Waiting for Godot

Waiting for Godot Summary | Act 1, Pages 1-10 Summary

In the first part of Act 1, Didi and Gogo are alone on stage. Gogo is sitting on the mound of earth trying to remove one of his boots and complaining about his feet, which are painful. He is having a great deal of trouble removing his boot. Didi and Gogo discuss where they have recently been. While Gogo's affliction is with his feet, Didi has bladder problems and pain. While their conversations keep coming back to these two physical ailments, they interject philosophical topics as well. They discuss the Bible and Biblical topics such as maps of the Holy Lands and the Gospels. Didi asks where Gogo spent the night, and Gogo replies that he spent the night in a ditch, but that he was not beaten. They discuss a past time in which they were among the first of those who stood together on top of the Eiffel Tower. Gogo continues to struggle with his boot. His foot is quite painful. He points out to Didi that his fly is unbuttoned, and Didi buttons it.

Didi then becomes preoccupied with his hat. He takes the hat off, peers into it, shakes it several times and repeats the process. He seems to be looking for an object inside the hat, but there is nothing in the hat. Gogo finally gets his boot off. He follows the same process Didi did with the hat. Gogo looks into the boot, shakes it, peers into it again, and then stares ahead of himself off into space. Didi and Gogo continue to discuss the Bible as they deal with boot and hat. They talk about going to the Holy Land where Gogo says they will swim and be happy. Didi tells Gogo he should have been a poet. Gogo, referring to his disreputable appearance says, "I was. Isn't that obvious?" Didi turns the conversation to the two thieves and Our Savior being crucified at the same time. Gogo is not responsive to this line of conversation and begins to talk of leaving. At the end of this section, on page 10 of the play, Gogo again says directly that they should leave this spot where they have been waiting for Godot. Didi says they can't leave. When Gogo asks why, Didi reminds him that they are waiting for Godot.