The Significance of Pozzo and Lucky in Waiting for Godot

The Significance of Pozzo and Lucky in Waiting for Godot

There are many characteristics or aspects in relationships between individuals. Dependency is a known characteristic that everyone portrays. From the moment of birth to the time of death, there is always someone that people look to depend on. There are even times where the dependency of others is unrealized by individuals. Samuel Beckett uses this characteristic as a known theme in his plays, as readers can reflect and compare their individual relationships shared between others. He is an author that likes to bring out reality concepts into his books because that is where readers feel connected to what is being read and they are able to have a better understanding of the interpretation of it in the plays. The characters Pozzo and Lucky, in Waiting for Godot, are essential to Vladimir and Estragons life at that specific time. The function of Pozzo and Lucky in Waiting for Godot is to prove that there is always someone in our lives that we are dependent on. The dependency of meeting Vladimir and Estragon was all in the purpose of helping them realize and become reality of their purpose or change they are seeking for in their life. This purpose of life that they are looking for will not come to them, they must use the time they have to seek for the change as they must only count on the limited time they have. Pozzo and Lucky in act 2 become reality to Luckys advice in his speech. They are evidence that time should not be wasted as there is none to spare, the more time you waste on nothing the less time you will have to fulfill your purpose, the closer you become to death and not fulfilling it.

The dependency between Pozzo and Lucky is what keeps the pair together, though the dependency of one character is different from what the other is dependent of. In act one, Pozzo and Luckys relationship is distinguished to be a master and slave relationship. Correspondingly it can be determined that the need of one another is very different in terms of who they are to each other. As Pozzo uses lucky as his slave, it would be correct to establish that he is therefore dependent on him to do physical labour work for him. On the other hand, by taking into consideration the way he interprets himself, Pozzo uses lucky to receive recognition and reassurance of how great and powerful he thinks he is.

"POZZO: [Terrifying voice.] I am Pozzo! [Silence.] Pozzo! [Silence.]

Does that name mean nothing to you? [Silence] I say does that name

mean nothing to you? [VLADIMIR and ESTRAGON look at each other

questioningly.]" (Act 1, page 23)

This quote shows Pozzos disapproval of Vladimir and Estragon as they are not able to recognize who he is. Pozzo is seen to be frustrated by this fact and upset. The only person that can truly give Pozzo the recognition and satisfaction he is looking for is his slave Lucky as he allows Pozzo to overpower him to be superior. To add, Pozzos whip is a representation of his power over Lucky which is constantly used on him as he does nothing to retaliate. This allows Pozzo to receive the satisfaction of feeling powerful and superior. To follow, Pozzo demonstrates dependency towards Lucky in his life as he uses him for recognition and physical work.

In relation to Luckys dependency on Pozzo, as he is a slave, he is accordingly dependent on Pozzo for the necessities of his life like food, water and so forth. However, as Lucky is not as confident as Pozzo and is of a weaker spirit, he therefore looks upon Pozzo to find that superior confidence in himself. "POZZO: Give him his hat. VLADIMIR: His hat? POZZO: He can't think without his hat." (Act 1, page 43) From this quote, it is evident that once Lucky is given his top hat, he is able to deliver a speech of great thought and knowledge that no one expected he could produce. In essence of this, because the hat Lucky puts on is the same as the one Pozzo has, it represents the image of Pozzo Lucky desires to be. This allows the weak, spirited lucky to gain confidence in himself and believe he is who he is not in that moment allowed by Pozzo to become in his image. Luckys dependency towards Pozzo is evident through the need of necessities and confidence. In addition, the changes in act two of the characters also makes Pozzo and Lucky even more dependent on each other, as Pozzo becomes blind and Lucky is on the verge of death. Likewise to Pozzo and Luckys Dependency, it can be used to mimic the dependency of Vladimir and Estragon and further show how the two pairs depend on each other.

Vladimir and Estragon are like Pozzo and Lucky in the sense of their dependency, and Samuel Beckett uses them to mimic and express the characteristic of dependency through them. Vladimir is often compared to Lucky as they are the intellectual left brain of the characters and Estragon is compared to Pozzo as they depend on their other half and do not have much sense. The two characters cannot spend time away from each other before getting lonely, stuck in a situation, or being incapable of acting without the other which makes them dependent on one another.

"VLADIMIR: Do you want me to go away? (Pause.) Gogo! (Pause. Vladimir observes

him attentively.) Did they beat you? (Pause.) Gogo! (Estragon remains silent, head

bowed.) Where did you spend the night? ESTRAGON: Don't touch me! Don't

question me! Don't speak to me! Stay with me". (Act 2 page 67)

This quote signifies that Vladimir cares about Estragon and Estragon is dependent on Vladimir to keep him safe from crucial situations showing their dependence. As the pairs are dependent to their spouses through their life and can be reflected on each other, they also depend on