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Character Summaries - Waiting for Godot
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This document is a brief list of character summaries about the key five characters in Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot. Bullet-pointed for easy reading.
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CHARACTERSVLADIMIR
More responsible than Estragon? (He’s the one intent on waiting for Godot’s arrival when
Estragon wants to leave.) This could also mean he is more naïve?
While it is clear that Estragon is dependent on Vladimir, Vladimir needs him too, or rather needs
to be needed (ie when he tries to hug Estragon and Estragon deflects him)
Wants to be close to Estragon (puts his jacket over him and sings lullaby while he sleeps) but is
scared of becoming too close (doesn’t want to hear about Estragon’s dreams)
Wants to be humane and helpful but doesn’t know how (ie “we should do something”) instead
of acting sincerely, he mimics what he believes should be done.
Logical. Vlad realizes in his interaction with the Boy that he will be back tomorrow and won’t
remember them and Godot will fail to come yet again.
Vladimir’s decision to wait for Godot prevents them from engaging in any other action which is
why they seem to be perpetually locked in the continuum of waiting aimlessly.
Hints that Vlad is scared of death (when they talk about hanging themselves- “no no you first” or
when he sings the song about the dog, he always hesitates at the word ‘tomb’)
ESTRAGON
Dependent on Vladimir (boots, getting beat up, etc)
Has a poor memory (Vladimir has to remind him of the events of the previous night)
Always trying to sleep (a way of escaping the tedium of reality?)
May come across as inferior intellectually but is actually smart, sometimes moreso than Vlad
(“use your intelligence cant you!”, “Use your head cant you?”)
Makes incredibly deep, significant comments (“we’re all born mad, some remain so”)
Unlike Vlad, who is perhaps a little too hopeful and naïve, Estragon understands and accepts the
pointlessness of their plight (“nothing happens”, “nothing to be done”) he encapsulates
existentialist ideas.
Estragon does not have the same connection to Godot that Vladimir does (he constantly wants
to leave, asks why they’re waiting etc). This could be because he thinks about religion in a
different way? (having said that, he does understand it profoundly – “that’s where we’ll go…
we’ll be happy” [Heaven])
POZZO
Passes by the spot where Estra and Vlad are waiting and creates a diversion, a momentary break
in the monotony of their waiting.
Godlike? (he has complete control of Lucky-does this mean he is meant to represent a godlike
figure of sorts?)
Has a defective memory
Helpless and unsure of himself (needs to be asked to sit down and needs assistance getting up
again etc)
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