Insane behaviors but still sane

            Albert Einstein is broadly credited with defining insanity as "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." Many attribute this overused cliché to Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot as a means to prove that the characters Vladimir and Estragon, otherwise known as Didi and Gogo, are insane. Beckett exemplifies the idea of meaninglessness through their repetitive actions, but as foolish as these characters seem, they are not insane. Vladimir and Estragon continue to wait not because they are "expecting different results" but hoping for just one: Godot. Additionally, Beckett's play revolves around the philosophical concept of existentialism, and these characters are only victims of the emptiness of life. Despite their seemingly insane behaviors, Vladimir and Godot do not demonstrate insanity but eccentricity and boredom.

            Set in a seemingly hopeless environment, Vladimir and Estragon can easily be seen as mentally ill and, therefore, their actions insane; however, their unique characteristics are not stemmed from insanity. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines insanity as an "unsoundness of mind or lack of the ability to understand that prevents one from having the mental capacity required by law to enter into a particular relationship, status, or transaction or that releases one from criminal or civil responsibility". Through this definition, Vladimir's and Estragon's sanity can be seen through their various interactions:

            Vladimir: Off we go again. (Pause.) Do you not recognize me?

            Boy: No Sir.

            Vladimir: It wasn't you came yesterday.

            Boy: No Sir.

            Vladimir: This is your first time.

            Boy: Yes Sir. (Beckett, Act 2)

The formal definition of insanity states an inability to "enter into a particular relationship... or transaction". However, this dialogue between Vladimir and the boy reveal Didi's ability to understand that he has interacted with the boy before; he recognizes his encounters and "transactions" and questions why he is not remembered. Although strange, the interactions between Vladimir and Estragon display sane behaviors as defined by Merriam-Webster. Furthermore, insanity prevents a "relationship" but there is one between Vladimir and Estragon:

           Vladimir: (vexed). Then why do you always come crawling back?

            Estragon: I don't know.

            Vladimir: No, but I do. It's because you don't know how to defend yourself. I wouldn't have let them beat you. (Beckett, Act 2)

Despite being irritated and questioning Estragon's constant return, Vladimir is protective of Gogo. Their friendship is not a typical one, but Didi and Gogo have a clear relationship with each other. Although the play portrays these two characters in a peculiar manner, they differ from the given definition of insanity.

            Additionally, the commonly accepted idea that patients with mental illnesses are considered insane is not accurate. A Psychology Today article states that "insanity is a concept discussed in court to help distinguish guilt from innocence... the term today is primarily legal, not psychological" (Howes). However, even if readers were to view this play in a psychological context, Vladimir and Estragon are still not insane. Suicide is often seen as a mental illness and an act of someone who is insane. However, suicide itself is not a mental illness but often a result from those who suffer from a mental illness such as depression. Vladimir and Estragon's desire to commit suicide is not one that stems from depression, however, but from boredom:

            Estragon: Why don't we hang ourselves?

            Vladimir: With what?

            Estragon: You haven't got a bit of rope?

            Vladimir: No.

            Estragon: Then we can't. Silence.

            Vladimir: Let's go.

            Estragon: Wait, there's my belt.

            Vladimir: It's too short.

            Estragon: You could hang onto my legs.

            Vladimir: And who'd hang onto mine?

            Estragon: True. (Beckett, Act 2)

A central theme in Beckett's play is existentialism, and the author portrays a life of utter meaninglessness. This concept seeps into what would be an otherwise serious conversation and makes the topic of suicide into a shameless and empty bantering. Estragon offers his belt as a rope to hang themselves but Vladimir comments that "it's too short." Estragon replies with an absurd solution and tells Vladimir to "hang onto [his] legs". While suicide is often viewed as the climax of emotional turmoil, there are no obvious signs of distraught or logical reasoning in their discussion. It is simply a careless conversation between two men who struggle from pure boredom. Vladimir and Estragon do not suffer from insanity but from lack of excitement in their humdrum life.

            It is difficult to define what is sane or insane as there is such a fine line between these two terms. To determine sanity or insanity is based on whether the behaviors are rational or irrational, but these characterizations are heavily influenced by an individual's unique culture. The common beliefs that mental illnesses and a stray from norms are characteristics of insanity cause readers to assess Vladimir's and Estragon's actions as insane. But that is not the case. These literary figures are foolishly hopeful and extremely eccentric but not insane. They are just different.