Repetition is frequently a tool implemented by writer’s to emphasize the importance of an occurrence. However, in Waiting for Godot, Samuel Beckett employs recurrence, bringing seemingly unimportant events to light which help reveal a deeper truth about life. Through the tone of these passages, carefully chosen symbols, and powerful allusions to death, Beckett reveals the purpose of his play; relying on a savior to save one from problems leads to perpetual postponement of one’s life.
In the play Vladimir and Estragon incessantly repeat their purpose, “we’re waiting for Godot.” The repetition of this event is the primary mean through which Beckett expresses his principal idea and by utilizing the characters as symbols this idea is made clear to the reader. Vladimir and Estragon are representative of any person caught within a dilemma waiting for someone to step in and solve it. This is made evident on the final page when they state they will hang themselves unless Godot saves hem the next day. Through this passage the reader should be led to believe Godot is seen as some sort of savior. However, during the course of the play Godot does not make a single appearance, which forces Vladimir and Estragon to live in the everlasting torment of their lives. These events establish Beckett’s purpose and their repetition makes his intention ever present in the readers mind.
While symbols establish Beckett’s purpose, the tone of repeated passages display the consequence of relying upon a savior. The echo of events alone establishes a monotonous tone in repeated events. Perhaps the strongest example of this is the final page of each act where Vladimir and Estragon agree to quit waiting for Godot, but take no action. However, their inability to function in life forces some sympathy out of the reader leading the passage to a tone of pitiful monotony. Through this, the reader accepts that Vladimir and Estragon are postponing their lives indefinitely which leads back to Beckett’s purpose.
Vladimir’s and Estragon’s reliance upon a savior has rendered them incapable of helping themselves escape from the repeated distress of their lives. On two different occasions these characters look to death as an escape from the uniformity of their lives. The excitement with which it is suggested is slightly grotesque. “We could hang ourselves!” followed by an equally enthusiastic “Yes!” In this repeated scenario death acts as a forbidden fruit for Vladimir and Estragon. It is their only self-reliant way of changing their stagnant lives, but nevertheless it cannot truly be viewed as a sane viable option. Beckett uses these allusions to death to illustrate the degree that Vladimir and Estragon have fallen. By looking at death as a viable option Vladimir and Estragon only help demonstrate the negative result of relying upon a savior.
Beckett’s purpose brings forth valid questions about existence and self-support. His repertoire of tools including symbols, tone, and allusions create a purpose which is difficult to ignore. Subsequently, it is easy to believe relying on a savior is a disaster. While Vladimir and Estragon may seem like an extreme case, there is very little separating them from the average person in society. The virtue much of society has over these characters is independence. And if we lose that will we be reduced to suffering in our own vice of reliance? ( )