Blog Post #2

Passage:
“Estragon: I had a dream.
Vladimir: Don’t tell me!
Estragon: I dreamt that-
Vladimir: DON’T TELL ME!
Estragon: (gesture towards the universe). This one is enough for you? (Silence.) It’s not nice of you, Didi. Who am I to tell my private nightmares to if I can’t tell them to you?
Vladimir: Let them remain private. You know I can’t bear that.
Estragon: (coldly). There are times when I wonder if it wouldn’t be better for us to part.
Vladimir: You wouldn’t go far.
Vladimir: That would be too bad, really too bad. (Pause.) Wouldn’t it, Didi, be really too bad? (Pause.) When you think of the beauty of the way. (Pause.) And the goodness of the wayfarers. (Pause. Wheedling.) Wouldn’t it, Didi?
Vladimir: Calm yourself.
Estragon: (voluptuously). Calm...calm...The English say cawm. (Pause.)You know the story of the Englishman in the brothel?
Vladimir: Yes.
Estragon: Tell it to me.
Vladimir: Ah stop it!
Estragon: An Englishman having drunk a little more than usual proceeds to a brothel. The bawd asks him if he wants a fair one, a dark one or a red-haired one. Go on.
Vladimir: STOP IT! Exit Vladimir hurriedly. Estragon gets up and follows him as far as the limit of the stage. Gestures of Estragon like those of a spectator encouraging a pugilist. Enter Vladimir. He brushes past Estragon, crosses the stage with bowed head. Estragon takes a step towards him, halts.
Estragon:(gently). You wanted to speak to me? (Silence, Estragon takes a step forward.) You had something to say to me? (Silence. Another step forward.) Didi...
Vladimir: (without turning). I’ve nothing to say to you.
Estragon: (step forward.) You’re angry? (Silence. Step forward.) Forgive me. (Silence. Step forward. Estragon lays his hand on Vladimir’s shoulder.) Come, Didi. (Silence.) Give me your hand. (Vladimir half turns.) Embrace me! (Vladimir stiffens.) Don’t be stubborn! (Vladimir softens. They embrace. Estragon recoils.) You stink of garlic!”

This entire dialogue emphasizes Estragon and Vladimir’s relationship. In a previous passage Vladimir wishes to tell Estragon about the two thieves from the Gospel. Although Estragon does not wish to hear the story, Vladimir insists that he will change his mind and continues to proceed with telling the story. When Estragon is violently awoken by Vladimir he wishes to express his hardship with his friend, for he has had a bad dream. Although Estragon listened to his story, Vladimir does not wish to hear about it at all and actually yells at Estragon for trying to tell him. Estragon announces his anger by stating that perhaps sometimes he wonders if it wouldn’t be better if the two of them were apart, even though they have only been together for a few hours at this time. Vladimir has expressed before in a previous passage, and does in this one too, that he has Estragon wrapped around his finger. Thus, Vladimir gets mad at him so that Estragon will beg for him to not be mad at him, further enhancing Vladimir’s theory of how Estragon would not get far without him.
The pauses Estragon takes after Vladimir announces that he wouldn’t go far suggest how he is realizing how he doesn’t want to start a fight with Vladimir. Vladimir noticing this, becomes mad at Estragon to gain even more power in their relationship. The syntax of the phrase “I have nothing to say to you,” indicates how cold Vladimir can be to Estragon. “Nothing” in its own diction is harsh enough. This sentence is also ironic, for moments ago the reason Vladimir had woken up Estragon up in the first place is because he was lonely. Clearly Vladimir is dependent on this relationship as well, yet due to his intelligence, he knows how to gain the power from it. Estragon plays upon his stupid by trying to kid around with Vladimir, making sure that he is not mad at him, by repeating the word calm and stating a weird way of saying it. The syntax in the sentence “Tell it to me,” creates a tone of being very demanding and dependent. Estragon acts as though he is much younger than Vladimir, thus granting Vladimir with much power. Once Vladimir yells at him, Estragon tries to follow him. As soon as Vladimir softens, Estragon knows they have made up and continues to joke around with him.
These two, although men, fight like children. When Estragon is trying to talk to Vladimir, the use of repetition on the word silence emphasizes how childish Vladimir can act.