How we cite the quotes:
Citations follow this format: (Act.Line). Every time a character talks counts as one line, even if what they say turns into a long monologue.
| Quote #19 VLADIMIR (without anger) It's not certain. ESTRAGON No, nothing is certain. (1.855-6) |
Vladimir has resigned himself to this predicament; Beckett makes a point of the stage direction here.
| Quote #20 VLADIMIR Say you are, even if it's not true. ESTRAGON What am I to say? VLADIMIR Say, I am happy. ESTRAGON I am happy. VLADIMIR So am I. ESTRAGON So am I. VLADIMIR We are happy. ESTRAGON We are happy. (Silence.) What do we do now, now that we are happy? VLADIMIR Wait for Godot. (2.42-50) |
Faced with constant uncertainty, the men begin to fake conviction. Unfortunately, assigning labels (like "happy") provides no assistance with the central problem of inaction.
| Quote #21 ESTRAGON They're coming! VLADIMIR Who? ESTRAGON I don't know. VLADIMIR How many? ESTRAGON I don't know. VLADIMIR (triumphantly) It's Godot! At last! Gogo! It's Godot! We're saved! Let's go and meet him! (2.378-83) |
Vladimir takes Estragon’s uncertainty and draws a conclusion of assurance; in some ways, he’s regressed since Act I, since he now can’t even admit that he is unsure of anything.