How does Samuel Beckett portray the

meaninglessness of life through the use of

repetition in Waiting For Godot?

In Waiting for Godot, Beckett conveys the meaninglessness of life by undermining

meaning generated in communication, through repetition. In Waiting for Godot the
repetition of words does not achieve assertion of a fact as in common prose
(“Literary Devices”), but becomes semantically satiated. The repetition of “You want
to get rid of him?”(Beckett 23) by Vladimir after five times becomes “You
waagerrim?”(Beckett 23), an utterance that is devoid of meaning. The illogicality
thwarts any meaning that the audience may have been trying to extract from the
line prior to this repetition. Upon first hearing the phrase, one may interpret “You
want to get rid of him?” as an incredulous outburst by Vladimir, which conveys his
view on the importance of human companionship. However, the later slurred line of
“You waagerrim?” subverts this interpretation. The futility in attempting to uncover
any meaning within the exchanges of the characters is an attempt by Beckett to
portray the meaninglessness of relationships and social exchange in real life. Jak
Peake analyses that in Waiting For Godot “Conversation occurs, but the
arrangement of words, poor starved strings, do not bridge the gulf that exists
between them.” (Peake) The loss of meaning in Vladimir’s language due to
repetition creates a sense of divergence between the characters. Vladimir is
attempting to communicate, but the effectuality of it no longer exists, since Pozzo
fails to acknowledge him until the illogicality becomes obvious, when Pozzo
questions, “I beg your pardon?” (Beckett 23). In the play, Vladimir and Estragon are
seen to rely heavily upon each other, exemplified strongly in act 1 when they
discuss suicide plans. Neither wants to be left alone in case one of them is
unsuccessful, deciding not to “do anything. It’s safer.” (Beckett 10) Therefore, if
Vladimir and Estragon are unable to do the one thing, that is to communicate, which
connects or “bridges the gulf” between them, and they rely so heavily upon each
other to live, then the purpose of living for them becomes meaningless. Beckett’s
nihilistic tone in this further reflects upon the attitudes of post-World War Two
society. The War had caused loneliness for the people who had lost family
members and friends.(PBS) By creating a sense of meaninglessness in
communication, Beckett reflects upon the despair and loss of purpose for the
people who had lost the sense of companionship after the war.