Waiting for Godot certainly qualifies as one of Samuel Beckett's most famous works. Originally written in French in 1948, Beckett himself translated the play into English soon after. Although highly popular in Europe it never garnered much success in America.
Waiting for Godot incorporates many themes including human suffering and waiting for something that will never come. The work's characters, especially the two main characters, Estragon and Vladimir, embody these themes. The characters of Waiting for Godot without a doubt are what makes the play so interesting, and also seem to symbolize different aspects of "the human condition".
Estragon and Vladimir are similar in that they are both bums and are in desperate need to pass the time whilst they wait for Godot. Estragon is supremely dumb and possesses no memory beyond what is immediately said to him. He is impatient and constantly wants to leave Vladimir, but cannot because he needs someone to remember for him. Vladimir on the other hand has a good memory, but he often thinks it's playing tricks on him. Like Estragon, Vladimir is bound to his friend, because he needs someone to affirm his memories. Vladimir is generally quick witted, and can think through situations before acting. Not surprisingly, these two characters are easily compared to two aspects of humans, the body and mind. Estragon is compared to the body while Vladimir symbolizes the mind. Each cannot function without the other, just like a complete human. The other popular interpretation of the main characters says they symbolize pilgrims awaiting the return of the savior. No matter how they are interpreted, Estragon and Vladimir's long and absurd dialogues make Waiting for Godot the wonderfully bizarre piece it is.
Another duo of characters in Waiting for Godot is Pozzo and Lucky. Though they only appear twice they are an integral part of the play. Pozzo is the proud owner of his own personal, bag-carrying slave, Lucky.