Short summary - Waiting for Godot - Samuel Barclay Beckett

British literature summaries - 2020

Short summary - Waiting for Godot
Samuel Barclay Beckett

Tarragon sits on a knoll and unsuccessfully tries to steal a shoe from his feet. Vladimir enters and says that he is glad for the return of Tarragon: he already thought that he had disappeared forever. Tarragon himself thought so. He spent the night in a ditch, he was beaten - he did not even notice who. Vladimir argues that it is difficult to endure all this alone. One had to think earlier, if they had long ago, back in the nineties, rushed upside down from the Eiffel Tower, they would have been among the first, and now they would not even be allowed upstairs. Vladimir takes off his hat, shakes it, but nothing falls out of it. Vladimir notes that, apparently, this is not a shoe: it is just that Tarragon has such a foot. Vladimir pensively utters that one of the robbers was saved, and invites Tarragon to repent. He recalls the Bible and is surprised that of the four evangelists, only one speaks of the salvation of the robber, and for some reason everyone believes him. Tarragon offers to leave, but Vladimir believes that it is impossible to leave, because they are waiting for Godot, and if he does not come today, he will have to wait for him here tomorrow Godot promised to come on Saturday. Tarragon and Vladimir no longer remember whether they waited for Godot yesterday, do not remember Saturday today or some other day. Tarragon dozes off, but Vladimir immediately becomes lonely, and he wakes his comrade. Tarragon offers to hang himself, but they cannot decide who should hang themselves first, and in the end they decide to do nothing, because it is safer. They will wait for Godot and find out his opinion. They can’t remember in any way what they asked Godot for, it seems they were turning to him a kind of vague supplication. Godot replied that he should think, consult with his family, get in touch with someone, dig in literature,

A piercing scream is heard. Vladimir and Tarragon, clinging to each other, freeze with fear. Lucky enters with a suitcase, a folding chair, a basket of food and a coat; around his neck he has a rope, the end of which is held by Pozzo. Pozzo snaps a whip and chases Lucky, scolding him on what the light stands. Tarragon timidly asks Pozzo if he is Godot, but Pozzo does not even know who Godot is. Pozzo travels alone and is glad to meet his own kind, that is, those who are created in the image and likeness of God. He cannot live without society for long. Deciding to sit down, he tells Lucky to give a chair. Lucky puts a suitcase and a basket on the ground, goes to Pozzo, lays down a chair, then leaves and again picks up a suitcase and a basket. Pozzo is dissatisfied: the chair needs to be put closer. Lucky puts the suitcase and the basket down again, approaches, rearranges the chair, then picks up the suitcase and the basket again. Vladimir and Tarragon are perplexed: why doesn't Lucky put things on the ground, why does he keep them in his hands all the time? Pozzo is taken for food. Having eaten a chicken, he throws his bones to the ground and lights a pipe. Tarragon timidly asks if he needs bones. Pozzo replies that they belong to the porter, but if Lucky refuses them, Tarragon can take them. As Lucky is silent, Tarragon picks up the bones and begins to gnaw them. Vladimir is indignant at Pozzo’s cruelty: is it possible to treat a person like that? Pozzo, not paying attention to their condemnation, decides to smoke another pipe. Vladimir and Tarragon want to leave, but Pozzo invites them to stay, because otherwise they will not meet with Godot, whom they are waiting for. he throws his bones to the ground and lights a pipe. Tarragon timidly asks if he needs bones. Pozzo replies that they belong to the porter, but if Lucky refuses them, Tarragon can take them. As Lucky is silent, Tarragon picks up the bones and begins to gnaw them. Vladimir is indignant at Pozzo’s cruelty: is it possible to treat a person like that? Pozzo, not paying attention to their condemnation, decides to smoke another pipe. Vladimir and Tarragon want to leave, but Pozzo invites them to stay, because otherwise they will not meet with Godot, whom they are waiting for. he throws his bones to the ground and lights a pipe. Tarragon timidly asks if he needs bones. Pozzo replies that they belong to the porter, but if Lucky refuses them, Tarragon can take them. As Lucky is silent, Tarragon picks up the bones and begins to gnaw them. Vladimir is indignant at Pozzo’s cruelty: is it possible to treat a person like that? Pozzo, not paying attention to their condemnation, decides to smoke another pipe. Vladimir and Tarragon want to leave, but Pozzo invites them to stay, because otherwise they will not meet with Godot, whom they are waiting for. Is it possible to treat a person like that? Pozzo, not paying attention to their condemnation, decides to smoke another pipe. Vladimir and Tarragon want to leave, but Pozzo invites them to stay, because otherwise they will not meet with Godot, whom they are waiting for. Is it possible to treat a person like that? Pozzo, not paying attention to their condemnation, decides to smoke another pipe. Vladimir and Tarragon want to leave, but Pozzo invites them to stay, because otherwise they will not meet with Godot, whom they are waiting for.

