Samuel Beckett, Waiting for Godot: Summary and Reviews

Samuel Beckett, an Irish playwright, was called a writer of despair. He was very kind, and his love for humanity only increased, plunging into the abyss of despair and abomination. His subtle voice was heard when a person ceased to believe in himself. Sometimes his works are difficult to understand, but Becker’s masterpieces always have a deep meaning.

Characters

In the drama Waiting for Godot, Samuel Beckett tells the story of two vagabonds who spend their days waiting for Godot. The author expands the space of the drama: on the one hand, he talks about two vagrants, on the other - about their memory as the historical memory of mankind. They hear the voices of people who have already outlived their lives and are exhausted, but rustle, remind us that this is also their fate. The fate of all mankind is birth and death. This sad but obvious statement is fixed by the static nature of the action: the eternal expectation of two vagabonds proceeds in the same sequence: the “daily repertoire” is over - the day is over, and the next begins with the same unbearable expectation, which turns into terrible torture for them. And therefore, there is no time frame in the play, summing up from the same actions, time here is overturned into eternity.

Ironically reduced images of Beckett's heroes “Waiting for Godot”. An analysis of the play shows that their appearance, rather squalor, is greatly exaggerated, dressed in rags, and somehow move around. Tarragon is small shoes, slip pants. Tongues only emphasize their squalor. The author shows this by repeating the phrases: “Let's leave,” says Tarragon. “We cannot,” echoes Vladimir. They are not sure of anything, even the reality of their existence. It is difficult for them to navigate both in time and in space. The next day, everything seems to them new and unfamiliar. Tarragon even forgets if his shoes are big. A boy runs to them twice with instructions from Godot and says that he meets them for the first time.

The characters are paired, in the play they embody the pattern of the human community. The author introduces another pair: Pozzo and Lucky. The relationship of these pairs is built on dependence on each other. Vladimir and Tarragon are constantly quarreling, but cannot exist without each other. There is a clearer relationship between Pozzo and Lucky as between a servant and master. All the characters of the play rush between the void and the word. This can be noted in the summary “Waiting for Godot.” Beckett would like to say that the expectation of Godot, who never appears, is a symbol of the “ineffable”. When asked the author, who did he mean by the image of Godot, he replied: "If he knew, he did not write."

Vladimir and Tarragon

Tarragon sits on a hillock, trying to pull off his shoes. Vladimir came and was happy because he thought Tarragon would never return. Tarragon thought so too. He spent the night in a ditch, he was beaten, and he does not even know who. Vladimir argues how difficult it is to be alone. If it were earlier, in the nineties, they would have rushed along with the Eiffel Tower, and now they will not be allowed to go there. He immediately recalls that one of the robbers was saved, and they apparently need to repent. Remembering the Bible, he is surprised that only one of the four evangelists says that the robber was saved. Beckett’s play, “Waiting for Godot,” begins with such a picture.

Then Tarragon is about to leave, but Vladimir says that they cannot do this, because they are waiting for Godot. He must be expected - if not today, then tomorrow he will come. They both don’t remember, yesterday they waited for Godot or not, and what day it is, they don’t remember. Tarragon falls asleep, Vladimir gets bored, and he wakes him up. Tarragon offers to hang himself, but they cannot agree who will be the first to do this. In the end, they conclude that it is better not to hang oneself - it's safer. Godot will wait, and he knows what to do. They began to recall whether Godot had asked for something, but they couldn’t remember anything like that.

Lucky and Pozzo

We continue the summary of Beckett's play, Waiting for Godot. A piercing scream is heard, they clung to each other in fear. Lucky comes in, carries a suitcase, a folding chair, a basket of food and a coat. Following is Pozzo, holding his rope, clicks a whip and drives Lucky, scolding, on what the light stands. Tarragon asks if he is Godot. Pozzo replies that he does not know any Godot, he travels and is glad to meet people like him. Lucky orders a chair. He puts a basket and a suitcase on the ground, lays down a chair, and again picks up his luggage.

The tramps are perplexed, why not put things on the ground. Pozzo takes over the chicken, eating it, lights a pipe. Tarragon asks if he needs chicken bones. Pozzo says that they belong to his servant, if Lucky refuses, then he can take them. Tarragon picks up the rest of the food. Vladimir accuses Pozzo of cruelty. Tarragon and Vladimir are about to leave, but they are stopped by Pozzo, saying that if they leave, how will they meet with Godot.

Always together

Beckett's drama “Waiting for Godot” continues with Tarragon’s musings on why Lucky won’t put his bags down. He's trying to find out from Pozz. He repeats the question several times, finally, Pozzo replies that he can put things on the ground if he wants. But since he did not do this, he does not want to. Pozzo argues that Lucky is useless, like a goat's milk, and probably he just wants Pozzo not to kick him out, trying to be of service. Here is Pozzo and leads him to the fair, hoping to make good money for him. In general, it would be better to kill him. Lucky cried.

Tarragon feels sorry for him; he wants to wipe Lucky's cheeks, but the one who has strength kicks him. Tarragon burst into tears of pain. Pozzo noticed that since Lucky stopped crying, and Tarragon cried, in the world the number of tears always remains unchanged. And he continues that Lucky taught him all the wonderful things, because they have been together for sixty years, and orders the servant to take off his hat, under which long gray hair. Lucky takes off her hat, but under her bald head. Pozzo burst into tears that Lucky is simply unbearable, and he does not want to go anywhere with him anymore. Tarragon and Vladimir are bored, and they ask Lucky to sing or dance. Lucky dancing and then uttering a meaningless monologue. Finally, they leave.

