Symbolism In Waiting For Godot

When “Waiting for Godot” first emerged onto the literary scene, audiences were met with a perplexing and controversial play that reflected life in a way that was disquieting to most. Our setting is a bleak wasteland with a single tree, leaving readers and viewers to view it as a generalized location that is nowhere and everywhere at the same time. Our protagonists, Vladimir and Estragon, wait in this barren world for Godot to save them, but save them from what exactly? Death, hell, reality, themselves, boredom; the answer is unknown, but Godot stands as a beacon of salvation with answers to every question that plagues the human mind. The tramps spend time waiting by playing a variety of games to help pass the time quickly, often with their

An appointment was made, albeit a very vague on as Vladimir points out, “He didn’t say for sure he’d come,” about the unknown Godot. This veiled version of a man portrayed by the never-appearing Godot holds for Vladimir and Estragon a form of escape from their terribly boring and tedious lives, but they fail to realise that their waiting has become a routine, as monotonous as they come, and their habit of showing up consistently will slowly but surely destroy them. Our duo is bound to a cyclical life of which no escape exists because they fail time and time again to find the bravery and their freedom to do so. Nothing is keeping them their except this appointment with a man they do not know, and fear as Vladimir states Godot will “punish” them if they are not present for his arrival. It is impossible to put a measurement on time spent by the two hapless men waiting for this now cruel figure, but most definitely, it has been a while and now, after coming to the barren land every morning and vowing to return every night, it has now become an involuntary action as they slip into an auto-piloted way of life. As much as choice exists for them, habit leaves them unable to visualise it and thus they stay with their heads barely afloat in a pool of stagnancy. Apart from their habits governing and guiding them through life now, fear of uncertainty and the unknown keeps them rooted where they stand. Estragon puts their perspectives best when he responds, “Don’t let’s do anything. It’s safer.” If nothing is done, then nothing can be done badly and the effects of their choices will never get back to them. Our duo of tramps are not the only ones plagued by habit, as Pozzo suffers greatly and spirals wildly away from