Vladimir Character Analysis

I'm glad to see you back. I thought you were gone forever.

When I think of it... all these years... but for me... where would you be... (Decisively.) You'd be nothing more than a little heap of bones at the present minute, no doubt about it.

One daren't even laugh any more.
Dreadful privation.
Merely smile. (He smiles suddenly from ear to ear, keeps smiling, ceases as suddenly.) It's not the same thing. Nothing to be done.

You're sure it was this evening?
What?
That we were to wait.
He said Saturday. (Pause.) I think

I was asleep! (Despairingly.) Why will you never let me sleep?
I felt lonely.

What do we do now?
Wait.
Yes, but while waiting.
What about hanging ourselves?
Hmm. It'd give us an erection.

To Godot? Tied to Godot! What an idea! No question of it. (Pause.) For the moment.

You are human beings none the less. (He puts on his glasses.) As far as one can see. (He takes off his glasses.) of the same species as myself. (He bursts into an enormous laugh.) Of the same species as Pozzo! Made in God's image!

To treat a man... (gesture towards Lucky)... like that... I think that... no... a human being... no... it's a scandal!

After having sucked all the good out of him you chuck him away like a... like a banana skin. Really...

(to Lucky.) How dare you! It's abominable! Such a good master! Crucify him like that! After so many years! Really!

So that I ask myself is there anything I can do in my turn for these honest fellows who are having such a dull, dull time.
Even ten francs would be a help.
We are not beggars!

He thinks?
Certainly. Aloud. He even used to think very prettily once, I could listen to him for hours. Now... (he shudders).

He used to dance the farandole, the fling, the brawl, the jig, the fandango, and even the hornpipe. He capered. For joy. Now that's the best he can do. Do you know what he calls it?
The Scapegoat's Agony.
The Hard Stool.
The Net. He thinks he's entangled in a net.

Then adieu.
Adieu.
Adieu.
Adieu.
Silence. No one moves.
Adieu.
Adieu.
Adieu.
Silence.

Let's go.
We can't.
Why not?
We're waiting for Godot.

We know them, I tell you. You forget everything. (Pause. To himself.) Unless they're not the same...
Why didn't they recognize us then?
That means nothing. I too pretended not to recognize them. And then nobody every recognizes us.

You don't know me?
No Sir.
It wasn't you came yesterday?
No Sir.
This is your first time?
Yes Sir.

Tell him... (he hesitates)... tell him you saw us. (Pause.) You did see us, didn't you?

Christ! What has Christ got to do with it. You're not going to compare yourself to Christ!

Well, shall we go?
Yes, let's go.
They do not move.

Say, I am happy.
I am happy.
So am I.
So am I.
We are happy.
We are happy. (Silence.) What do we do now, now that we are happy?
Wait for Godot.

The best thing would be to kill me, like the other.
What other? (Pause.) What other?
Like billions of others.

It must be the Spring.
But in a single night!
I tell you we weren't here yesterday. Another of your nightmares.

We came too soon.
It's always at nightfall.
But night doesn't fall.
It'll fall all of a sudden, like yesterday.
Then it'll be night.
And we can go.
Then it'll be day again.

No, the best would be to take advantage of Pozzo's calling for help.

Suppose we got up to begin with?
No harm trying.
They get up.
Child's play.
Simple question of will-power.

Have you not done tormenting me with your accursed time! It's abominable! When! When! One day, is that not enough for you, one day he went dumb, one day I went blind, one day we'll go deaf, one day we were born, one day we shall die, the same day, the same second, is that not enough for you?

Was I sleeping, while the others suffered? Am I sleeping now?

Tell him... (he hesitates)... tell him you saw me and that... (he hesitates)... that you saw me. (Pause. Vladimir advances, the Boy recoils. Vladimir halts, the Boy halts. With sudden violence.) You're sure you saw me, you won't come and tell me tomorrow that you never saw me!

Well? Shall we go?
Yes, let's go.
They do not move.

