Waiting For Godot

            There are many moments in Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot that seem both dark and humorous. One part that I remember specifically if when Vladimir and Estragon suggest that they hang themselves from the tree and the only reason why they don’t follow through with the plans is because they cannot find rope. While this is technically a really sad moment, it is funny because the audience knows that they are not going to hang themselves, they cannot leave the bench how are they going to do an action as complicated as hanging themselves? It is also sad because these two men have been going through these motions for so long that they are ready to resort to suicide just to get away from the cycle. Another somewhat funny theme is the repetition in the dialogue between the two men. Throughout the entirely of the play, Estragon says, “Let’s go” and Vladimir always answers with “We cant” because they are “Waiting for Godot”. Even though this an get slightly annoying since they say it multiple times in the play, I found it funny because even though Estragon knows the answer to his question, he continues to ask it hoping for a more appealing answer than the last.

            I feel like Beckett’s style is much different than Pinter’s because of the extreme abstractions. While Pinter was definitely using abstract theater to get across his themes about family, Beckett takes this to a whole other level. Waiting for Godot is nothing but abstractions. Vladimir and Estragon continue to speak back and forth very fast, usually not saying anything of much importance. Any word that comes out of their mouth probably doesn’t have much to do with the line 3 lines before. In Pinter’s play, even though the conclusion is out of no where and the characters do speak short, quick lines, Beckett’s dialogue just seems much more simple and relaxed. It’s as if this absurdity is not out of the norm for these two characters. Vladimir and Estragon go through this same scene every day, waiting for Godot and seeing Pozzo, Lucky, and the little boy consistently. It really makes you wonder how long this wait has actually been going on for. Has Estragon been struggling with his shoes for years? How long exactly has Pozzo been blind? Or will he regain his sight in time for the next day?

            I differentiate Vladimir and Estragon by the roles they place themselves in. Vladimir is the obvious leader, always having to tell Estragon that they cannot leave yet because they have to wait for Godot. It almost seems like Vladimir takes Godot much more seriously that his counterpart, even though neither of them actually leave when they suggest it. Estragon seems a little helpless in certain points of the play. When he tries to help Pozzo, then falls down himself, then pulls Vladimir down with him, it almost seems like Estragon is possibly a sort of comic relief. On the other hand, Estragon has just as much insightful dialogue as Vladimir, especially at the end when they basically switch lines from the first Act.