Dramatic Divisions of Waiting for Godot

ACT I:

  (1) Vladimir and Estragon Alone

  (2) Arrival of Pozzo and Lucky: Lucky's Speech

  (3) Departure of Pozzo and Lucky: Vladimir and 

        Estragon Alone

  (4) Arrival of Boy Messenger

  (5) Departure of Boy Messenger: Vladimir and 

        Estragon Alone

ACT II:

  (1) Vladimir and Estragon Alone

  (2) Arrival of Pozzo and Lucky

  (3) Departure of Pozzo and Lucky: Vladimir and 

        Estragon Alone

  (4) Arrival of Boy Messenger

  (5) Departure of Boy Messenger: Vladimir and 

        Estragon Alone

    The above divisions of the play are Beckett's way of making a statement about the nature of the play — that is, the play is circular in structure, and a third act (or even a fourth or fifth act, etc.) could be added, having the exact same structure. 

The Setting of the Play

     The rising curtain exposes a landscape that is bleak, desolate,  and alien. It most resembles some strange place in outer space with a sense of despair. A country road or an actual lonely road is the main setting, and there is a single tree. We know there is a ditch on the other side of the road because immediately Estragon tells Vladimir that he slept last night in the ditch. The loneliness and the isolation of the setting sets the tone for the play. The idea of a road implies a journey, a movement, a purpose to life, but we see, instead, two deserted, isolated figures with no place to go and with no journey to look forward to.