The document provides background on Samuel Beckett and his play Waiting for Godot. It summarizes that the play features two main characters, Vladimir and Estragon, who wait under a tree for a man named Godot to arrive but he never does. Vladimir is more intellectual and stable while Estragon is forgetful and dependent on Vladimir. Their relationship represents the interdependence of body and soul. Symbols like Vladimir's hat represent the mind while Estragon's boots symbolize the physical. The characters can be seen as modern tramps, wandering with no fixed home or purpose other than to wait endlessly.
2. About Author:
Born – 1906 and died – 1989
Irish avant garde novelist, playwright,
theater director and poet.
Wrote in both English and French.
Associated with literary movement
“Theater ofThe Absurd”.
Example of absurd theater,
‘Molloy
Malone Dies
Breath
Waiting for Godot
Last modernist writer.
Samuel Beckett
3. About play Waiting for Godot
Originally written in French with the
title of “En attendant Godot” in 1948.
In English 1949.
Subtitled ‘a tragicomedy in two acts’
This play is divided in to two act.
Setting: A country road, A tree
Time : Evening.
In the entire play two character wait
for the arrival of someone named
Godot who never arrives.
6. Vladimir and Estragon
Vladimir Estragon
Estragon call him DiDi, small
boy , Mr. Albert.
Practical , intellectual
Philosopher
stable
Remembers thing
Upset
He has hope Godot will come
one day
Protector of Estragon
Vladimir call him Gogo.
A poet
Eater
No sense of time and place
Telling funny story.
Depend onVladimir.
He was skeptical .
Forgets the thing.
Estragon was slipping.
7. Continue..
Vladimir Estragon
Can’t listen for dream
For example,
Vladimir: I felt lonely
Estragon: I had a dream
Vladimir: Don’t tell me!
Estragon: I dreamt that –
Vladimir: DON’TTELL ME!
He was dreamer
8. Relationship between Estragon and
Vladimir as ‘Body’ and ‘Soul
Estragon – body – physical
Vladimir – soul – intellect
Both are dependent on each other.
One cannot live without the other.
One character’s weakness is the
other character’s strength.
Father and son relationship
9. Symbol of “Boot” and “Hat”
Vladimir Estragon
Symbol of hat
It connect with mind
Thinking, intellect,
Remember to Mr. Godot
Symbol of boot
It connect with physical
Sleep, forgot everything
Not remember Mr. Godot,
even forgot name also.
10. Vladimir and Estragon as tramp
character
What is tramp character?
A Homeless person who travels from place to
place on foot in search of work or as a vagrant
or beggar.
11. Vladimir and Estragon as tramp:
Both have physical attributes of the
tramp
Both have wear big boots, which
don’t necessarily fit.
Their suits are baggy and ill fitted, a
big bowler hat, a famous small
mustache.
13. Conclusion
Vladimir and Estragon both are dependent on
each other in order to wait for Godot. One
character’s weakness is other characters
strength. Samuel Beckett’s representation of
two protagonist gave a clear and deliberate
message of questioning the idea of individual
identity.
14. Work sited
Martin Esslin’s article “The search for the self”.
https://www.slideshare.net/hezaltrivedi/relatio
nship-between-estragon-and-vladimir-in-
waiting-for-godot
https://www.slideshare.net/deepikavaja/relatio
nship-between-estragon-and-vladimir-as-
body-and-soul