Waiting for Godot Vladimir Quotes

Vladimir > Pozzo

Quote 58

VLADIMIR
I'm going.
POZZO
He can no longer endure my presence. I am perhaps not particularly human, but who cares? (1.401-2)

Pozzo directly contradicts his earlier statement that he is just like Estragon and Vladimir—that they all are made in God’s image. He thinks of himself as somehow above mere humans, perhaps even divine. But the line "who cares?" is an interesting one. He may mean to say that he can still relate to the men despite his not being "particularly human," but we can interpret this in another, less optimistic way: it could be that, since men can’t connect to one another anyway, it doesn’t matter whether or not Pozzo himself is human. He’s going to be isolated either way.

Vladimir > Pozzo

Quote 59

VLADIMIR
Who told you?
POZZO
He speaks to me again! If this goes on much longer we'll soon be old friends. (1.403-4)

Pozzo defines friendship by mere interaction. Communication—even poor communication—is enough to break isolation, at least in his mind.

Vladimir > Estragon

Quote 60

VLADIMIR
(vexed) Then why do you always come crawling back?
ESTRAGON
I don't know.
VLADIMIR
No, but I do. It's because you don't know how to defend yourself. I wouldn't have let them beat you.
ESTRAGON
You couldn't have stopped them.
VLADIMIR
Why not?
ESTRAGON
There was ten of them.
VLADIMIR
No, I mean before they beat you. I would have stopped you from doing whatever it was you were doing. (2.24-30)

We are told repeatedly that Estragon is dependent on Vladimir, but is Vladimir similarly dependent on Estragon? It almost seems here as though he needs to be needed by his companion; that he grasps at a self-designed purpose through his helping Gogo.