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 #13
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? (1.405-7)
Pozzo’s lines are highly ironic here. He is busy declaring how much he benefits from personal interaction while he directly ignores 1) Estragon’s attempts at communication and 2) the suffering of his slave, Lucky, who is still holding the heavy bags. The way his comment is couched in Estragon’s repeated lines is a great example of how structure complements and builds meaning in Waiting for Godot.
Quote #14
POZZO
Good. Is everybody ready? Is everybody looking at me? (He looks at Lucky, jerks the rope. Lucky raises his head.) Will you look at me, pig! (Lucky looks at him.) Good. (He puts the pipe in his pocket, takes out a little vaporizer and sprays his throat, puts back the vaporizer in his pocket, clears his throat, spits, takes out the vaporizer again, sprays his throat again, puts back the vaporizer in his pocket.) I am ready. Is everybody listening? Is everybody ready? (He looks at them all in turn, jerks the rope.) Hog! (Lucky raises his head.) I don't like talking in a vacuum. Good. Let me see.
He reflects. (1.426)
Pozzo is arguably the loneliest character in Waiting for Godot. While he makes a big show out of interacting with others and praising the benefits of human connection, he is always focused on himself, not on others. When he says "I don’t like talking in a vacuum," it’s clear that his concern is with his own ego, not in whether others hear or benefit from what he is saying.
Quote #15
POZZO
I do. But instead of driving him away as I might have done, I mean instead of simply kicking him out on his arse, in the goodness of my heart I am bringing him to the fair, where I hope to get a good price for him. The truth is you can't drive such creatures away. The best thing would be to kill them.
Lucky weeps. (1.450)
This brings us back to the earlier exchange in which Vladimir and Estragon debate killing themselves. It became clear then that isolation was a worse fate than death, and Pozzo reiterates that here. Lucky’s response—weeping—is unclear. Does he weep at the thought of being driven away? Or of being killed? Or is he simply distraught that Pozzo no longer wants his company?