Samuel Beckett, who similarly used theatrical silence and long amplified pauses for a innovative effect, heavily influences Harold Pinter’s work. The objective of this essay is to define ‘Silences’ and Pinter’s uses of pauses as a theatrical technique used in the form of non verbal communication between characters of Ben and Gus in Pinter’s, The Dumb Waiter. His plays can be studied on various levels of in depth readings. The sheer complexity of his work is what conveys these different diverse interpretations. To describe Pinter’s work, I believe it best be left to Katherine H. Burkman who is quoted; ‘The drama of Harold Pinter evolves in an atmosphere of mystery while the surface of life are realistically detailed, the patterns below the surface
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The title The Dumb Waiter indicates the significance Pinter places on speech and silence. For instance, a dumbwaiter is a small elevator used to hoist food and dishes from various floors in the building. For this play it happened to be the basement, where it is set for the majority of the play. Our two protagonists Ben and Gus are hit men hired to take out a unknown target. They are assigned to assassinate their target but are yet to be informed who their victim might be. Both characters are aware of the task at hand, albeit it is their profession. However, both cope with the matter very differently. While Gus is constant questioning their situation, which is compared to Ben’s calm persona, which allows us, the audience to interpret that Ben is in control. Controversy this could also be seen as a silence in a way to protect themselves. ‘The more they express themselves, the more they are exposed to the other, the more dangerous they might feel about themselves’ (Qi, 31). Although their unwillingness to communicate is possibly a sign of an insecure relationship between the characters. Almost as if the inevitable is to happen. We get a sense of distancing from Ben’s part, as if he is preparing himself for the task of deceiving …show more content…
Communication is too alarming … to disclose to others the poverty within us is too fearsome a possibility’ (Writing for Theatre, 13). Pinter’s statement reiterates a fear to converse to prevent vulnerability. His frequent silences and pauses acts as a substitute, which becomes a tacit way of communication between both characters. The barriers creates little bond between one another. ‘These dramatic forces create n intolerable psychological pressure that surfaces in language disruptions. As it is well known, stress affects expression’ (Vargas, 40). This once again correlates to the first point made regarding Ben. Similarity, his dominance which enables him to withhold information resulting in their impersonal partnership. I believe this is the case and my personal interpretation of the play. I have constructed a view point that Ben knew of his task from the offset of the play. We can understand that by Ben keeping his stubborn stance towards Gus in order to make his already difficult task that bit easier. We know from the pay that Ben is professional and treats his profession with the highest standard in everything he does. Ben brushes off the idea of him and Gus going to the game together, he redirects any personal questions about himself into orders for Gus to carry out.
The title The Dumb Waiter indicates the significance Pinter places on speech and silence. For instance, a dumbwaiter is a small elevator used to hoist food and dishes from various floors in the building. For this play it happened to be the basement, where it is set for the majority of the play. Our two protagonists Ben and Gus are hit men hired to take out a unknown target. They are assigned to assassinate their target but are yet to be informed who their victim might be. Both characters are aware of the task at hand, albeit it is their profession. However, both cope with the matter very differently. While Gus is constant questioning their situation, which is compared to Ben’s calm persona, which allows us, the audience to interpret that Ben is in control. Controversy this could also be seen as a silence in a way to protect themselves. ‘The more they express themselves, the more they are exposed to the other, the more dangerous they might feel about themselves’ (Qi, 31). Although their unwillingness to communicate is possibly a sign of an insecure relationship between the characters. Almost as if the inevitable is to happen. We get a sense of distancing from Ben’s part, as if he is preparing himself for the task of deceiving …show more content…
Communication is too alarming … to disclose to others the poverty within us is too fearsome a possibility’ (Writing for Theatre, 13). Pinter’s statement reiterates a fear to converse to prevent vulnerability. His frequent silences and pauses acts as a substitute, which becomes a tacit way of communication between both characters. The barriers creates little bond between one another. ‘These dramatic forces create n intolerable psychological pressure that surfaces in language disruptions. As it is well known, stress affects expression’ (Vargas, 40). This once again correlates to the first point made regarding Ben. Similarity, his dominance which enables him to withhold information resulting in their impersonal partnership. I believe this is the case and my personal interpretation of the play. I have constructed a view point that Ben knew of his task from the offset of the play. We can understand that by Ben keeping his stubborn stance towards Gus in order to make his already difficult task that bit easier. We know from the pay that Ben is professional and treats his profession with the highest standard in everything he does. Ben brushes off the idea of him and Gus going to the game together, he redirects any personal questions about himself into orders for Gus to carry out.