Waiting for Godot Vladimir Quotes

Vladimir > Estragon

Quote 49

VLADIMIR
And yet . . . (pause) . . . how is it—this is not boring you I hope—how is it that of the four Evangelists only one speaks of a thief being saved. The four of them were there—or thereabouts—and only one speaks of a thief being saved. (Pause.)
[…]
VLADIMIR
One out of four. Of the other three, two don't mention any thieves at all and the third says that both of them abused him.
[…]
VLADIMIR
Then the two of them must have been damned.
ESTRAGON
And why not?
VLADIMIR
But one of the four says that one of the two was saved.
ESTRAGON
Well? They don't agree and that's all there is to it.
VLADIMIR
But all four were there. And only one speaks of a thief being saved. Why believe him rather than the others? (1.68-86)

Through Vladimir’s exchange with Estragon, Waiting for Godot argues that religion is incompatible with logic.

Vladimir > Lucky

Quote 50

VLADIMIR
(to Lucky) How dare you! It's abominable! Such a good master! Crucify him like that! After so many years! Really! (1.476)

Vladimir now draws a comparison between Pozzo and Christ with his use of the word "crucify."

Vladimir > Estragon

Quote 51

VLADIMIR
But you can't go barefoot!
ESTRAGON
Christ did.
VLADIMIR
Christ! What has Christ got to do with it. You're not going to compare yourself to Christ!
ESTRAGON
All my life I've compared myself to him. (1.825-8)

If Waiting for Godot until now compared the suffering of the men on stage to the suffering of Christ, it is now condemning that very comparison. This is in keeping with the presentation of religion as illogical and contradictory.