'Don't let them tell you what to do!' : the characters of Harold Pinter and their entrapment in contemporary society

Abstract

Throughout his plays, Harold Pinter gives a clear depiction of twenty-first century contemporary life. This dissertation provides the reader with a Foucauldian framework to such a contemporary life, by using the very influential text Discipline and Punish, Pinter's work is proven to be emblematic of Foucault's work. Through this theoretical foundation, the setting of the plays are presented and discussed as being one of inescapability, the reign of the norm being in fact so powerful. Having set the framework, the essay investigates the characters' reactions to such a setting and their apparently feeble role. Primarily, chapter one considers in great detail the inside/outside dynamic presented throughout Pinter's plays. This dynamic, although vividly portrayed throughout the texts, is dealt with through the perception that it is in fact illusive. Hence, the chapter deals with the ideology that the characters create such a distinction as a way to create a scenario in which they can escape society's conventions. Significantly, the chapter portrays how through this very distinction, the inescapable situation is further emphasised by Pinter. Furthermore, the second chapter questions the use of language within such a society. It is tackled through the characters' use of language as a sort of evasion. Respectively, narrative is investigated in great detail not only as a technique the characters use to distance themselves from their society but also as a way to overpower each other. Finally, chapter three explores the role of the female within such a setting. This chapter challenges the idea that Pinter's women are inferior to the men in his plays. Rather, it discusses the idea that the women, through their inferior and stereotypical roles, manage to become the victimizers of the male characters. Conclusively, this dissertation may lead to further studies regarding not only the role of humanity within contemporary life but also the role of humanity within life itself. The conclusion initiates further study of the representation of life in Pinter and suggests that, ultimately, although the characters are constantly defeated by society they possess a strength which allows them to never give up.