Quote 31
ESTRAGON
(violently) You let me alone. (Advancing, to the Boy.) Do you know what time it is?
BOY
(recoiling) It's not my fault, Sir. (1.745-6)
Estragon berates the Boy for being late, an odd criticism coming from a man who seems to have no sense of time himself.
ESTRAGON
We came too soon.
VLADIMIR
It's always at nightfall.
ESTRAGON
But night doesn't fall.
VLADIMIR
It'll fall all of a sudden, like yesterday.
ESTRAGON
Then it'll be night.
VLADIMIR
And we can go.
ESTRAGON
Then it'll be day again. (Pause. Despairing.) What'll we do, what'll we do! (2.334-40)
Estragon seems to catch only glimpses of the horrible stagnancy in which he and Vladimir are stuck. At this brief moment of realization he despairs, only to be distracted once again by Vladimir or by some inane element of their surroundings.
ESTRAGON
What's all this about? Abused who?
VLADIMIR
The Saviour.
ESTRAGON
Why?
VLADIMIR
Because he wouldn't save them.
ESTRAGON
From hell?
VLADIMIR
Imbecile! From death.
ESTRAGON
I thought you said hell.
VLADIMIR
From death, from death. (1.73-80)
Estragon, although he is portrayed as the simpleton of the pair, has a point: Vladimir did say "hell." What is the difference for the two thieves in the story? What is the difference for Estragon and Vladimir?