How we cite our quotes: (Act.Line) Every time a character talks counts as one line, even if what they say turns into a long monologue.
Quote #10
ESTRAGON
Excuse me, Mister, the bones, you won't be wanting the bones?
Lucky looks long at Estragon.
POZZO
(in raptures) Mister! (Lucky bows his head.) Reply! Do you want them or don't you? (Silence of Lucky. To Estragon.) They're yours. (Estragon makes a dart at the bones, picks them up and begins to gnaw them.) (1.384-5).
Lucky is incapable of making a decision, therefore one is made for him. In a sense, this is what makes Lucky lucky – the burden of responsibility has been taken from his shoulders as a condition of his servitude.
Quote #11
POZZO
(He looks at the stool.) I'd very much like to sit down, but I don't quite know how to go about it.
ESTRAGON
Could I be of any help?
[…]
If you asked me to sit down.
ESTRAGON
Would that be a help?
POZZO
I fancy so.
ESTRAGON
Here we go. Be seated, Sir, I beg of you.
POZZO
No no, I wouldn't think of it! (Pause. Aside.) Ask me again.
ESTRAGON
Come come, take a seat I beseech you, you'll get pneumonia.
POZZO
You really think so?
ESTRAGON
Why it's absolutely certain.
POZZO
No doubt you are right. (He sits down.) Done it again! (Pause.) Thank you, dear fellow. (1.519-531)
Pozzo, too, requires others to help him act. Again we see that choice does not enable action in this play.
Quote #12
ESTRAGON
Then adieu.
POZZO
Adieu.
VLADIMIR
Adieu.
POZZO
Adieu.
Silence. No one moves.
VLADIMIR
Adieu.
POZZO
Adieu.
ESTRAGON
Adieu.
Silence.
[…]
POZZO
I don't seem to be able . . . (long hesitation) . . . to depart.
ESTRAGON
Such is life. (1.670-684)
It is Estragon, NOT Vladimir, who makes the connection here: there is a barrier between a choice to act and the actual action itself.