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Paper 9 - Modernist Literature
- 2. Name: NaglaDrashti P. Sem. : 3 Paper No: 9 Modernist Literature Presentation on: The sense of Insecurity and the Language of Pinter’s Absurd play The Birthday Party. sBatch year: 2016-2018 Submitted to: S.B. Gardi Department of English, Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University.
- 4. About the Authorof the Play: He was born in London, into a middle class jewish family. He begin to write his plays in the late 1950s and became the leader of the theatre of the Absurd after Beckett. In 2005,he was awardwd the nobel prize for literature. His first three plays: 1. The Room 2. The Dumb Waiter 3. The Birthday Party 4. The Homecoming His works are very well known as ‘The Pinter Pause’, because in his play like The Birthday Party there were the main concept of ‘silence’ and ‘pause’.
- 5. This presentationintroduces Pinter as an early practitioner of the theatre of Absurd. The sense of horror and terror is still preserved by several other devices such as pauses and silences. The sense of Absurdity used by Pinter can some times be funny and we can laugh at it. He uses this comical way to laugh at everything, even at tragic situations. The funny and comic side of the play is revealed and interpreted differently at the end of the play. It will change our view point of looking at things. This drama, which is first full length play. Which is omitting melodramatic, supernatural elements without any loss of mystery or horror. His plays are not easy to grasp and understand. This is a main feature of all absurdist plays and works.
- 6. The Language ofAbsurd Play: The Birthday Party The Absurd character of Pinter is built up by three distinct elements: Mystery, Menace, and humour. Pinter successfully creates a drama of human relations at the level of language. In the play , the dialogue between Meg and Petey is more an attempt at evasion than communication. In the first act Meg repeatedly asks a question to create laughter and absurd communication, Meg – Is that you petey? Pause Petey – Is that you? Pause Petey? Petey - What? Meg - Is that you? Petey – Is that me.
- 7. The sense ofInsecurity in the play The characters of the play feels insecurity from something. As in the room , Stanley is not happy for the arrival of new guests, because he felt thathis territory is being threatened. They are once again under the menace of being invaded and the sense of insecurity is felt throughout the play. The couple Meg and Petey protects Stanley and tries to make him comfortable, but the peaceful atmosphere is disturbed by unexpected guests, McCann and Goldberg. The Language which is use by both of agents, is really important in understanding the sense of insecurity and to reflect the tension that is being created this communication leads character into pauses and silences. McCann and Goldberg not only disturb Stanley but arouse his fear for unknown reason. Meg’s fear of losing Stanley , “ You wouldn’t have to go away if you get a job”, revels her sense of insecurity. s
- 8. Stanley’s silence whenMeg talking about two strangers.
- 9. o The arrivalof two men at the boarding house reflects Stanley’s fear of losing the security, which he was getting from Meg. o Stanley’s fear becomes an inevitable cause for absurd imagination he says: “they are coming today” Meg- Who? Stanley- They’re coming in a van Meg- Who? They’ll carry a wheel barrow in a van Stanley- They’re looking for someone Meg- No, they’re not. oThe Birthday Party evokes a mood of terror and mystery by creating a distorted world. Stanley had to under go harassment, and that he was carried away by force by McCann and Goldberg.
- 10. Stanley also feelinsecurity from the agents and their questions: Example for Goldberg- Where was your wife? Stanley- In Goldberg- Answer Stanley- What wife Goldberg- What have you done with your wife? McCann- He’s killed his wife Stanley- What wife? Goldberg- Why did you never get married?