoring others' cries of "Help!"

VLADIMIR
Let us not waste product our time in idle discourse! (Pause. Vehemently.) Allow united states do something, while we have the chance! It is non every day that we are needed. (ii.526)

Vladimir is able to rejoice in Pozzo'southward and Lucky's pain and helplessness because it lends importance to his own life.

They look long at each other, then suddenly comprehend, clapping each other on the back. End of the cover. Estragon, no longer supported, almost falls. (ii.8)

Estragon, who, moments before, hesitated to even wait at Vladimir, can at present no longer stand without him. He is dependent on Didi, but certainly not by option.

Estragon

ESTRAGON
(wild gestures, incoherent words. Finally.) Why will you never let me slumber?
VLADIMIR
I felt lonely.
ESTRAGON
I was dreaming I was happy.
VLADIMIR
That passed the time.
ESTRAGON
I was dreaming that—
VLADIMIR
(violently) Don't tell me! (Silence.) (two.774-nine)

We've gotten this several times by this point in the play, just this one is arguably the clearest in its message. Vladimir wants Estragon awake because he's lonely—he needs the entertainment. Simply he doesn't desire to invest anything personally past listening to Estragon's dreams; this would make Estragon human, existent, which Vladimir can't seem to handle.

ESTRAGON
If I could only sleep.
VLADIMIR
Yesterday you slept.
ESTRAGON
I'll try.
He resumes his foetal posture, his head betwixt his knees.
VLADIMIR
Look. (He goes over and sits down beside Estragon and begins to sing in a loud vocalisation.)
Adieu bye bye goodbye
Good day bye–
ESTRAGON
(looking up angrily) Not and then loud!
VLADIMIR
(softly)
Goodbye bye bye farewell
Bye farewell bye good day
Adieu farewell bye good day
Bye bye . . .
Estragon sleeps. Vladimir gets up softly, takes off his coat and lays it across Estragon's shoulders, then starts walking up and downwardly, swinging his artillery to keep himself warm. Estragon wakes with a get-go, jumps upward, casts virtually wildly. Vladimir runs to him, puts his arms effectually him. In that location . . . there . . . Didi is here . . . don't be afraid . . .
ESTRAGON
Ah!
VLADIMIR
There . . . at that place . . . it'southward all over.
ESTRAGON
I was falling—
VLADIMIR
It's all over, information technology'southward all over.
ESTRAGON
I was on top of a—
VLADIMIR
Don't tell me! Come, we'll walk it off.
He takes Estragon by the arm and walks him up and down until Estragon refuses to get whatsoever further. (2.312-323)

Check out the conflict here. Vladimir wants to sing Estragon to sleep, but he's awkward and impuissant in his attempts to do so. He wants to become closer to his companion, but doesn't know how. He then sacrifices his jacket for the sleeping Estragon though it means he suffers the cold himself—but when Gogo wakes up, Vladimir refuses to listen to his nightmare. Every attempt at connection is made futile by an inability or unwillingness to commit.

ESTRAGON
(sadly) You see, you piss better when I'm not there.
VLADIMIR
I missed y'all . . . and at the same time I was happy. Isn't that a strange thing?
ESTRAGON
(shocked) Happy?
VLADIMIR
Perhaps it'south non quite the correct word.
ESTRAGON
And now?
VLADIMIR
Now? . . . (Joyous.) There yous are over again . . . (Indifferent.) There nosotros are once more. . . (Gloomy.) There I am again.
ESTRAGON
You run into, you feel worse when I'yard with you. I feel better lonely too. (two.17-23)

Vladimir's line, in which his emotion ranges from joy to indifference to gloom, is an important 1, and helps us to empathize the men'due south conflicting feelings in this passage. He's happy to meet Estragon, but Estragon's very presence reminds him of his ain plight, which makes him gloomy.

ESTRAGON
Don't touch me! Don't question me! Don't speak to me! Stay with me! (2.5)

Wait at the tension in this ane line of Estragon's—he needs Vladimir close, but he can't handle any sort of genuine friendship with him.

ESTRAGON
That wasn't such a bad little canter.
VLADIMIR
Yes, but now nosotros'll accept to notice something else.
ESTRAGON
Let me run across.
He takes off his hat, concentrates. (ii.182-84)

Estragon and Vladimir are playing at having a human relationship; the all-time they tin can do is simulate what they think they are supposed to do: accept an argument, converse, make upwards, etc.

ESTRAGON
(recoiling) Who farted?
VLADIMIR
Pozzo.
POZZO
Here! Here! Pity!
ESTRAGON
It's revolting!
VLADIMIR
Quick! Requite me your manus!
ESTRAGON
I'm going. (Intermission. Louder.) I'yard going. (2.566-71)

Smell is clearly an issue for Estragon. This is the 2d time (before it was Vladimir's breath) that he recoils from some other for such a reason. As nosotros mentioned in Quote #6, it would seem that Estragon is bothered by the visceral nature of another's humanity. This fourth dimension, however, the smell isn't plenty to drive him away; he repeats loudly that he'south going to leave, possibly in the hopes that someone will stop him.

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