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

AP English

January 19, 1999

Vladimir and Estragon: A Symbol of Man

Many Writers use different techniques in their wittings. Samuel Beckett utilizations

allusions and mentions to characters to assist the reader understand what the characters

represent. In his play Waiting for Godot, Beckett? s two chief characters, Estragon and

Vladimir, are symbolized as adult male. Separate they are two different sides of adult male, but

together they represent adult male as a whole.

In Waiting for Godot, Beckett uses Estragon and Vladimir to typify adult male? s

physical and mental province. Tarragon represents the physical side of adult male, while Vladimir

represents the rational side of adult male. In each manner these two expression for replies shows

their 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 it

upside sown, shakes it & # 8230 ; ? 1. Through this action it is relevant that Estragon is seeking

for something from his boot, but unable to acknowledge it. This symbolizes adult male? s side of

utilizing physical ability to reply inquiries. Vladimir on the other manus continues to look

into his chapeau. Vladirmir invariably? Takes off his chapeau, equals inside it, feels about inside it,

shingles it, puts it on once more? 2. Through this action Vladimir is shown to be seeking for

replies in his chapeau, which symbolizes his utilizing cognition and his rational capableness

for work outing jobs. Both Estragon and Vladimir are seeking for what the reader

assumes to be the key to life? s jobs. When they continue to make this throughout the

play, it expresses the fact that they are seeking and will go on to seek until they

happen what they are looking for.

Vladimir is more practical, and Estragon is more of a romantic. In the play,

Tarragon wants to speak about his dreams. Vladimir doesn? T want to. He can non stand to

hear about the dreams that Estragon has. When Estragon wakes up from falling asleep he

says? I had a dream? . Vladimir replies with? Don? T state me? 3. Another illustration is that

Estragon frequently forgets events every bit shortly as they happen or withi

n a twenty-four hours, while Vladimir, on

the other manus, retrieve past events4. This is shown when Pozzo and Lucky enter into

the scene in the 2nd act. Estragon and Vladimir see two work forces coming. Vladimir

recognizes it as Pozzo, from the twenty-four hours before, but Estragon does non acknowledge him. The

conversation starts with Vladimir:

Poor Pozzo

I knew it was him

Who?

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 has

to state Estragon who it is.

The two of them are dependent on each other. Estragon is beaten every dark by

cryptic work forces. Vladimir acts as his defender. He sings to him, helps him take off his

boots, and covers him with his jacket6. Every dark they portion, yet they find each other

every forenoon and get down another twenty-four hours of waiting. In each act, Estragon and Vladimir talk

about hanging themselves form the tree. During this exchange of words, Estragon

suggest that they hang themselves from a close by tree. Vladimir is the 1 who is

atom and explains why they can? t bent themselves.

The physical side and the rational side is shown through Estragon? s and

Vladimir? s actions, every bit good as their words. They have a friend ship that is bonded by

their differences. Without one another they would be lost, merely like without the

rational 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 ) 8

left.

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

Bibliography

Beckett, Samuel. Waiting for Godot. New York: Grove Press, Inc. , 1954.

Esslin, Martin? The Search for the Self. ? Modern Critical Interpretations Waiting for

Godot. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House Publishing, 1987.