How we cite our quotes: (Act.Line) Every time a character talks counts as one line, even if what they say turns into a long monologue.
Quote #21
ESTRAGON
(sadly) You see, you piss better when I'm not there.
VLADIMIR
I missed you . . . and at the same time I was happy. Isn't that a strange thing?
ESTRAGON
(shocked) Happy?
VLADIMIR
Perhaps it's not quite the right word.
ESTRAGON
And now?
VLADIMIR
Now? . . . (Joyous.) There you are again . . . (Indifferent.) There we are again. . . (Gloomy.) There I am again.
ESTRAGON
You see, you feel worse when I'm with you. I feel better alone too. (2.17-23)
Vladimir’s line, in which his emotion ranges from joy to indifference to gloom, is an important one, and helps us to understand the men’s conflicting feelings in this passage. He’s happy to see Estragon, but Estragon’s very presence reminds him of his own plight, which makes him gloomy.
Quote #22
VLADIMIR
(vexed) Then why do you always come crawling back?
ESTRAGON
I don't know.
VLADIMIR
No, but I do. It's because you don't know how to defend yourself. I wouldn't have let them beat you.
ESTRAGON
You couldn't have stopped them.
VLADIMIR
Why not?
ESTRAGON
There was ten of them.
VLADIMIR
No, I mean before they beat you. I would have stopped you from doing whatever 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 be needed by his companion; that he grasps at a self-designed purpose through his helping Gogo.
Quote #23
VLADIMIR
You're a hard man to get on with, Gogo.
ESTRAGON
It'd be better if we parted.
VLADIMIR
You always say that and you always come crawling back.
ESTRAGON
The best thing would be to kill me, like the other.
VLADIMIR
What other? (Pause.) What other?
ESTRAGON
Like billions of others. (2.85-90)
Whoa there. 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 better to kill Lucky than to send him away. Estragon is definitely repeating what he’s heard, even as he denies remembering anything about Lucky and Pozzo from the day before (this denial is what prompts Vladimir to declare he’s a difficult man to get along with). It would seem then that Estragon is either mindlessly repeating things, intelligent-parrot-style, or he agrees with the claim that death is better than isolation. As to the comment about others, Estragon is simply equating his and Vladimir’s relationship with all the other "billions" of relationships in the world. The thought that death is better than loneliness, then, applies to everyone, not just these crazy guys on the stage.
Quote #24
ESTRAGON
That wasn't such a bad little canter.
VLADIMIR
Yes, but now we'll have to find something else.
ESTRAGON
Let me see.
He takes off his hat, concentrates. (2.182-84)
Estragon and Vladimir are playing at having a relationship; the best they can do is simulate what they think they are supposed to do: have an argument, converse, make up, etc.
Quote #25
ESTRAGON
If I could only sleep.
VLADIMIR
Yesterday you slept.
ESTRAGON
I'll try.
He resumes his foetal posture, his head between his knees.
VLADIMIR
Wait. (He goes over and sits down beside Estragon and begins to sing in a loud voice.)
Bye bye bye bye
Bye bye–
ESTRAGON
(looking up angrily) Not so loud!
VLADIMIR
(softly)
Bye bye bye bye
Bye bye bye bye
Bye bye bye bye
Bye bye . . .
Estragon sleeps. Vladimir gets up softly, takes off his coat and lays it across Estragon's shoulders, then starts walking up and down, swinging his arms to keep himself warm. Estragon wakes with a start, jumps up, casts about wildly. Vladimir runs to him, puts his arms around him. There . . . there . . . Didi is here . . . don't be afraid . . .
ESTRAGON
Ah!
VLADIMIR
There . . . there . . . it's all over.
ESTRAGON
I was falling—
VLADIMIR
It's all over, it's 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 go any further. (2.312-323)
Check out the conflict here. Vladimir wants to sing Estragon to sleep, but he’s awkward and clumsy in his attempts to do so. He wants to get 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.
Quote #26
VLADIMIR
We could play at Pozzo and Lucky.
ESTRAGON
Never heard of it.
