Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett

10 quotes related to the theme of slavery:

1. “After having sucked all the good out of him you chuck him away like a...
like a banana skin. Really...” (VLADIMIR)
Pozzo is willing to sell lucky at a fair because he is no longer of use. Estragon
is appalled by this and perhaps is fearful that one day Vladimir will also
replace him.

2. “(to Lucky.) How dare you! It's abominable! Such a good master! Crucify
him like that! After so many years! Really!” (VLADIMIR)
Vladimir turns the table on the master-slave relationship, suggesting that
Pozzo is as beholden and dependent on Lucky as Lucky is on Pozzo.

3. “To treat a man... (gesture towards Lucky)... like that... I think that... no...
a human being... no... it's a scandal!” (VLADIMIR)
Vladimir is outraged at the notion of slavery. Given his own state of
confinement, this is highly ironic.

4. “I do. But instead of driving him away as I might have done, I mean
instead of simply kicking him out on his arse, in the goodness of my heart I
am bringing him to the fair, where I hope to get a good price for him. The
truth is you can't drive such creatures away. The best thing would be to
kill them. (1.495)” (POZZO)
Pozzo believes he is doing Lucky a service by enslaving him; and, in one sense,
he is. This could be the reason that Lucky is considered lucky—someone is
around to tell him what to do. Left to his own devices, he may be as helpless
and miserable as Vladimir and Estragon.
5. “One is not master of one's moods. All day I've felt in great form.
(2.16)” (VLADIMIR)

By declaring himself at the mercy of his emotions, Vladimir takes another

step in the direction of self-imposed servitude.

6. “(ESTRAGON): Charming spot. (He turns, advances to front, halts

facing auditorium.) Inspiring prospects. (He turns to Vladimir.) Let's go.
(VLADIMIR): We can't.
(ESTRAGON): Why not?
(VLADIMIR): We're waiting for Godot.
(ESTRAGON): (despairingly) Ah! (1.91-5)”

Vladimir and Estragon are confined by their waiting just as Lucky is

confined by the rope around his neck. In this comparison, Godot is
compared to Pozzo as the being that governs such confinement.

7. “No use struggling…No use wriggling…The essential doesn't change.”

(POZZO)

Estragon and Vladimir are, like all human beings, dependent upon each
other.  They take turns soothing each other in an attempt to alleviate the
overwhelming despair they feel in their long, long wait for Godot to appear.

8. (ESTRAGON): “What exactly did we ask him [Godot] for? [...]”

(VLADIMIR): “Oh . . . Nothing very definite.”

Even Godot, or at least V's conception of Godot, is incapable of making

independent choices.
9. “Ah! Why couldn't you say so before? Why doesn’t he make himself
comfortable? Let's try and get this clear. Has he not the right to?
Certainly, he has. It follows that he doesn't want to. There's reasoning
for you. (1.432)” (POZZO)

This is arguably the most explicit statement of classic existentialist

reasoning in Waiting for Godot. There is no such thing as slavery or
confinement, Pozzo argues here, since every action one performs is a matter
of choice. If Lucky doesn’t put the bags down, it is because he chooses not
to, not because he isn’t allowed.

10. “Enter Pozzo and Lucky. Pozzo drives Lucky by means of a rope passed
round his neck, so that Lucky is the first to enter, followed by the rope
which is long enough to let him reach the middle of the stage before
Pozzo appears. Lucky carries a heavy bag, a folding stool, a picnic
basket and a greatcoat, Pozzo a whip.
(POZZO)
(off). On! (Crack of whip. Pozzo appears. They cross the stage. Lucky
passes before Vladimir and Estragon and exit. Pozzo at the sight of
Vladimir and Estragon stops short. The rope tautens. Pozzo jerks at it
violently.) Back! (1.290)”

Pozzo and Lucky fulfill the roles of master and servant.