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Nancy Iv

Mr. Yaghoobian

English 4 AP

Chance and Alienation in Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot

Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett implies that mankind will remain in a state of

alienation until he can cease the search for a saving power beyond himself. Beckett imposes the

theme of existentialism through the idea that our existence has no underlying meaning to it. The

presence of time recurs throughout the play as the two main characters, Vladimir and Estragon,

wait for an unknown being, Godot. As the play progresses, we learn that both men hold no real

meaning to themselves, and as they wait for this person who never appears, the premise of

alienation suffices.

Beckett, throughout the play, makes use of many biblical allusions. This is established

very early on when Vladimir mentions the story of the two thieves from the Bible: “Two thieves,

crucified at the same time as our Savior” (Beckett 6). From here, Vladimir and Estragon discuss

the four Evangelists that were there at the time of the Crucifixion in which they contemplate on

why only one of the four speaks of one thief being saved. Beckett, therefore, presents the idea

that God does not hold premise on humanity’s existence. He establishes the idea that chance is

the underlying factor in all of humanity (Sinclair, par. 2). This is imparted in Vladimir’s

comment: “One of the thieves was saved. It’s a reasonably percentage” (Beckett 5). Through this

subtle yet significant fact, Beckett utilizes this as an example of the idea that chance, in reality, is

the dominating aspect in the existence of mankind. He also brings up the fact that it was

mentioned in the Bible, such that there’s a certain percentage in which one is saved or damned.

In addition, Vladimir and Estragon throughout the play are waiting for this mysterious

character called Godot. He never shows up and in the meantime, the two do nothing but quarrel

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and reconcile, doing nothing and anything to past the time. All through both Acts, Godot never

shows up. We, therefore, wonder whether this is another one of Beckett’s message. As he already

established the idea of chance being the dominant factor in humanity, Beckett also institutes the

suggestion of Godot being a symbol for God. Vladimir and Estragon therefore are utilized to

represent the futility of man’s faith and hope. As they wait for two endless days, Godot never

shows up and this establishes the premise that God or the Savior, too, will never come.

God’s silence is also the dominating theme throughout the play (Sinclair, par.3). The

silence is used to represent hopelessness as well as the silent plea to God for meaning, and for

answers to everything. As this progresses, time, however, does not. Vladimir’s and Estragon’s

waiting is an endless cycle. We learn that these two days in the play were not the first times they

were promised by Godot to meet him. Their wishful thinking represents the illusions and petty

hope humans put themselves through. The idea of a better life is evidently present in the illusion

of Godot (Sinclair, par. 7). Beckett therefore implies that because of faith and hope, humans have

wasted their time waiting for nothing. The lack of action of the characters is also present. They

continuously wait yet they do nothing to initiate an interesting life for themselves. Their

dependence on Godot to come and take them out of their misery represents their alienation.

Beckett uses this to symbolize that humans don’t seek what they need most; our inaction

separates us from everyone else and we are therefore suffering.

Their alienation is represented as a chaotic mess in the presence of time. As they are

alienated from the rest of humanity, time is meaningless. There is no past, present, or future for

the characters. This is significantly present in the characters, Pozzo and Lucky. When first

meeting Vladimir and Estragon in Act I, Pozzo is getting ready to sell his slave Lucky to a local

market. The two appear evidently healthy; however in Act II, Pozzo is suddenly blind and Lucky

is now mute. Pozzo has no recollection of ever meeting Vladimir and Estragon and when Didi

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questions him, Pozzo responds violently, “Don’t question me! The blind have no notion of time”

(Beckett 99). Pozzo’s situation underlines the meaningless of time as a consequence of chance as

the driving force behind humankind’s existence. This sudden change in both characters’ lives and

them having no remembrance of the day before illustrates that time is unstable and disorganized.

This disorganization is also evident in Vladimir’s and Estragon’s endless waiting for

Godot. They continue to distract themselves with routine activities and pointless conversations as

well as petty arguments just to pass the time. There is no time to begin with, however, because

what they’re doing is nothing but a distraction from reality. Beckett utilizes this as an example of

how chance is the figure that determines whether their lives will hold meaning and value.

Chance, in addition, will determine whether Godot will show up.

Throughout the play, alienation, chance, time, and hopelessness occur as the dominating

themes. Beckett utilizes biblical allusions as an example of chance as well as an establishment of

hopelessness when one’s faith is put to the test. Time serves as the figure of disorganization and

endless cycles that are repeated and mundane as it brings out the alienation of humankind. The

play serves a purpose in representing Vladimir and Estragon as the embodiment of humans

everywhere. Beckett uses them to symbolize man’s hopeless waiting for a higher being that, in

his opinion, will never come.

Works Cited

Beckett, Samuel. Waiting for Godot. New York: Grove Press, 1954.

Sinclair, Michael. “Essay on Waiting For Godot.” Samuel-Beckett.net.