Book Review: Waiting for Godot

My my, there is a lot to unpack here. Samuel Beckett is known for being a decisive writer. ‘Waiting for Godot’ is probably his most famous play as it engages in some interesting and quite controversial topics – like slavery. As such, it is as tragic as it is comedic.

Our two main characters Vladimir and Estragon are ridiculous. They are, they’re the silliest characters I’ve ever come across thus far, which, is quite a thing to say as Oscar Wilde’s leads are equally ridiculous – but in a more charming, bumbling-Englishman kind of way. Not in the slightly unnerving kind of way as with Beckett’s characters.

The play is exactly what it says it is: two farcical characters waiting for a man named Godot under a tree. But, yet it explores the depravities of mankind – poverty and slavery for example. The introduction of Pozzo and Lucky is the crux of this exploration. Lucky speaks only when asked to. Otherwise, he is forced to run around after his master, Pozzo. Pozzo believes Lucky likes being a slave and that Lucky is only shown to be loyal when we meet him due to Lucky being put up for sale at the market. Vladimir and Estragon don’t see anything wrong with Pozzo’s explanation and are happy to be deceived. They do not see any other reason to believe otherwise.

This play is very stripped down. There is no clear setting or description of the characters – even then unseen Godot can be left open to interpretation. Is this play an allegory for socialism? Atheism in the absent Godot? No one is 100% sure. That is part of the genius of Beckett – his plays are masterful pieces of literature, they are all symbiosis. But if you were to ask Beckett – so, what’s the play actually about? He may smack you. It’s a play that cannot nor should not be so fiercely analysed, dissected or debated in literary circles. It somewhat spoils the play to analyse too much into the characters, the setting, or the social constructs. Take it as it is – a work of art and leave it be.