Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
Where's the Febreeze?
Estragon is repeatedly repelled by smells in Waiting for Godot. Vladimir stinks of garlic, Lucky smells like who knows what, and Pozzo reeks of a fart in Act 2. It seems every time Estragon tries to get close to a person, he is repelled by their odor.
It looks to us like smells represent one of the barriers to interpersonal relationships. Estragon isn’t just repelled by odors—he’s repelled by the visceral humanity of those around him. There’s something gritty and base about the odor of a human body, and for Estragon it’s too much to handle.