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Existential Inability to Act in Waiting for Godot

Existentialism deals with the existence of an individual and their emotions, thoughts, and actions. Existentialism manifests itself in Waiting for Godot through its motifs of despair, absurdity, alienation, and boredom. One of the most prevalent themes is Estragon and Vladimir's inability to act.

Vladimir says "Nothing to be done" (page 4).

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When Estragon says "Let's go", Vladimir says "We Cant... We're waiting for Godot" (page 7).

They are not even sure that Godot will come, or that they are waiting at the right place. "He didn't say for sure he'd come" (page 8). Even if he doesn't come, they plan to wait indefinitely. While waiting they consider suicide, but are unable to decide who goes first:

ESTRAGON:

We can always try.

VLADIMIR:

Go ahead.

ESTRAGON:

After you.

VLADIMIR:

No no, you first.

ESTRAGON:

Why me?

VLADIMIR:

You're lighter than I am.

They ultimately decide not to do anything but wait:

VLADIMIR:

Well? What do we do?

ESTRAGON:

Don't let's do anything. It's safer.

VLADIMIR:

Let's wait and see what he says

 

 

As Vladimir and Estragon talk about turnips they realize that they are opposite in that one enjoys the turnip more as he eats more while the other experiences diminishing marginal returns. In a similar way to the turnip metaphor,

ESTRAGON:

Fancy that. (He raises what remains of the carrot by the stub of leaf, twirls it before his eyes.) Funny, the more you eat the worse it gets.

VLADIMIR:

With me it's just the opposite.

ESTRAGON:

In other words?

VLADIMIR:

I get used to the muck as I go along.

 

Because actions do not change the essence of an individual, Vladimir and Estragon are powerless to act.

VLADIMIR:

Nothing you can do about it.

ESTRAGON:

No use struggling.

VLADIMIR:

One is what one is.

ESTRAGON:

No use wriggling.

VLADIMIR:

The essential doesn't change.

ESTRAGON:

Nothing to be done.

After witnessing Pozzo's cruelty to Lucky, Vladimir and Estragon are outraged.

VLADIMIR:

(stutteringly resolute). To treat a man . . . (gesture towards Lucky) . . . like that . . . I think that . . . no . . . a human being . . . no . . . it's a scandal!

Yet they are still unable to do anything to improve Lucky's situation.

Pozzo lets Estragon and Vladimir know that they do not have control over their immediate future or even their distant future.

what happens in that case to your appointment with this . . . Godet . . . Godot . . . Godin . . . anyhow you see who I mean, who has your future in his hands . . . (pause) . . . at least your immediate future?

When talking about the mysterious twilight, Estragon and Vladimir relate to waiting for Godot. So long as they know what to expect, waiting is their only course of action.

ESTRAGON:

So long as one knows.

VLADIMIR:

One can bide one's time.

ESTRAGON:

One knows what to expect.

VLADIMIR:

No further need to worry.

ESTRAGON:

Simply wait.

VLADIMIR:

We're used to it.

 

Pozzo and lucky merely entertain Estragon and Vladimir while they wait for nothing.

ESTRAGON:

In the meantime, nothing happens.

POZZO:

You find it tedious?

ESTRAGON:

Somewhat.

POZZO:

(to Vladimir). And you, Sir?

VLADIMIR:

I've been better entertained.

 

Estragon says "Nothing happens, nobody comes, nobody goes, it's awful!

" (page 39).

While Pozzo is trying to leave on page 44, he cannot simply just leave:

ESTRAGON:

Then adieu.

POZZO:

Adieu.

VLADIMIR:

Adieu.

POZZO:

Adieu.

Silence. No one moves.

Furthermore, Pozzo on page 45 says:

POZZO:

I don't seem to be able . . . (long hesitation) . . . to depart.

 

Even Godot's messanger, the boy, cannot move:

VLADIMIR:

Approach!

The Boy does not move.

ESTRAGON:

(forcibly). Approach when you're told, can't you?

The Boy advances timidly, halts.

 

After Godot fails to show up, Vladimir and Estragon have little to do but wait for the next day:

VLADIMIR:

We've nothing more to do here.

ESTRAGON:

Nor anywhere else.

VLADIMIR:

Ah Gogo, don't go on like that. Tomorrow everything will be better.

ESTRAGON:

How do you make that out?

VLADIMIR:

Did you not hear what the child said?

ESTRAGON:

No.

VLADIMIR:

He said that Godot was sure to come tomorrow. (Pause.) What do you say to that?

ESTRAGON:

Then all we have to do is to wait on here.

 

ESTRAGON:

Well, shall we go?

VLADIMIR:

Yes, let's go.

They do not move.

Again Vladimir and Estragon cannot do what they intend to do:

VLADIMIR:

Say something!

ESTRAGON:

I'm trying.

Long silence.

VLADIMIR:

(in anguish). Say anything at all!

 

Romanticism failed, as the turn to nature did not yield the existential purpose of life:

ESTRAGON:

We should turn resolutely towards Nature.

VLADIMIR:

We've tried that.

ESTRAGON:

True.

 

ESTRAGON:

Ah! (Pause. Despairing.) What'll we do, what'll we do!

VLADIMIR:

There's nothing we can do.

(page 72).

Life is nothing but passing the time:

VLADIMIR:

It'd pass the time. (Estragon hesitates.) I assure you, it'd be an occupation.

ESTRAGON:

We always find something, eh Didi, to give us the impression we exist?

Page (75)

 

VLADIMIR:

You'd rather be stuck there doing nothing?

ESTRAGON:

Yes.

(page 77).

ESTRAGON:

Let's go.

VLADIMIR:

We can't.

ESTRAGON:

Why not?

VLADIMIR:

We're waiting for Godot.

(page 77)

While Pozzo constantly cries out "Help!", Vladimir and Estragon are debating on how they take advantage of the situation. Vladimir finally says "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. Not indeed that we personally are needed. Others would meet the case equally well, if not better. To all mankind they were addressed, those cries for help still ringing in our ears! But at this place, at this moment of time, all mankind is us, whether we like it or not. Let us make the most of it, before it is too late!" (page 89).

 

'We wait. We are bored. (He throws up his hand.) No, don't protest, we are bored to death, there's no denying it. Good. A diversion comes along and what do we do? We let it go to waste. Come, let's get to work! (He advances towards the heap, stops in his stride.) In an instant all will vanish and we'll be alone once more, in the midst of nothingness!" (page 91).

 

 

POZZO:

Help!

ESTRAGON:

Let's go.

VLADIMIR:

We can't.

ESTRAGON:

Why not?

VLADIMIR:

We're waiting for Godot.

 

Pozzo says "Have you not done tormenting me with your accursed time! It's abominable! When! When! One day, is that not enough for you, one day he went dumb, one day I went blind, one day we'll go deaf, one day we were born, one day we shall die, the same day, the same second, is that not enough for you? (Calmer.) They give birth astride of a grave, the light gleams an instant, then it's night once more." (page 104).


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