Waiting for Godot
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Act 1 Act 2
Themes
All Themes Humor and the Absurd Waiting, Boredom, and Nihilism Modernism and Postmodernism Time Humanity, Companionship, Suffering, and Dignity
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Estragon Vladimir Godot Pozzo Lucky Boy
Symbols
All Symbols Hats Names
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Waiting for Godot

by

Samuel Beckett
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Boy Character Analysis

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:
Humor and the Absurd Theme Icon
).
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.

Related Characters: Vladimir (speaker), Boy (speaker)
Humanity, Companionship, Suffering, and Dignity Theme Icon
Page Number: 55
Explanation and Analysis:

Mr. Godot told me to tell you he won't come this evening but surely tomorrow.

Related Characters: Boy (speaker), Godot
Humor and the Absurd Theme Icon
Waiting, Boredom, and Nihilism Theme Icon
Time Theme Icon
Page Number: 55
Explanation and Analysis:
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Tell him... (he hesitates)... tell him you saw us. (Pause.) You did see us, didn't you?

Related Characters: Vladimir (speaker), Godot, Boy
Humor and the Absurd Theme Icon
Humanity, Companionship, Suffering, and Dignity Theme Icon
Page Number: 56
Explanation and Analysis:
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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!

Related Characters: Vladimir (speaker), Pozzo, Boy
Time Theme Icon
Humanity, Companionship, Suffering, and Dignity Theme Icon
Page Number: 106
Explanation and Analysis:
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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:
Humor and the Absurd Theme Icon
).
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.

Related Characters: Vladimir (speaker), Boy (speaker)
Humanity, Companionship, Suffering, and Dignity Theme Icon
Page Number: 55
Explanation and Analysis:

Mr. Godot told me to tell you he won't come this evening but surely tomorrow.

Related Characters: Boy (speaker), Godot
Humor and the Absurd Theme Icon
Waiting, Boredom, and Nihilism Theme Icon
Time Theme Icon
Page Number: 55
Explanation and Analysis:
Unlock with LitCharts A+

Tell him... (he hesitates)... tell him you saw us. (Pause.) You did see us, didn't you?

Related Characters: Vladimir (speaker), Godot, Boy
Humor and the Absurd Theme Icon
Humanity, Companionship, Suffering, and Dignity Theme Icon
Page Number: 56
Explanation and Analysis:
Unlock with LitCharts A+
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!

Related Characters: Vladimir (speaker), Pozzo, Boy
Time Theme Icon
Humanity, Companionship, Suffering, and Dignity Theme Icon
Page Number: 106
Explanation and Analysis:
Unlock with LitCharts A+
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