THE THEATRE OF THE ABSURD
Modern Age
THE CARETAKER
Two characters: Aston, owner of the house
Davies: almost vagabond.
They talk about many things at once: 5 topics
A neighbours, family of Indians
B Davies talks about how he doesn't like bare rooms, the one full of objects, ‘knick-knacks’
C Aston looks for shoes for Davies
D Davies tells how he was chased out of a monastery by ‘knick-knacks’ again
E Davies recounts that he knew a good shoemaker
Pinter uses pauses and silences (not this case). With the psusa the sentence is not only
interrupted but dies.
Whereas in Shakespeare's theatre everything is described in words: moment of the day,
landscape; in Pinter, on the other hand, there are pauses and silences, which reveal
something: THE NON-COMMUNICATION
The theatre of the absurd reproduces the absurdity of everyday life at the time, caused by a
period of political and military tension (1960s: Cold War).
Also called theatre of threats. Davies is a threat to the balance of Aston's life.
The dialogical exchange is a power struggle. Everyone wants to make their own speech
prevail. Davies talks a lot more while both do something else.
Pinter's language is characterised by simple, colloquial, vulgar words (‘bastards’). Real
sentences, good. Also threatening language.
Characters bring a disturbance to the initial quietness. He is of Jewish origin, he experiences
this feeling of menace, it is part of his nature.
Father of the theatre is simon Baker, moves to Paris, writes in French. Also Pirandello.