Tarragon is trying to find out from Pozzo why Lucky is not packing his bags. After he repeats his question several times, Pozzo finally answers that Lucky has the right to put heavy things on the ground, and since he does not do this, then he does not want to. He probably hopes to soften Pozzo so that Pozzo does not drive him away. Sense of Lucky as a goat of milk, he can’t cope with the work, so Pozzo decided to get rid of him, but out of kindness of heart, instead of just throwing Lucky out, he leads him to the fair in the hope of getting a good price for him. Pozzo believes that it would be best to kill Lucky. Lucky is crying. Tarragon pities him and wants to wipe his tears, but Lucky kicks him with all his strength. Tarragon is crying in pain. Pozzo notices that Lucky has stopped crying, and Tarragon has begun, so the number of tears in the world always remains the same. So with a laugh, Pozzo says that Lucky taught him all these wonderful things, because they have been together for sixty years. He tells Lucky to take off his hat. Lucky has long gray hair under his hat. When Pozzo himself takes off his hat, it turns out that he is completely bald. Pozzo wept, saying that he could not go with Lucky, could not bear him anymore. Vladimir rebukes Lucky for torturing such a good master. Pozzo calms down and asks Vladimir and Tarragon to forget everything that he told them. Pozzo gives a rant about the beauty of twilight. Tarragon and Vladimir are bored. To entertain them, Pozzo is ready to order Lucky to sing, dance, recite or think. Tarragon wants Lucky to dance and then think. Lucky dances, then thinks out loud. He gives a long, scientifically abstruse monologue, devoid of any meaning. Finally Pozzo and Lucky leave. Tarragon also wants to leave, but Vladimir stops him: they are waiting for Godot. A boy comes and says that Godot asked me to convey that today he will not come, but he will definitely come tomorrow. The night is coming. Tarragon decides not to wear his shoes anymore, let someone who they fit is better to take them. And he will walk barefoot, like Christ. Tarragon is trying to remember how many years they have known Vladimir. Vladimir believes that he’s about fifty. Tarragon recalls how he once rushed to the Rhone, and Vladimir caught him, but Vladimir does not want to tidy up the past. They think whether to part with them, but decide what is not worth it yet. “Well, let's go?” Says Tarragon. “Let's go,” Vladimir replies. Both do not move. but Vladimir stops him: they are waiting for Godot. A boy comes and says that Godot asked me to convey that today he will not come, but he will definitely come tomorrow. The night is coming. Tarragon decides not to wear his shoes anymore, let someone who they fit is better to take them. And he will walk barefoot, like Christ. Tarragon is trying to remember how many years they have known Vladimir. Vladimir believes that he’s about fifty. Tarragon recalls how he once rushed to the Rhone, and Vladimir caught him, but Vladimir does not want to tidy up the past. They think whether to part with them, but decide what is not worth it yet. “Well, let's go?” Says Tarragon. “Let's go,” Vladimir replies. Both do not move. but Vladimir stops him: they are waiting for Godot. A boy comes and says that Godot asked me to convey that today he will not come, but he will definitely come tomorrow. The night is coming. Tarragon decides not to wear his shoes anymore, let someone who they fit is better to take them. And he will walk barefoot, like Christ. Tarragon is trying to remember how many years they have known Vladimir. Vladimir believes that he’s about fifty. Tarragon recalls how he once rushed to the Rhone, and Vladimir caught him, but Vladimir does not want to tidy up the past. They think whether to part with them, but decide what is not worth it yet. “Well, let's go?” Says Tarragon. “Let's go,” Vladimir replies. Both do not move. Tarragon decides not to wear his shoes anymore, let someone who they fit is better to take them. And he will walk barefoot, like Christ. Tarragon is trying to remember how many years they have known Vladimir. Vladimir believes that he’s about fifty. Tarragon recalls how he once rushed to the Rhone, and Vladimir caught him, but Vladimir does not want to tidy up the past. They think whether to part with them, but decide what is not worth it yet. “Well, let's go?” Says Tarragon. “Let's go,” Vladimir replies. Both do not move. Tarragon decides not to wear his shoes anymore, let someone who they fit is better to take them. And he will walk barefoot, like Christ. Tarragon is trying to remember how many years they have known Vladimir. Vladimir believes that he’s about fifty. Tarragon recalls how he once rushed to the Rhone, and Vladimir caught him, but Vladimir does not want to tidy up the past. They think whether to part with them, but decide what is not worth it yet. “Well, let's go?” Says Tarragon. “Let's go,” Vladimir replies. Both do not move. but Vladimir does not want to stir up the past. They think whether to part with them, but decide what is not worth it yet. “Well, let's go?” Says Tarragon. “Let's go,” Vladimir replies. Both do not move. but Vladimir does not want to stir up the past. They think whether to part with them, but decide what is not worth it yet. “Well, let's go?” Says Tarragon. “Let's go,” Vladimir replies. Both do not move.

