The unnamed boy who brings a message from Godot in both acts. Both times, he tells Vladimir and Estragon that Godot is not coming, but will come the next day. It is unclear whether the same boy comes in both acts, or whether these are two different characters. In act two, the boy claims to be different from the boy of act one, but then again Pozzo claims in act two that he did not meet Vladimir and Estragon in act one. The boy describes working under Godot as if on a farm or plantation, where he watches over Godot's animals. When the boy asks Vladimir if he would like to send a message to Godot, Vladimir asks him to tell Godot simply that he saw Vladimir.
Boy Quotes in Waiting for Godot
The Waiting for Godot quotes below are all either spoken by Boy or refer to Boy. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Note: all page numbers and citation info for the quotes below refer to the Grove Press edition of Waiting for Godot published in 1994.
Act 1
Quotes
You don't know me?
No Sir.
It wasn't you came yesterday?
No Sir.
This is your first time?
Yes Sir.
Mr. Godot told me to tell you he won't come this evening but surely tomorrow.
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Explanation and Analysis:
Tell him... (he hesitates)... tell him you saw us. (Pause.) You did see us, didn't you?
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Act 2
Quotes
Tell him... (he hesitates)... tell him you saw me and that... (he hesitates)... that you saw me. (Pause. Vladimir advances, the Boy recoils. Vladimir halts, the Boy halts. With sudden violence.) You're sure you saw me, you won't come and tell me tomorrow that you never saw me!
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Boy Character Timeline in Waiting for Godot
The timeline below shows where the character Boy appears in Waiting for Godot. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act 1
...whether Lucky and Pozzo were the same people he knew from before, or different. A boy calls from off-stage and enters. Estragon and Vladimir yell at him to approach. The boy...
(full context)
The boy says he was afraid of Lucky and Pozzo, which is why he is late. Vladimir...
(full context)
Estragon lets go of the boy and covers his face, telling Vladimir that he has been unhappy for longer than he...
(full context)
The boy finally delivers his message: "Mr. Godot told me to tell you that he won't come...
(full context)
Vladimir tells the boy he can leave, and the boy asks what message he should bring back to Godot....
(full context)
Act 2
The boy from yesterday enters. Vladimir asks if the boy recognizes him, but the boy says he...
(full context)
Vladimir asks the boy what Mr. Godot does. The boy says Godot does nothing. Vladimir asks whether Godot has...
(full context)
Vladimir grabs the boy and violently asks him, "You're sure that you saw me, you won't come and tell...
(full context)