Waiting for Godot - Character Points

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  • Created by: emi_dow
  • Created on: 19-04-19 16:08
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  • Waiting for Godot - Characters
    • Vladimir
      • Rational and Intellectual
        • Tried to philosophise about their situation
          • Biblical allusions:     V: one of the thieves was saved
      • Dependent on E
        • Seems reluctant to admit how much he needs and cares about E
          • V: I missed you... and at the same time I was happy. Isn't that a queer thing?
      • Has a better memory and understanding of time than the others
        • He realises Act II is like Act I
          • V: Off we go again
    • Estragon
      • Helpless and dependent on V
        • Needs advice with his boots, reliant on him for food, emotionally dependent on him
          • E: [feebly] Help me!
      • He has poor memory and no understanding of time
        • Can't answer V's questions about where he was, and has no recollection of being in the same place the day before
          • V: Is it possible that you've forgotten already?      E: That's the way I am
      • Seems to be stupid, but has moments of insight and intelligence
        • Works out who has to hang themselves first
          • E: Gogo light - bough not break - Gogo dead. Didi heavy - bough break - Didi alone
    • Pozzo
      • A criticism of a capitalist master
        • Cruel and selfish
      • Exercises power over Lucky - but ironically is relatively powerless
        • Act II - he is blind and helpless, literally
          • P: Help!
          • [Pozzo writhes, groans, beats the ground with his fists]
      • Represents the gradual decline of humanity and society
        • He keeps losing both physical items, and aspects of his personality
          • P: I woke up one fine day as blind as Fortune
          • P: What have I done with my watch?
    • Lucky
      • Lucky's physical suffering compares to mental suffering of the others
        • He is beaten and abused by Pozzo
          • V: You'll kill him
          • P: [he kicks L]
      • Represents the risks for humanity - downfall
        • We are told of his past, but his current self isn't recognisable
          • P: That was nearly sixty years ago...
          • P: Guess who taught me all these beautiful things... My Lucky!
      • Lucky's tirade represents the chaos of the world & the oppression of ideas
        • The modern world is chaotic and nonsensical
        • He isn't allowed to keep talking - they dive on him
          • P: His hat! [V seizes L's hat. silence of L.]
          • P: Give me that! [He snatches the hat from V, throws it on the ground, tramples on it.] There's an end to his thinking!
    • Boy
      • represents hope for V & E
        • He keeps telling them that Godot will come
          • V: He won't come this evening        B: No, sir     V: But he'll come tomorrow     B: Without fail
      • Emblematic of the confusion of the other characters,
        • Unclear if he is the same boy both days
          • V: I've seen you before, haven't I?      B: I don't know, sir?
      • Two brothers reflect the cruelty of the world
        • One beaten, the other not
          • V: He doesn't beat you?    B: No, sir, not me.              V: Whom does he beat? B: He beats my brother, sir
    • Godot
      • We are never sure if Godot is real
        • They have never even seen him
          • V: Has he a beard, Mr Godot?        B: "Yes, sir"
      • Godot has power over V & E
        • He keeps them in one place waiting for him
          • V: yes, let's go. [they do not move]
      • Godot is presented as a saviour
        • His name resembles 'God'

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