I'm glad to see you back. I thought you were gone forever.

When I think of it... all these years... but for me... where would you be... (Decisively.) You'd be nothing more than a little heap of bones at the present minute, no doubt about it.

One daren't even laugh any more.
Dreadful privation.
Merely smile. (He smiles suddenly from ear to ear, keeps smiling, ceases as suddenly.) It's not the same thing. Nothing to be done.

You're sure it was this evening?
What?
That we were to wait.
He said Saturday. (Pause.) I think

I was asleep! (Despairingly.) Why will you never let me sleep?
I felt lonely.

What do we do now?
Wait.
Yes, but while waiting.
What about hanging ourselves?
Hmm. It'd give us an erection.

To Godot? Tied to Godot! What an idea! No question of it. (Pause.) For the moment.

You are human beings none the less. (He puts on his glasses.) As far as one can see. (He takes off his glasses.) of the same species as myself. (He bursts into an enormous laugh.) Of the same species as Pozzo! Made in God's image!

To treat a man... (gesture towards Lucky)... like that... I think that... no... a human being... no... it's a scandal!

After having sucked all the good out of him you chuck him away like a... like a banana skin. Really...

(to Lucky.) How dare you! It's abominable! Such a good master! Crucify him like that! After so many years! Really!

So that I ask myself is there anything I can do in my turn for these honest fellows who are having such a dull, dull time.
Even ten francs would be a help.
We are not beggars!

He thinks?
Certainly. Aloud. He even used to think very prettily once, I could listen to him for hours. Now... (he shudders).

He used to dance the farandole, the fling, the brawl, the jig, the fandango, and even the hornpipe. He capered. For joy. Now that's the best he can do. Do you know what he calls it?
The Scapegoat's Agony.
The Hard Stool.
The Net. He thinks he's entangled in a net.

Then adieu.
Adieu.
Adieu.
Adieu.
Silence. No one moves.
Adieu.
Adieu.
Adieu.
Silence.

Let's go.
We can't.
Why not?
We're waiting for Godot.

We know them, I tell you. You forget everything. (Pause. To himself.) Unless they're not the same...
Why didn't they recognize us then?
That means nothing. I too pretended not to recognize them. And then nobody every recognizes us.

You don't know me?
No Sir.
It wasn't you came yesterday?
No Sir.
This is your first time?
Yes Sir.

Tell him... (he hesitates)... tell him you saw us. (Pause.) You did see us, didn't you?

Christ! What has Christ got to do with it. You're not going to compare yourself to Christ!

Well, shall we go?
Yes, let's go.
They do not move.

Say, I am happy.
I am happy.
So am I.
So am I.
We are happy.
We are happy. (Silence.) What do we do now, now that we are happy?
Wait for Godot.

The best thing would be to kill me, like the other.
What other? (Pause.) What other?
Like billions of others.

It must be the Spring.
But in a single night!
I tell you we weren't here yesterday. Another of your nightmares.

We came too soon.
It's always at nightfall.
But night doesn't fall.
It'll fall all of a sudden, like yesterday.
Then it'll be night.
And we can go.
Then it'll be day again.

No, the best would be to take advantage of Pozzo's calling for help.

Suppose we got up to begin with?
No harm trying.
They get up.
Child's play.
Simple question of will-power.

Have you not done tormenting me with your accursed time! It's abominable! When! When! One day, is that not enough for you, one day he went dumb, one day I went blind, one day we'll go deaf, one day we were born, one day we shall die, the same day, the same second, is that not enough for you?

Was I sleeping, while the others suffered? Am I sleeping now?

Tell him... (he hesitates)... tell him you saw me and that... (he hesitates)... that you saw me. (Pause. Vladimir advances, the Boy recoils. Vladimir halts, the Boy halts. With sudden violence.) You're sure you saw me, you won't come and tell me tomorrow that you never saw me!

Well? Shall we go?
Yes, let's go.
They do not move.