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Vladimir And Estragon 's Waiting For Godot

Satisfactory Essays

How Estragon can be shown as the body and Vladimir can be shown as the mind in Waiting for Godot.

In the play Waiting for Godot, written by Samuel Beckett, Vladimir and Estragon (the two protagonists) are shown to be two odd, clown-like characters. They take part in nonsensical conversations with themselves and people who pass by them. These conversations appear rather pointless from the outside but they discuss highly complicated philosophical theories. They also unconsciously spoil the events of the play before they happen. During these debates, Vladimir can clearly be seen as one of the pairs who has the brains and Estragon is the one who receives lots of comparison to bodily functions. I believe that in the play, Waiting for Godot, …show more content…

Legs wide apart,” he says “All my life I’ve tried to put it from me, saying Vladimir, be reasonable, you haven’t yet tried everything. And I resumed struggling. (He broods, musing on the struggle.Turning to Estragon.) So there you are again.” (1) Vladimir does not announce his pain and suffering to the audience very often showing that he likes to keep to himself. The way that he is walking in this scene is already evidenced enough that he completely trapped within his mind trying to solve a problem that has been bothering him for all his life. Subsequently, in the same scene, Vladimir express his happiness to Estragon by announcing how they are “Together at last!” (1) saying how “We’ll have to celebrate this somehow.” (1) then orders Estragon to “Get up till I embrace you.” (1) In this scene, it is noticeable that Vladimir’s idea of comfort and euphoria is the feeling of celebration within him but he does not understand Estragon physical struggle. Afterward, the pair engages in a heated argument where Vladimir claims:

“Vladimir:[angrily] No one ever suffers but you. I don’t count. I’d like to hear what you’d have to say if you had what I have.”

Estragon: It hurts?

Vladimir:[angrily] Hurts! He wants to know if it hurts!” (2)

Once again, we are reminded of Vladimir’s internal struggle and at this point, we are introduced to the fact that Vladimir and Estragon will not come to many agreements for the duration of the play. Thanks to

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