ESTRAGON
Suppose we got up to begin with?
VLADIMIR
No harm trying.
They get up.
ESTRAGON
Child's play.
VLADIMIR
Simple question of will-power.
ESTRAGON
And now?
POZZO
Help! (2.634-9)
Here we see a fundamental difference between Pozzo and the two men Vladimir and Estragon. The latter are able to act, albeit after deliberation, but Pozzo remains helpless until others either tell him what to do or physically do it for him.
ESTRAGON
What did we do yesterday?
VLADIMIR
What did we do yesterday?
ESTRAGON
Yes.
VLADIMIR
Why . . . (Angrily.) Nothing is certain when you're about.
ESTRAGON
In my opinion we were here.
VLADIMIR
(looking round) You recognize the place?
ESTRAGON
I didn't say that.
VLADIMIR
Well?
ESTRAGON
That makes no difference. (1.122-130)
The unreliability of memory is one of the reasons that Waiting for Godot lacks rationale.
ESTRAGON
Why doesn't he put down his bags?
POZZO
I too would be happy to meet him. The more people I meet the happier I become. From the meanest creature one departs wiser, richer, more conscious of one's blessings. Even you . . . (he looks at them ostentatiously in turn to make it clear they are both meant) . . . even you, who knows, will have added to my store.
ESTRAGON
Why doesn't he put down his bags?
POZZO
But that would surprise me.
VLADIMIR
You're being asked a question.
POZZO
(delighted) A question!
[…]
VLADIMIR
You can ask him now. He's on the alert.
ESTRAGON
Ask him what? (1.407-414)
The lack of memory in Waiting for Godot establishes a world of absurdity and purposelessness. If Estragon can’t recall his original question, the questions of the past have no meaning in the present. Likewise, questions are irrelevant by nature since answers will soon after be forgotten.