Summary “Waiting for Godot” Beckett


The main characters in the play “Waiting for Godot” – Vladimir (Didi) and Estragon (Gogo) – seem to be bogged down in time, nailed to one place by the expectation of a certain Godot, a meeting with which, in their opinion, will make sense in their meaningless existence and rid the threats of hostile the surrounding world. The plot of the play does not lend itself to unambiguous interpretation.

The spectator, at his own discretion, can define Godot as a specific person, God, strong personality, Death, etc. For a while, two more strange and ambiguous characters appear – Pozzo and Lakki. Their relationship among themselves is difficult to determine, on the one hand, Lakki is the silent and weak-willed slave of Pozzi, on the other, his former teacher – but this interpretation is questionable.

After chatting and discussing with the protagonists quite a considerable time, Pozzo suggests Lakki to think and dance, which he agrees without a murmur.

Lakki’s monologue is Becket’s witty parody of scientific dissertations and popular scientific articles, as well as a vivid example of literary postmodernity. After Lakki is exhausted, he and Pozzo leave, while Vladimir and Estragon remain waiting for Godot.

Soon a boy, a messenger, comes running to them, informing them that Godot will come tomorrow. The boy works as a shepherd, and his master beats his brother – Monsieur Godot.

Estragon, everything that happens is boring, and he decides to leave, throwing out his shoes, which are small for him.

With the onset of the morning Gogo returns beaten and reports that he was attacked by ten people. He and Didi are reconciled. Gogo finds other shoes instead of his old ones, which are too big for him, but he leaves them in the hope that someday he will get socks. Didi finds Lakki’s hat, tries it on, and they spend time playing and changing their hats.

Again come Pozzo and Lakki, greatly changed – Pozzo became blind, and Lakki was speechless. This couple does not recognize (or pretends not to know) the protagonists and continues on their way.

Again the boy comes running and says that Monsieur Godot will come tomorrow. He does not remember Vladimir and what came yesterday.

The heroes decide to go in search of a rope to hang himself, if Monsieur Godot does not come tomorrow. But the play ends with the words “they do not move.”


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Summary “Waiting for Godot” Beckett