Character of Lucky in Waiting for Godot by Samuel Becket

Character of Lucky in Waiting for Godot by Samuel Becket

Lucky is the most miserable wretch, depicting the lowest ebb of human existence under persecution without an end it. The character of Lucky is greatly symbolic that individualistic. He is always seen with the burden of luggage symbolizing the burden of one's existence as professed by Vladimir:

"To every man his little cross. Till he dies. And is forgotten."

So Lucky is no more than a mule or a cart for carrying the luggage of his master, Pozzo and whenever there is an opportunity the master would sell him at a good price. Perhaps, Lucky may be associated with the poor classes persecuted by the rich ones. Lucky is either speechless or his speech has no meaning comparable to the meaningless existence of modern man.

His character has two extremes; at one he is extremely obedient to his lord without any question of right or wrong, and on the other side of his personality, he is excessively violent. The episode of kicking Estragon while he went there to wipe Lucky's tears reminds us the senseless attitude of Lucky. Probably, Lucky is yet another angle of presenting the mindless going forward of today's man that has no more to lose. It may also be argued that Lucky on the lowest depth of human suffering where there is no hope of revival or restoration; therefore, he would not complain or seek any sort of pity from anyone like Estragon. This may well be argued that Lucky is fed up from society, hence he would not allow anybody near him.

Regardless of whichever of the arguments we follow, Lucky's role has been a strong contrast to the two of the tramps who need revival and rescue. They are waiting for a kind of Messiah in the visage of Godot but they get none whereas Lucky hopes none. Lucky, like all other characters, is bound to the theme of loss and hopelessness.