I asked her to look at me and after a few moments - (pause) - after a few moments she did, but the eyes just slits, because of the glare I bent over her to get them in the shadow and they opened. (Pause. Low) Let me in.
Samuel BeckettRead
Estragon: I can't go on like this._x000D_ Vladimir: That's what you think.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the struggle of continuing in difficult situations while challenging the perception of hopelessness.
In this exchange between Estragon and Vladimir from Samuel Beckett's 'Waiting for Godot', the dialogue conveys a profound sense of existential despair. Estragon feels overwhelmed and believes he cannot continue, representing a common human sentiment during tough times. Vladimir counters with 'That's what you think,' suggesting that belief in one’s inability to proceed may be misleading. The conversation encapsulates the struggle between despair and the resilience to endure, highlighting the complexity of human existence.
Themes
ExistentialismDespairEnduranceResilienceContinuity
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about resilience in the face of adversity.
More from Samuel Beckett
All quotes →Nothing happens. Nobody comes, nobody goes. It's awful.
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We lose our hair, our teeth! Our bloom, our ideals.
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