Estragon: “What is it?”
Vladimir: “I don’t know. A willow.” They then proceeded to talk about the tree, forgetting their original conversation topic for a while. This uncertainty on the characters part is shown in this constant façade – they seem to talk about anything they possibly can to take the boredom away. This moment could be very boring to the audience as it does not involve any action or a particularly interesting topic, but Beckett’s manipulation of the language used incorporates humour into the scene.
The two character’s doubt and eventual bickering (Vladimir: “What are you insinuating? That we’ve come to the wrong place?” Estragon: “He should be here…”) gives a lighter side to their almost unbearable suffering. This injection of tension and humour by Beckett turns this undramatic, almost inane conversation into an interesting, attention grabbing piece of writing, as it keeps the monotony of the play amusing an audience.
Nearing the end of Act 1, when Pozzo and Lucky are departing from Estragon and Vladimir’s company, another moment can be highlighted as showing Beckett’s skill of turning the undramatic into action. There is constant repetition in this moment, as is throughout the play, with all three characters (excluding Lucky) say “Adieu” at least twice, then continue to use regulatory language to continue the farewell even further. This inability for the characters to say a final goodbye shows their dread at the certain boredom they will encounter after they have left each other’s company. The ‘goodbyes’ are carried on for so long it becomes humorous to the audience who are not sure of when the ‘goodbyes’ will stop. Not only does this elongated farewell create humour, it also creates tension, as is shown when Pozzo states “I don’t seem to be able…[long hesitation]…to depart.”
After Pozzo and Lucky finally depart the following conversation takes place; Vladimir: “That passed the time”
Estragon: “It would have passed in any case”
Vladimir: “Yes, but not so rapidly”
Estragon: “What do we do now?”
Vladimir: “I don’t know”
Estragon: “Let’s go”
Vladimir: “We cant”
Estragon: “Why not?”
Vladimir: “We’re waiting for Godot” This conversation shows the character’s perpetual uncertainty as although much of the conversation had been said before, the characters repeat themselves, which leaves the audience unsure of whether they are using repetition to pass the time, or if in fact Estragon has got genuine memory loss. The way the two characters talk about time borders on depressive, with the fact that ‘it’ would have passed in any case showing their constant waiting and doubts.
In many cases it is true to say Beckett turns the undramatic into tense action. By his double entendres and linguistic techniques he shows the hidden depths in the play that make it a lot more symbolic than just two people waiting by a tree. Even when breaking Grice’s maxim of quality, the audience are still captivated by both the comic and tragic elements of the two characters’ situation, showing Beckett’s ability to keep an audience’s attention high.