Waiting for the Godot by Samuel Beckett: Short Summary

Samuel Beckett, an absurdist playwright, is the writer of Waiting for Godot. This play is the translation of his own French play En attendant Godot. This play is considered the most significant English language play of the 20th century.

When the play opens, two men Vladimir and Estragon are under the tree. Their conversation on various topics slowly reveals that they are there to see a person named Godot. They say they had waited for him yesterday too, but he did not come. So they are not sure of his arrival that day too, but still they keep on waiting. Being poor, destitute, and frustrated the two men ponder about hanging themselves, but as they are not sure about the strength of the tree, they leave the idea of hanging of themselves. Meanwhile, two other men, Pozzo and Lucky, join them. Pozzo is on the way to market so as to sell his slave, Lucky. Lucky shows them his dance and gives a long, but a rambling speech on the goodness of God and the tortures of hell. Lucky and Pozzo take a leave.

When they take leave, a young boy enters and introduces himself as the messenger of the Gods. He tells them that Godot will come tomorrow for sure. Vladimir and Estragon decide to leave, but they do not leave the place. Next day, they come near the tree to continue their wait for the Godot. Lucky and Pozzo enter, but this time Lucky has been dumb and Pozzo has been a blind. Pozzo struggles hard to remember their meeting the day before, but could not remember and again leave the place.

The same messenger boy comes with the news that the Godot is not coming that day but tomorrow. The boy insists that he has not talked to Vladimir yesterday. He leaves the place. At the end of the play, after his departure, Vladimir and Estragon decide to leave the tree but they do not move.