Insanity in Godot

As of right now, the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the term “insanity” as that of “unsoundness of mind”. In addition with “lack of the ability to understand that prevents one from having the mental capacity required by law to enter into a particular relationship, status, or transaction or that releases one from criminal or civil responsibility”. However, the dictionary also has a dated definition for “insanity”. Which clarifies that insanity is a “severely disordered state of the mind”. What this definition leaves behind is the notion or the imbalance that this “insanity” can cause to the one “insane”. In other words, is there really a negative side to carry insanity or is there any positivity in this term? For not all people who are insane are necessarily doing mis deeds on earth and vice versa.

In Waiting for Godot, it is arguable that the two main characters, Vladimir and Estragon, are to some extent “insane”. One cannot deduce whether it is certain that both have some complete degree of insanity, but that that they both carry characteristics of insanity. At the same time, however, some may argue that they carry no insanity. This may be because there is a kind of stigma attached to both terms, “insanity” and “insane”. For what it seems, both terms are associated to criminal tragedy cause by a person that had no real reason to do it. For example, killing in cold blood. This stigma then affects those that are insane but are not necessarily associated to any criminal injustice. Thus, we can argue then that both, Vladimir and Estragon, are somehow insane.

Although, Vladimir and Estragon have not committed any type of crime, they still fall in the “lack of civil responsibility” category of insane. This stance then may fall into controversial. For one may be argue that the conversations they both have are far from insane, but rather intellectual. For they make arguments that lead to an existential conversation. Their thoughtful conversations lead to a metaphorical level about what is worth living for. Why humans keep waiting for something they have no clue will eventually happen. By far, we can even argue that the one that can be categorized as “insane” would be Estragon. For he is the one that eventually thinks about killing himself, because he doesnt find a reason to live for. He even suggests it to Vladimir a few times. At the same time, however, it is arguable that his reasons are far from insane. For there is no certain statement that clarifies that having an existential crisis is correlated to have a degree of “insanity” or is “insane”.

Vladimir and Estragon, tough they may have thoughtful conversations, they also have really mundane and insignificant conversations that may lead to the thought of both of them being insane. Complementing with their insignificant actions. For both characters do nothing but… nothing. Which may be classified as insane, for they are lacking the interaction with what is out there. They both have in some way lay their human abilities to a simple condition, waiting. This then may be associated to an abnormal behavior that people will eventually call insane. At the same time, this would be erroneous, for they don't seem to be completely insane but rather only have a certain degree of insanity. To fully categorise both characters as insane would not be accurate. We would also have to take on account what Samuel Beckett intended both characters to act in the play. In other words, their mannerisms and their little things, such as physical movements to eventually be able to deduce whether these characters are “insane”.

For example, one can assimilate that Estragon’s first action on the play may be in perspective as “insane”. Estragon tries to take his impossible shoes off, but can't seem to do it, although for a person it may be quite simple. This would then adhere to how Vladimir seems to careless about this situation and just care about the comments he wants to states, without helping Estragon in any way. In other words, both characters are acting as children, not being able to cooperate together or cope with their own limitations, they seem to rely heavily on each other. Which again, may be classified as insanity due to their behavior.