Amy Szerlong
Although I find it difficult to argue with Geoffrey when it comes to his opinion that the play lacks a climax, I think the play may have a greater significance than the meaninglessness and banality of life.
Throughout the play Vladimir and Estragon continuously debate whether to keep waiting for Godot, or to leave and continue their lives elsewhere. This expresses a tension between a sense of faith and doubt, or life versus death, as more often than not the two characters debate waiting further or taking their own lives. However, in the sense that the play is about faith – it is not necessarily in praise of this virtue. The play continuously discusses, as Geoffrey mentioned, the fact that life merely keeps repeating itself. ["Nothing happens, nobody comes, nobody goes, it's awful!" (43).] The fact that these gentlemen keep waiting and waiting for a man who is never going to appear, is eventually where the humor lies – since then men are seen as stupid for waiting as long as they have. However, the audience's involvement is such that they find themselves also waiting for Godot, and so consequentially, it is Beckett who has the last laugh on this issue.
Also though, on a similar note, the play also might have to deal with the concept of longing, when observing how the play opens to the audience.
Estragon: Nothing to be done.
Vladimir: I'm beginning to come round to that opinion. All my life I've tried to put it in front of me, saying, Vladimir, be reasonable, you haven't yet tried everything. And I resumed the struggle.
This is a particularly interesting opening to reread once having completed the play, since once it's over the audience realizes the gravity of these opening statements. The audience's involvement with this play is such that the audience also finds themselves waiting for Godot. The audience becomes almost as eager as the two men in their waiting, and it seems that Beckett is trying to make a comment that humanity is more likely to live their lives longing for something to occur rather than go out and make something happen. In the beginning of the first act, Estragon says, "let's don't do anything, it's safer" (13). Doing nothing then, is exactly what these characters do throughout the play, which boldly contradicts Vladimir's opening statement as to why he continues to live. Waiting, though, is an issue he attempts to explain it in the latter half of the second act.
Vladimir: "€¦What are we doing here, that is the question. And we are blessed in this, that we happen to know the answer. Yes, in the immense confusion one thing alone is clear. We are waiting for Godot to come-€¦or for night to fall. We have kept our appointment and that's an end to that. We are not saints, by we have kept our appointment. How many people can boast as much?" (90).
So simply by waiting, they have completed something that makes their lives worth living, although they are still desperate for the appearance of someone who will make their lives better. This is only known through lines near the closing of the play;
Estragon: I can't go on like this.
Vladimir: That's what you think.
Estragon: If we parted? That might be better for us.
Vladimir: We'll hang ourselves tomorrow. Unless Godot comes.
Estragon: And if he comes?
Vladimir: We'll be saved. (109).
Although this section of dialogue appears to be somewhat of a play on words, due to all the spiritual illusions to GODot, the characters think life will improve if Godot comes so they'll continue to wait. But as he has not yet appeared for the entirety of the play it is clear then in the opinion of Beckett, that these men have wasted their lives waiting for something to happen. So, in a similar vein to what has been written by both Alex and Geoffrey, this play is about humans "living" their lives by wasting time doing nothing. It is not that life is meaningless, but more that we lack the sense or knowledge to do something better or more meaningful.