Do you think “The Birthday Party” belongs to the theatre of the absurd? Give reasons for your answer.
The Birthday Party is a notable literary work by Harold Pinter. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of The Birthday Party.
Answer
Do you think “The Birthday Party” belongs to the theatre of the absurd? Give reasons for your answer.
The term Theatre of the Absurd was first used by critic Martin Esslin in 1961. It describes a group of plays written after World War II that show the meaninglessness of human life. The world had seen war, death, and loss of faith. Writers began to show confusion, loneliness, and hopelessness in their plays. Harold Pinter’s (1930-2008) “The Birthday Party” (1957) is one such play. It shows the same ideas of fear, uncertainty, and the absurd nature of human existence.
Theatre of the Absurd: The Theatre of the Absurd shows the world as a strange and meaningless place. The plays do not follow the normal rules of story or logic. The characters speak in broken sentences and repeat words without reason. Time and place seem confused. These plays often show human beings as powerless and lost.
Famous absurd plays include “Waiting for Godot” by Samuel Beckett, “The Chairs” by Eugene Ionesco, and “The Birthday Party” by Harold Pinter. These plays show that life has no clear purpose, and communication between people often fails. Laughter and fear mix together. This mix of laughter and fear creates both comedy and sadness.
Absurd Qualities in The Birthday Party: Pinter’s play takes place in a small seaside boarding house owned by Meg and Petey. A man named Stanley lives there. Two strangers, Goldberg and McCann, come one day seemingly to “celebrate” Stanley’s birthday. But the reason for their visit is never explained clearly. This confusion itself is absurd.
The whole story moves in a circle. The play begins and ends with Petey and Meg at the breakfast table. Nothing truly changes. This circular structure shows the meaningless routine of life. The dialogues also sound strange. The characters talk without listening to each other. Meg says, “Are they nice?” and Stanley replies rudely, “Who are they?” Such disconnected talk shows theUnlock this study guide now