Vladimir And Estragon: A Symbol Of Man Essay, Research Paper

AP EnglishJanuary 19, 1999 Vladimir and Estragon: A Symbol of Man Many Authors use different techniques in their wittings. Samuel Beckett usesallusions and mentions to characters to assist the reader understand what the charactersrepresent. In his play Waiting for Godot, Beckett s two chief characters, Estragon andVladimir, are symbolized as adult male. Separate they are two different sides of adult male, buttogether they represent adult male as a whole. In Waiting for Godot, Beckett uses Estragon and Vladimir to typify adult male sphysical and mental province. Tarragon represents the physical side of adult male, while Vladimirrepresents the rational side of adult male. In each manner these two expression for replies showstheir side of adult male. Estragon has his places. Vladimir has his chapeau. When Estragon takes off his places he peers inside it, feels about inside it, turns itupside seeded, shakes it & # 8230 ; 1. Through this action it is relevant that Estragon is searchingfor something from his boot, but unable to acknowledge it. This symbolizes adult male s side ofusing physical ability to reply inquiries. Vladimir on the other manus continues to lookinto his chapeau. Vladirmir invariably Takes off his chapeau, equals inside it, feels about inside it, shakes it, puts it on once more 2. Through this action Vladimir is shown to be seeking foranswers in his chapeau, which symbolizes his utilizing cognition and his rational capabilityfor work outing jobs. Both Estragon and Vladimir are seeking for what the readerassumes to be the key to life s jobs. When they continue to make this throughout thedrama, it expresses the fact that they are seeking and will go on to seek until theyfind what they are looking for. Vladimir is more practical, and Estragon is more of a romantic. In the play, Estragon wants to speak about his dreams. Vladimir doesn T want to. He can non stand tohear about the dreams that Estragon has. When Estragon wakes up from falling asleep hesays I had a dream. Vladimir replies with Don T state me 3. Anot

her illustration is that

Estragon frequently forgets events every bit shortly as they happen or within a twenty-four hours, while Vladimir, onthe other manus, retrieve past events4. This is shown when Pozzo and Lucky enter intothe scene in the 2nd act. Estragon and Vladimir see two work forces coming. Vladimirrecognizes it as Pozzo, from the twenty-four hours before, but Estragon does non acknowledge him. Theconversation starts with Vladimir: Poor PozzoI knew it was himWho? Godot.But it s non Godot.It s non Godot? It s non Godot.Then who is it? It s Pozzo5.This exchange in duologue shows that Estragon does non acknowledge Pozzo, and Vladimir hasto Tell Estragon who it is. The two of them are dependent on each other. Estragon is beaten every dark bymysterious work forces. Vladimir acts as his defender. He sings to him, helps him take off hisboots, and covers him with his jacket6. Every dark they portion, yet they find each otherevery forenoon and get down another twenty-four hours of waiting. In each act, Estragon and Vladimir talkabout hanging themselves form the tree. During this exchange of words, Estragonsuggest that they hang themselves from a close by tree. Vladimir is the 1 who isparticle and explains why they can t hang themselves. The physical side and the rational side is shown through Estragon s andVladimir s actions, every bit good as their words. They have a friend ship that is bonded bytheir differences. Without one another they would be lost, merely like without theintellectual side of adult male, the physical side would be lost, and visa versa. Endnotes 1 Samuel Beckett, Waiting for Godot ( New York: Grove Press, Inc. , 1954 ) 8left. 2 Beckett 8 left. 3 Beckett 11 left. 4 Martin Esslin, The Search for the Self, Modern Critical Interpretations Waiting for Godot, erectile dysfunction. Harold Bloom ( New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1987 ) 29. 5 Beckett 50 right. 6 Esslin 29 BibliographyBeckett, Samuel. Waiting for Godot. New York: Grove Press, Inc. , 1954.Esslin, Martin The Search for the Self. Modern Critical Interpretations Waiting forGodot. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 1987.