The next day. The same hour. The same place, but on the tree, on the eve of completely bare, several leaves appeared. Vladimir enters, examines Tarragon's shoes standing in the middle of the stage, then stares intently into the distance. When barefoot Tarragon appears, Vladimir rejoices at his return and wants to hug him. At first, he does not allow him to come to him, but soon he softens, and they rush into each other's arms. Tarragon was beaten again. Vladimir pities him. They are better off alone, but still they come here every day and convince themselves that they are glad to see each other. Tarragon asks what to do, since they are so happy. Vladimir suggests waiting for Godot. Much has changed since yesterday: leaves appeared on the tree. But Tarragon does not remember what happened yesterday, he does not even remember Pozzo and Lucky. Vladimir and Tarragon decide to talk calmly, since they do not know how to be silent. Chatter is the most suitable occupation, so as not to think or listen. They hear some kind of dull voices, and they discuss them for a long time, then decide to start all over again, but to start is the most difficult, and although you can start from anywhere, you still need to choose where. Despair early. The trouble is that thoughts still prevail. Tarragon is sure that he and Vladimir were not here yesterday. They were in some other hole and chatted all night about this and continue to chat for a year. Tarragon says that the shoes on the stage are not his, they are of a completely different color. Vladimir suggests that someone to whom the shoes pressed, took the shoes of Tarragon, and left his own. Tarragon can not understand why anyone needs his shoes, because they also stung. “To you, not to him,” Vladimir explains. Tarragon is trying to figure out the words of Vladimir, but to no avail.


Vladimir notices Lucky's hat, and he and Tarragon put on all three hats in turn, passing them to each other: their own and Lucky's hat. They decide to play Pozzo and Lucky, but suddenly Tarragon notices that someone is coming. Vladimir hopes that this is Godot, but it turns out that on the other hand, someone is also coming. Fearing that they are surrounded, friends decide to hide, but no one comes: probably Tarragon just thought. Not knowing what to do, Vladimir and Tarragon either quarrel or reconcile. Pozzo and Lucky enter. Pozzo went blind. Lucky carries the same things, but now the rope is shorter to make Pozzo easier to follow Lucky. Lucky falls, taking Pozzo with him. Lucky falls asleep, and Pozzo tries to get up, but can not. Realizing that Pozzo is in their power, Vladimir and Tarragon are considering the conditions under which to help him. Pozzo promises a hundred, then two hundred francs for help. Vladimir is trying to lift him, but he falls. Tarragon is ready to help Vladimir rise, if after that they leave here and do not return. Tarragon is trying to raise Vladimir, but can not stay on his feet and also falls. Pozzo crawls to the side. Tarragon no longer remembers his name, and decides to call him by different names until some comes up. “Abel!” He screams to Pozzo. In response, Pozzo calls for help. “Cain!” Shouts Tarragon Lucky. But Pozzo responds again and again calls for help. “In one, all of humanity,” Tarragon marvels. Tarragon and Vladimir get up. Tarragon wants to leave, but Vladimir reminds him that they are waiting for Godot. Thinking, they help Pozzo get up. He is not standing, and they have to support him. Looking at the sunset, they argue for a long time, evening now or morning, sunset or sunrise. Pozzo asks to wake Lucky. Tarragon showers Lucky with a hail of blows, he gets up and collects the luggage. Pozzo and Lucky are about to go. Vladimir is interested in what Lucky has in his suitcase and where they are going. Pozzo replies that there is sand in the suitcase, and they move on. Vladimir asks Lucky to sing before leaving, but Pozzo claims that Lucky is dumb. “How long?” Vladimir wonders. Pozzo is losing patience. Why is he tormented by questions about time? A long time ago, recently ... Everything happens one day, similar to everyone else. One day we were born and will die the same day, the same second. Pozzo and Lucky are leaving. A roar is heard behind the scene: it is clear that they fell again. Tarragon dozes off, but Vladimir becomes lonely and he wakes Tarragon. Vladimir cannot understand where the dream is, where the reality is: maybe he is actually sleeping? And when tomorrow he wakes up or it seems to him that he woke up, What will he know about today, except that he and Tarragon waited until Godot for the night? A boy comes. It seems to Vladimir that this is the same boy who came yesterday, but the boy says that he came for the first time. Godot asked me to say that today he will not come, but tomorrow he will definitely come.

Tarragon and Vladimir want to hang themselves, but they do not have a strong rope. Tomorrow they will bring a rope and, if Godot does not come again, hang themselves. They decide to leave for the night, to return in the morning and wait again for Godot. “Let's go,” says Vladimir. “Yes, let's go,” agrees Tarragon. Both do not budge.