In the play "Waiting for Godot" by Samuel Beckett, stage directions play a critical role in shaping the absurdist themes and character interactions. Consider the following excerpt of stage directions:
VLADIMIR leans on his spade. ESTRAGON, in a thick coat, follows him. The ground is bare except for a solitary tree with a few leaves.
How do the stage directions in this excerpt contribute to the overall meaning of the play?