How we cite our quotes: (Act.Line) Every time a character talks counts as one line, even if what they say turns into a long monologue.
Quote #7
VLADIMIR
But you say we were here yesterday.
ESTRAGON
I may be mistaken. (Pause.) Let's stop talking for a minute, do you mind?
VLADIMIR
(feebly) All right. (1.143-5)
ESTRAGON
(with effort) Gogo light—bough not break—Gogo dead. Didi heavy—bough break—Didi alone. Whereas—
VLADIMIR
I hadn't thought of that.
ESTRAGON
If it hangs you it'll hang anything.
VLADIMIR
But am I heavier than you?
ESTRAGON
So you tell me. I don't know. There's an even chance. Or nearly. (1.188-92)
Vladimir and Estragon are barred from even this act—that of suicide—because of an uncertainty as to whether or not it will work. In the "Choices" theme we look at how these two men consistently make "decisions" to act, yet are then somehow barred from actually doing anything. It may be that uncertainty is the barrier between choice and action.
Quote #8
VLADIMIR
Well? What do we do?
ESTRAGON
Don't let's do anything. It's safer.
VLADIMIR
Let's wait and see what he says.
ESTRAGON
Who?
VLADIMIR
Godot.
ESTRAGON
Good idea. (1.193-8)
The men use Godot as their reassurance that objective truth is coming soon, or at least someone with the authority to tell them what to do. This should clear up their issues of uncertainty. Of course, this assumption is incredibly ironic since the men can’t be sure of Godot’s arrival (or existence, or name, or form, and so on).
Quote #9
ESTRAGON
What exactly did we ask him for?
VLADIMIR
Were you not there?
ESTRAGON
I can't have been listening.
VLADIMIR
Oh . . . Nothing very definite.
ESTRAGON
And what did he reply?
VLADIMIR
That he'd see.
ESTRAGON
That he couldn't promise anything. (1.202-212)
Even Godot is unsure! If Godot is a real omniscient, omnipresent God, then none of these statements can be true. If he is a figment of the men’s imaginations, their security blanket figure of certainty and truth, why do they assign to him all these doubts?