Randy Masco 9/1/13

Waiting for Godot: Dialectical Journal Period 1

Dialectical Journal for Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett


Quote Response
Vladimir: Lets wait until we know exactly how
we stand.
Estragon: On the other hand it might be better to
strike the iron before it freezes. (Page 10)
This exchange between Vladimir and Estragon
illustrates the gravity of their situation with Godot.
If the men are both willing to hang themselves over
and even before Godots arrival (whatever that may
be about), then he must be offering or explaining
something that will either vastly improve the
quality of the mens lives or ruin them. Estragon
saying it might be better to strike the iron before it
freezes details how little he trusts the possibility of
a positive outcome, saying basically that it be better
to kill themselves before they truly want to die.
Vladimir: [stutteringly resolute] To treat a
man[gestures towards Lucky]like thatI
think thatnoa human beingnoits a
scandal! (Page 19)
Due to Vladimirs response to Lucky, he (and
Estragon, presumably) does not live in a society
that currently practices slavery. The absolute horror
to which Vladimir exclaims is something
completely foreign to him, obviously morally (and
possibly legally) wrong in his eyes but not to
Pozzos. This very well could be an allegory for
slavery, as well the extremities of culture
differences.
Pozzo: Is there anything I can do, thats what I
ask myself, to cheer them up? I have given them
bones, I have talked to them about this and that, I
have explained the twilight, admittedly. But is it
enough, thats what tortures me, is it enough?
(Page 30)
This short aside by Pozzo indicates he has a sort of
internal conflict. His desire to please combined
with the juxtaposition of his absolute coldness
towards Lucky, his servant faithful to him for years,
demonstrates that he either feels an obligation to
these men for providing a hint of humanity during
his long trip, or treats men from a different society
with more respect than he does is own.
Pozzo: I dont seem to be able[Long
hesitation]to depart.
Estragon: Such is life. (Page 38)
This quote, along with several others on this page
(specifically Pozzos mentioning of a running
start) invokes a deep sense of something limbo-
like, in my opinion. That wherever the play is
taking place is a substitute for Limbo (or perhaps
Purgatory), as the men seem deeply determined to
stay, awaiting Godot. Godot takes on a God-like
character with much power in his hands, and he
holds the ability for the men to leave, since once
their exchange is over, the men are free to go, thus
being allowed to leave Limbo and go to Heaven.
Vladimir: Then all the dogs came running
And dug the dog a tomb-
[He stops, broods, resumes]
Then all the dogs came running
And dug the dog a tomb- (Page 48)
The song that Vladimir sings in this quote
exemplifies the constant repetition that is present
throughout the play; the apparent sameness seems
to spread across both the characters dialogue and
the events that occur. It all has a general feeling
that everything has happened before, many times
possibly, and will continue to happen. Very often
do Estragon and Vladimir repeat the same phrase.
Vladimir: We cant.
Estragon: Why not?
Vladimir: Were waiting for Godot.
Estragon: Ah! [Pause. Despairing.] Whatll we
do, whatll we do! (Page 58)
This exact exchange between the two men has
occurred before in this novel, and that further
emphasizes the monotony and endless repetition
that Vladimir and Estragon are stuck in. They have
already waited for Godot, they are waiting for
Godot, and they will continue to wait for Godot; at
the same place, the same time. This is further
proved by their apparent lack of memory and their
negligence to truly know even what day it is, since
its all happened so many times, they dont know
how many times it has happened between each
exchange. Estragon does not even remember his
life before this process.
Estragon: Do you think God sees me?
Vladimir: You must close your eyes.
[Estragon closes his eyes, staggers worse.]
Estragon: [stopping, brandishing his fists, at the
top of his voice] God have pity on me!
Vladimir: [vexed] And me?
Estragon: On me! On me! Pity! On me! (Page 67)
The religious symbolism heavily present in this
quote illustrates the idea that the two are desperate
to get out of this Christian limbo they are stuck in.
Their pleas for God to take pity on them is evidence
of the plays semi-theological influences, a theme
apparently being that this limbo is at its core, a
place no one wants to be. Those in limbo, like
Vladimir and Estragon, mistake every person as
God (Godot in this instance) who has come to
release them.
Vladimir: Let him alone. Cant you see hes
thinking of the days when he was happy. [Pause]
Memoria praeteritorum bonorum that must be
unpleasant.
Estragon: We wouldnt know. (Page 76)
Memoria praetoeritorum bonorum is latin for
remembrance of goods, and Estragons saying
they wouldnt know what that feels like indicates
that again, he and Vladimir cannot remember
anything before this endless cycle of waiting for
Godot. Loss of memory is another symptom present
in Limbo, those stuck in it have no memory of their
past lives and only remember whats happened
during their stay.
Pozzo: [suddenly furious] Have you not done
tormenting me with your accursed time! Its
abominable! When! When! One day, is that not
Pozzos anger at Vladimirs obsession over the
time frame of everything makes Vladimirs fixation
seem more obvious than ever. Vladimir obviously
enough for you, one day he went dumb, one day I
went blind, one day well go deaf, one day we
were born, one day we shall die, the same day, the
same second, is that not enough for you? (Page
80)
has noticed that time is never obviously stated
wherever he is; the night comes on suddenly, the
days pass by unnoticed, they never know what
weekday it is or what time of day (whether dawn,
afternoon, twilight), and this sudden awareness has
alarmed him into forcing the time out of Pozzo.