Godot will be tomorrow

In the next act of Beckett’s play “Waiting for Godot,” a boy comes and tells them that Godot will not come, but that he will be here tomorrow. The night has come. Tarragon decided not to wear his shoes anymore - let someone else wear them. And he, like Christ, will walk barefoot. Immediately trying to remember how many years they have known. They believe that fifty, and recall how once Tarragon threw himself into the river, and Vladimir saved him. They think whether it is time for them to leave, but do not budge.

When did tomorrow come

The next day, in the same place, at the same hour, but on a tree, yesterday completely naked, leaves appeared. Vladimir enters and examines Tarragon's boots, and peers intently into the distance. Barefoot Tarragon appears, he was beaten again at night, Vladimir takes pity on him. Tarragon asks what they should do then, since they are so happy. We decided to wait for Godot.

The next action of the play “Waiting for Godot” by Samuel Beckett begins in the morning. “A lot has changed,” Vladimir notes, “the leaves appeared on the tree.” But Tarragon does not remember either Lucky, or Pozzo, or what happened yesterday. They decided to calmly talk, it was very hard to be silent. This is the most suitable activity, no need to listen, no need to think. They hear voices, they discuss them for a long time. And agree to start all over again. It's hard to choose - where do you start? But to despair early. Thoughts prevail constantly.

Tarragon is sure that they were not here yesterday, but they wandered in some other hole and chatted about this and that. Tarragon saw the shoes, but did not recognize them. Vladimir suggests that someone took his shoes and left the others in return. Tarragon cannot understand if these are other shoes, then why are they shaking again. We gathered to leave, but no - we must wait for Godot.

The Return of Pozzo and Lucky

Lakki's hat caught Vladimir’s eyes, and they began to try on his hat and his own, passing them to each other. We decided to play Pozzo and Lucky, but suddenly noticed that someone was coming. They hope this is Godot. But on the other hand, someone is coming too. They hid, but no one comes. Not knowing what to do, Vladimir and Tarragon either reconcile or quarrel. Enter Lucky and Pozzo. Lucky carries the same things. But Pozzo was blind, and the rope around Lucky's neck was significantly shorter. He falls, Pozzo - after him. Vladimir and Tarragon are thinking about the conditions under which they can be helped.

Pozzo says he will give one hundred francs for help, then two hundred. Vladimir tries to help, but falls himself. Tarragon agrees to help, provided that he and Vladimir leave immediately. Pozzo crawls away, but Tarragon has already forgotten his name. Pozzo calls for help. Vladimir and Tarragon rise. Tarragon is trying to leave, but the friend reminds that they are waiting for Godot. Tramps help get up Pozzo. He cannot stand, they support him. Looking at the sky, they argue for a long time, day is now or morning, sunrise or sunset.

Must wait

Lucky has already fallen asleep, and Tarragon is trying to lift him with blows. He gets up, collects things, and they try to leave. Vladimir asks Lucky what is in the suitcase and where they are going with Pozzo. In response, he heard that there was sand in the suitcase. Vladimir asks Lucky to sing, but Pozzo says that Lucky is dumb. Seeing the surprise in response, Pozzo loses patience: "What's the difference?" After all, everything always happens on the same day, the same as everyone else. One day we were born, we die on the same day. Pozzo and Lucky leave. Soon they hear them fall.

Beckett’s drama “Waiting for Godot” concludes with the following picture: Tarragon is sleeping, but Vladimir is bored, and he wakes him up. He cannot understand whether it is reality or a dream. And tomorrow everything will be the same, he will wake up, and will not know anything about today, except that they were waiting for Godot. A boy comes in. Vladimir, it seems, recognizes him, but the boy replied that he saw them for the first time, and Godot asked him to convey what would happen tomorrow. Vladimir and Tarragon want to hang themselves, but there is no rope. Tomorrow they will come with a rope, and if Godot is gone, they will do it. They decided to disperse in different directions, and if Godot was not there, then they would return in the morning to wait for him. "Come on." “Let's go.” But neither one nor the other starts moving.

Waiting for Godot

Beckett's play is distinguished by the static stage action, as indicated above, in a brief analysis of the work. Beckett's “Waiting for Godot” time stopped - the day ends, another day comes, but everything is still the same, nothing is changing. It is rather "inaction." They are waiting for Godot. And in each of their dialogs, the playwright brings this important scene a notch lower, giving the conversation platitude. Thus, the author wants to achieve a comic effect.

Their words, meaningless, lose their meaning. They sound like the sounds of nature, beyond them there is no depth. So the playwright recreates the “experience of emptiness” of the language, which also confirms the monologicity and stereotyped speech of the characters. Bible references, often referred to in the play, seem to show that the expectation of Godot is faith in God. So they await God's Judgment and the Kingdom of Heaven.

Reader Reviews

“Waiting for Godot” is not only a story about dislike and love, self-pity, but also a story about relationships. Although at a certain moment loneliness enters the scene. Heroes communicate, but not with the interlocutor, but with some idea of ​​him. At the same time they both hate him and love him. And they want to leave, but they can’t. You can get away from someone, but not from yourself. Then you begin to see yourself in another. You stay, I stay. You - suffer, I - suffer. Let's suffer together, otherwise we will disperse, and we will have to experience something new.

Great play. Absurdism is one of the most fascinating trends in modern theater. This is a special genre, a special drama that makes you think about life in a world where there is no order and meaningfulness. For the first time, this genre was talked loudly after the Paris premiere of Beckett's “Waiting for Godot”. The play is devoid of an understandable plot, but there are vivid images. But the focus is not so much on the characters as on loneliness, an attempt to find meaning.