Absurdism

     It is so very obvious that Waiting for Godot is an absurd play, as there is no comprehensible meaning or clear understanding, or even an outline, of a plot. Yet Beckett does a tremendous job of showing us just how Waiting for Godot follows the trends of the absurd genre. A tenet of absurdism is a circular plot, in which time seems to loop. This looping of time occurs in several areas of the second act. In the opening scene, we are told it is the "Next day. Same time" (page 1385). The looping continues as Vladimir sings a song and must repeat the lines so as to remember the next verse. Vladimir and Estragon also exemplify the lack of communication often found in absurdism. For instance, Vladimir and Estragon have many strange conversations including the following:
"Estragon: Look at this muck heap! I've never stirred from it!
Vladimir: Calm yourself, calm yourself.
Estragon: You and you landscapes! Tell me about the worms!" (page 1389).
This exchange shows the deficiency of understanding between the two men as they try to communicate with each other. The second act seems to be a rerun of the first act, with a few differences. This similarity points to the absence of character development. Vladimir and Estragon are in the same place at the same time as the first act and are still waiting for Godot. The same characters appear: Pozzo, Lucky, and the Boy. While in this act, Pozzo is blind and Lucky is dumb, they are the same characters. The boy is practically the same, still answering with a "No Sir" when asked if he met anyone (page 1409). This portrayal of the same situation makes it seem as though Vladimir and Estragon will forever be stuck in the absurd place in which we have found them.

Why is Pozzo blind and Lucky dumb? It's said Godot has a white beard, is that significant?