“Nothing to be done,” is one of the many phrases that is repeated again and again throughout Samuel Beckett’s "Waiting For Godot." Godot is an existentialist play that reads like a poem. That is to say, Beckett is not interested in the audience interpreting his words, but simply listening to the words and viewing the actions of his perfectly mismatched characters. Beckett uses the standard Vaudevillian style to present a play that summarizes the human condition. He repeats phrases, ideas, and actions that have his audience come away with many different ideas about who we are and how beautiful our human existence is even in our desperation. The structure of "Waiting For Godot" is determined by Beckett’s use of repetition. This is demonstrated in the progression of dialogue and action in each of the two acts in Godot.
The first thing an audience may notice about "Waiting For Godot" is that they are immediately set up for a comedy. The first two characters to appear on stage are Vladimir and Estragon, dressed in bowler hats and boots. These characters lend themselves to the same body types as Abbot and Costello. Vladimir is usually cast as tall and thin and Estragon just the opposite. Each character is involved in a comedic action from the beginning of the play. Estragon is struggling with a tightly fitting boot that he just cannot seem to take off his foot. Vladimir is moving around bowlegged because of a bladder problem. From this beat on the characters move through what amounts to a comedy routine. A day in the life of two hapless companions on a country road with a single tree. Beckett accomplishes two things by using this style of comedy. Comedy routines have a beginning and an ending. For Godot the routine begins at the opening of the play and ends at the intermission. Once the routine is over, it cannot continue. The routine must be done again. This creates the second act. The second act, though not an ex...