1. The document summarizes Samuel Beckett's play Waiting for Godot, focusing on the characters of Vladimir and Estragon. 2. It describes their relationship as dependent yet hesitant, fluctuating between fear of loneliness and inability to connect. 3. Vladimir is portrayed as an optimist who tries to pass the time, while Estragon is more negative and open to ending his life.

1. Paper No. 9 : The Modernist Literature
Unit-3 : Waiting for Godot
Name: Trivedi Hezal K.
PG Reg. No. PG15101040
Roll No:32
M.A. – English Regular, Semester-1 Year:
2015
Submitted to: S.B. Gardi Department of
English Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji
Bhavnagar University (Gujarat – India)
Relationship between Estragon and
Vladimir in “Waiting For Godot”

2. About the Author
Samuel Beckett was born in Dublin,
Ireland 1906. Samuel Beckett was the
father of the Theatre of the Absurd
and Author of Waiting For Godot. He
influenced many of the dramatist of
the decade.
His work:
Waiting For Godot (1952)
Endgame (1957)
All That Fall (1957)
The Unnamable (1953)
Happy Days (1960)

3. About Waiting For Godot
• The play Waiting For Godot, written and
translated by author Samuel Beckett chronically
ordered in a short period of time, depict the lives
of two homeless men named Estragon and
Vladimir. These men are seemingly waiting for a
mysterious man named Godot who they feel will
bring them some form of liberation or progress.

4. Character of Vladimir and Estragon
Vladimir Estragon

5. Estragon’s individual identity
• Estragon’s meant to be seen as part of a
human or ‘any man’ that we all have and
sometimes wish we could get rid of.
• Everyone is sometimes forgetful, sometimes
negative and sometimes contemplates
ridiculous ideas just as Estragon does
throughout the play.
• He is the complete opposite of Vladimir.

6. Quote
• “Estragon: (Looking at the tree). Pity we haven’t got a bit of
rope.
• Vladimir: Come on. It’s cold.
• He draws Estragon after him. As before.
• Estragon: Remind me to bring a bit of rope tomorrow”
( Beckett 58)
• This shows how negative Estragon is and how he is very
open to the idea of ending his life. He feels as if there is
nothing else to do and he lacks hope in Godot’s expected.
• This is also said at the point in the play when the tree is
dead and has no leaves, causing him to want to be dead
like the tree.

7. Vladimir’s individual identity
• Vladimir is seen as parts of a human or ‘every
man’ that we all have or wish to have
• He is an optimist, this is shown in how he is
always thinking of ways to ‘pass the time’
instead of losing hope in Godot
• He is dependent on Estragon in helping him
remember things and keeping him company
since he cannot handle being alone.
• He is the complete opposite of Estragon.

8. Quote
• “Vladimir: Ah yes, the two thieves. Do you remember
the story?
• Estragon: No
• Vladimir: Shall I tell it to you?
• Estragon: No
• Vladimir: It’ll pass the time” (Beckett 6)
• This quote shows how he is an optimist, instead of just
sitting and waiting day after day of godot, he is always
thinking of ways to pass the time to make the wait
more enjoyable.

9. Themes affecting their relationship

10. Relationship between Estragon
and Vladimir
• Both characters are dependent on each other in
order to wait for Godot
• They are scared to part but too hesitant to
produce a real friendship
• Relationship flutter between a fear of loneliness
and a fundamental inability to connect
• Father and son Relationship
• Although Vladimir and Estragon are not equal in
intelligence and ingenuity. One character’s
weakness is the other character’s strength in
essence they complete one another

11. Cont.
• Their excessive emotional and psychological
reliance brings them in an effort to cooperate
together in hopes of exceeding their low class
status
• Another main purpose of them not leaving
each other is because of the memory loss
each of them have to deal with

12. Conclusion
• It is evident after completing the novel that
Samuel Beckett’s representation of the two
protagonist gave a clear and deliberate
message of questioning the idea of individual
identity. The play illustrates the human
complexity of the relationship each of us
experiences with our loved ones.