Pastiche: Waiting for Godot
... Estragon and Vladimir find that it is becoming more difficult even to speak words. The pastiche also continues to implement the tactics that Beckett used to present a world devoid of meaning. Also, characteristics of Estragon and Vladimir are also recognized. Vladimir, the more philosophical of the two, is found quoting proverbs, while Estragon, the more corporeal of the two, is concerned more about food and physical things. It does not take place in either acts and is merely another example of what Estragon and Vladimir’s day would be like. Estragon, sitting on a low mound, is trying to take off his boot. He pulls at it with both hands, panting. He gives up, exhausted, rests, tries again. As before. Vladimir: (Walks in and sits with his back to Estragon. He does not notice Estragon because he is deep in thought, staring into the distance. He looks at his hands.) Many hands make light work. Estragon: Then help me! Vladimir: (Raises a finger.) But. Estragon: (Exhasperated.) Oh poo! Vladimir: But… Estragon: (Pitifully) Aide me! Vladimir: but at the same time, too many cooks spoil the broth. Estragon: (giving up again) Broth? I don’t see any. Vladimir: (Seemingly weighs both ideas in the palms of his hands.) Many hands make light work… at the same time… too many cooks spoil the broth. Estragon: (resumes the struggle.) Later or later it has to come off. Vladimir: (Stands up, seemingly coming to a conclusion.) Ah! Many.. many.. (Throws his hands into the air and sits down.) It’s hopeless! Utterly hopeless! Always opposing, never agreeing. Estragon: (still occupied with his boot) It’s always like that, didn’t you know? Vladimir: And yet… how truououououououououow. It always helps to have another hand when one is faced with such an immense task. And at the same time, one too many and it makes it worse. Estragon: (Stops for a moment and looks around.) You don’t say! Why just look at me! I was better off when there was only one! Vladimir: But which does one believe? Estragon: This is becoming tiresome. Vladimir: I suppose one must just accept one or the other and move on. Estragon: (stops for a moment again, turns toward Vladimir.) Are you still not aware? Vladimir: (Turns toward Estragon for the first time.) Of what? Estragon: Oh never mind. Vladimir: (They stand up.) Gogo. Do you know the story of Adam and Eve? Estragon: Of course I know it. Everybody knows it. Adam and Eve waited for the Lord and when he came he gave them fruit that caused them to perish. Vladimir: You’ve got it wrong. God first created Adam. Adam was all alone. Adam struggled. God thought that it would help if Adam had a companion so he made Eve. Estragon: He should have given them the fruit instead. Vladimir: Perhaps. But why a companion and not something else? Maybe Adam couldn’t defend himself from the wild beests. Estragon: Perhaps. Vladimir: It’s true. Why, it’s just like our situation, Gogo. Estragon: (Angrily) Us? Ours? Who are they to be compared to us? What do they know of us and our lives and this world and ...