VLADIMIR
I'll do Lucky, you do Pozzo. (He imitates Lucky sagging under the weight of his baggage. Estragon looks at him with stupefaction.) Go on.
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 two.
VLADIMIR
Tell me to think.
ESTRAGON
What?
VLADIMIR
Say, Think, pig!
ESTRAGON
Think, pig!
Silence. (2.359-370)
Because they don’t know how to have a real relationship themselves, the best Vladimir and Estragon can do is imitate what they see around them. The tragedy is that they are imitating an abusive and unhealthy relationship, as it’s the only example they have.
Quote #27
VLADIMIR
Moron!
ESTRAGON
That's the idea, let's abuse each other.
They turn, move apart, turn again and face each other.
VLADIMIR
Moron!
ESTRAGON
Vermin!
VLADIMIR
Abortion!
ESTRAGON
Morpion!
VLADIMIR
Sewer-rat!
ESTRAGON
Curate!
VLADIMIR
Cretin!
ESTRAGON
(with finality) Crritic!
VLADIMIR
Oh!
He wilts, vanquished, and turns away.
ESTRAGON
Now let's make it up. (2.413-24)
It’s as if Estragon and Vladimir use each other only to pass the time; each man is only seen as entertainment, not as another real, genuine human being.
Quote #28
Enter Pozzo and Lucky. Pozzo is blind. Lucky burdened as before.
[…]
VLADIMIR
At last! (He goes towards the heap.) Reinforcements at last!
POZZO
Help!
[…]
VLADIMIR
We were beginning to weaken. Now we're sure to see the evening out. (2.456-63)
This is a great example of the way Vladimir sees other people only 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 do to pass the time until evening. In this way, Vladimir could be seen as the most isolated character in Waiting for Godot, since he can’t even recognize the humanity of another.
Quote #29
VLADIMIR
That seems a good idea all right. But could we do it? Is he really asleep? (Pause.) No, the best would be to take advantage of Pozzo's calling for help—
POZZO
Help!
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 manipulate another for personal gain.
Quote #30
VLADIMIR
Let us not waste our time in idle discourse! (Pause. Vehemently.) Let us do something, while we have the chance! It is not every day that we are needed. (2.526)
Vladimir is able to rejoice in Pozzo's and Lucky’s pain and helplessness because it lends importance to his own life.
Quote #31
ESTRAGON
(recoiling) Who farted?
VLADIMIR
Pozzo.
POZZO
Here! Here! Pity!
ESTRAGON
It's revolting!
VLADIMIR
Quick! Give me your hand!
ESTRAGON
I’m going. (Pause. Louder.) I'm going. (2.566-71)
Smell is clearly an issue for Estragon. This is the second time (earlier it was Vladimir’s breath) that he recoils from another for such a reason. As we mentioned in Quote #6, it would seem that Estragon is bothered by the visceral nature of another’s humanity. This time, however, the smell isn’t enough to drive him away; he repeats loudly that he’s going to leave, possibly in the hopes that someone will stop him.
Quote #32
VLADIMIR
Make sure he's alive before you start. No point in exerting yourself if he's dead.
ESTRAGON
(bending over Lucky) He's breathing.
VLADIMIR
Then let him have it.
With sudden fury Estragon starts kicking Lucky, hurling abuse at him as he does so. But he hurts his foot and moves away, limping and groaning. Lucky stirs. (2.735-7)
It’s difficult to reconcile this callous comment (about making sure Lucky is alive) with Vladimir’s earlier outrage at Pozzo’s mistreatment of Lucky. You might want to check out our character analysis of Vladimir, where we jump right into this messy business.
Quote #33
ESTRAGON
(wild gestures, incoherent words. Finally.) Why will you never let me sleep?
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.) (2.774-9)
We’ve gotten this several times by this point in the play, but this one is arguably the clearest in its message. Vladimir wants Estragon awake because he’s lonely—he needs the entertainment. But he doesn’t want to invest anything personally by listening to Estragon’s dreams; this would make Estragon human, real, which Vladimir can’t seem to handle.
Quote #34
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 find that such an interpretation is incredibly ironic. Vladimir utters this while ignoring others’ cries of "Help!"