Question

What is Vladimir doing when Estragon arrives for the second day of waiting in "Waiting for Godot"?

• A. Sleeping
• B. Eating a carrot
• C. Singing a song
• D. Trying on Estragon's boots

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Singing a song

Understanding Vladimir's Entrance in Act II

• When Estragon arrives for the second day of waiting in Act II of Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot, Vladimir is found singing a song. This moment immediately establishes a sense of routine and repetition, a central theme of the play.
• The song Vladimir sings is often referred to as 'The Dog Song'. It is a circular, nonsensical ditty about a dog who stole a crust of bread and was beaten for it, then buried, only for another dog to come along and repeat the cycle.
• The circular nature of 'The Dog Song' perfectly mirrors the play's overarching theme of cyclical existence and the futility of human endeavor. It suggests an endless loop of suffering and punishment, from which there is no escape, much like Vladimir and Estragon's endless waiting.
• This opening scene of Act II highlights Vladimir's attempt to pass the time and perhaps find some comfort or distraction in routine, a common coping mechanism for the characters facing the absurdity of their situation.

Key Facts about Waiting for Godot and Samuel Beckett:

• Samuel Beckett (1906–1989) was an Irish novelist, playwright, short story writer, theatre director, and poet. He was a central figure in what is known as the 'Theatre of the Absurd'.
• Beckett was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1969 for his writing, which, according to the Nobel committee, 'for his new forms for the novel and drama—in which the destitution of modern man acquires its elevation'.
• Waiting for Godot (original French title: En attendant Godot) premiered in 1953 in Paris and is Beckett's most famous work. It is considered a seminal play of the Theatre of the Absurd.
• The play is structured in two acts, both of which largely mirror each other, emphasizing the theme of repetition and lack of progress.
• The setting is minimalist: a country road, a tree. This stark setting contributes to the universal and timeless quality of the play.
• The main characters, Vladimir (Didi) and Estragon (Gogo), are two tramps who endlessly wait for the arrival of someone named Godot, who never comes.
• Key themes explored in the play include: the meaninglessness of life, the futility of hope, the passage of time, human suffering, friendship, and the routine nature of existence.
• The absence of Godot is a crucial element, symbolizing the elusive meaning or salvation that the characters are seeking.