Very Short Summary
On a country road by a bare tree, two tramps waited for someone named Godot.
While waiting, they encountered a wealthy man named Pozzo and his servant Lucky, whom he controlled with a rope around his neck. Lucky performed a dance and delivered an incomprehensible monologue before they departed. Later, a boy appeared with a message that Godot would not come today but surely tomorrow.
The next day, Vladimir and Estragon returned to the same spot. The tree had sprouted leaves overnight. Pozzo and Lucky appeared again, but this time Pozzo was blind and did not remember their previous meeting. In a moment of existential despair, Pozzo reflected on the brevity of life.
POZZO: They give birth astride of a grave, the light gleams an instant, then it's night once more... On!
After Pozzo and Lucky left, another boy arrived with the same message about Godot not coming until tomorrow. The boy claimed not to be the same one who came yesterday and said he had never seen Vladimir before. When Vladimir asked about Godot's appearance, the boy mentioned that Godot had a white beard.
Vladimir and Estragon contemplated hanging themselves from the tree but found no proper rope. They decided to leave and return the next day with better rope, though Estragon's trousers, which they could have used as a rope, fell down. They agreed to go but remained motionless as the curtain fell.
Detailed Summary by Acts
Act titles and their division into scenes are editorial.
Act 1. The First Day of Waiting
Vladimir and Estragon's Morning Routines
On a country road beside a tree, Estragon struggled to remove his boot while Vladimir approached. Their reunion was marked by a mix of joy and irritation as they discussed their perpetual waiting for someone named Godot. Estragon revealed he had spent the previous night in a ditch, where he was beaten by unknown assailants.
ESTRAGON: Nothing happens, nobody comes, nobody goes, it's awful!
The Arrival of Pozzo and Lucky
Their waiting was interrupted by the arrival of Pozzo and Lucky. Pozzo controlled Lucky with a rope around his neck, treating him as a slave. Lucky carried Pozzo's belongings while being commanded harshly by his master. Initially, Estragon and Vladimir mistook Pozzo for Godot, but he quickly corrected their assumption.
Lucky's Performance and Departure
At Pozzo's command, Lucky performed a strange dance, which he called 'The Net.' Then, at Vladimir's request, Lucky delivered a rambling, incomprehensible monologue about theological and academic matters until he was forcibly silenced. The performance ended with Lucky being stripped of his hat, effectively stopping his ability to think.
VLADIMIR: We wait. We are bored... Good. A diversion comes along and what do we do? We let it go to waste. Come, let's get to work! In an instant all will vanish and we'll be alone once more, in the midst of nothingness!
The Boy's Message
After Pozzo and Lucky departed, a boy arrived with a message from Godot. He informed Vladimir that Godot would not come that evening but would surely come tomorrow. The boy revealed he worked for Godot tending goats, while his brother tended sheep. As night fell, Vladimir and Estragon decided to leave but remained motionless as the curtain fell.
Act 2. The Second Day of Waiting
Changes and Repetitions
The next day, Vladimir found the tree had sprouted leaves overnight. When Estragon arrived, he had no memory of the previous day's events. Their routine of waiting continued, punctuated by attempts to pass the time through conversation, word games, and exercises. They contemplated suicide by hanging themselves from the tree but lacked proper rope.
ESTRAGON: We always find something, eh Didi, to give us the impression we exist?
Return of Pozzo and Lucky
Pozzo and Lucky returned, but with dramatic changes. Pozzo had become blind, and Lucky was now mute. They fell, unable to get up without assistance. Vladimir contemplated helping them, seeing it as a way to give meaning to their waiting.
VLADIMIR: To all mankind they were addressed, those cries for help still ringing in our ears! But at this place, at this moment of time, all mankind is us, whether we like it or not.
Another Boy, Another Message
As night approached, another boy appeared with the same message as the day before - Godot would not come today but surely tomorrow. The boy claimed no knowledge of delivering the previous day's message. Vladimir's questioning of the boy revealed his growing uncertainty about the reality of their situation.
VLADIMIR: Was I sleeping, while the others suffered? Am I sleeping now? Tomorrow, when I wake, or think I do, what shall I say of today? That with Estragon my friend, at this place, until the fall of night, I waited for Godot?
Once again, Vladimir and Estragon decided to leave but remained motionless as the curtain fell. Their eternal waiting continued, trapped in a cycle of anticipation and disappointment, unable to either truly leave or find resolution in their waiting for Godot.