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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Godot Character Analysis

While Godot never appears on stage or has any lines, he is such a significant absence in the play that he may be rightly recognized as one of the play's characters. What little we can gather about Mr. Godot comes from the dialogue of Estragon, Vladimir, and the boy he sends to deliver his message. The boy says that he watches over Godot's goats, and describes Godot as a relatively kind master. Whoever Godot is, Vladimir and Estragon are convinced that he alone will save them, so they wait endlessly for his arrival, which never comes. Because of his name's resemblance to God, Godot is often read as Beckett's pessimistic version of God, an absent savior who never comes to the aid of those suffering on earth.

Godot Quotes in Waiting for Godot

The Waiting for Godot quotes below are all either spoken by Godot or refer to Godot. 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're sure it was this evening?
What?
That we were to wait.
He said Saturday. (Pause.) I think

Related Characters: Estragon (speaker), Vladimir (speaker), Godot
Waiting, Boredom, and Nihilism Theme Icon
Time Theme Icon
Page Number: 9
Explanation and Analysis:

To Godot? Tied to Godot! What an idea! No question of it. (Pause.) For the moment.

Related Characters: Vladimir (speaker), Godot
Humor and the Absurd Theme Icon
Modernism and Postmodernism Theme Icon
Page Number: 17
Explanation and Analysis:
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Let's go.
We can't.
Why not?
We're waiting for Godot.

Related Characters: Estragon (speaker), Vladimir (speaker), Godot
Humor and the Absurd Theme Icon
Waiting, Boredom, and Nihilism Theme Icon
Page Number: 51
Explanation and Analysis:
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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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Waiting for Godot PDF

Godot Quotes in Waiting for Godot

The Waiting for Godot quotes below are all either spoken by Godot or refer to Godot. 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're sure it was this evening?
What?
That we were to wait.
He said Saturday. (Pause.) I think

Related Characters: Estragon (speaker), Vladimir (speaker), Godot
Waiting, Boredom, and Nihilism Theme Icon
Time Theme Icon
Page Number: 9
Explanation and Analysis:

To Godot? Tied to Godot! What an idea! No question of it. (Pause.) For the moment.

Related Characters: Vladimir (speaker), Godot
Humor and the Absurd Theme Icon
Modernism and Postmodernism Theme Icon
Page Number: 17
Explanation and Analysis:
Unlock with LitCharts A+

Let's go.
We can't.
Why not?
We're waiting for Godot.

Related Characters: Estragon (speaker), Vladimir (speaker), Godot
Humor and the Absurd Theme Icon
Waiting, Boredom, and Nihilism Theme Icon
Page Number: 51
Explanation and Analysis:
Unlock with LitCharts A+

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+
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