20th Century Drama
Waiting for Godot
Character List
Estragon
Estragon is one of the two protagonists. He is a bum and sleeps in a ditch
where he is beaten each night. He has no memory beyond what is
immediately said to him, and relies on Vladimir to remember for him.
Estragon is impatient and constantly wants to leave Vladimir, but is
restrained from leaving by the fact that he needs Vladimir. It is Estragon's
idea for the bums to pass their time by hanging themselves. Estragon has
been compared to a body without an intellect, which therefore needs
.Vladimir to provide the intellect
Vladimir
Vladimir is one of the two protagonists. He is a bum like Estragon, but
retains a memory of most events. However, he is often unsure whether his
memory is playing tricks on him. Vladimir is friends with Estragon
because Estragon provides him with the chance to remember past events.
Vladimir is the one who makes Estragon wait with him for Mr. Godot's
imminent arrival throughout the play. Vladimir has been compared to the
.intellect which provides for the body, represented by Estragon .
Lucky
Lucky is the slave of Pozzo. He is tied to Pozzo via a rope around his neck
and he carries Pozzo's bags. Lucky is only allowed to speak twice during
the entire play, but his long monologue is filled with incomplete ideas. He
is silenced only by the other characters who fight with him to take of his
.hat. Lucky appears as a mute in the second act
Pozzo
Pozzo is the master who rules over Lucky. He stops and talks to the two
bums in order to have some company. In the second act Pozzo is blind and
requires their help. He, like Estragon, cannot remember people he has met.
.His transformation between the acts may represent the passage of time
The boy
The boy is a servant of Mr. Godot. He plays an identical role in both acts
by coming to inform Vladimir and Estragon the Mr. Godot will not be able
to make it that night, but will surely come the next day. The boy never
remembers having met Vladimir and Estragon before. He has a brother
.who is mentioned but who never appears
