How far is “The Caretaker” an absurd Drama?

Answer

How far is “The Caretaker” an absurd drama? Illustrate. [NU: 2015, 18] ★★★

Harold Pinter (1930–2008) wrote The Caretaker in 1960. It is one of the best examples of absurd drama in modern theatre. Absurd drama shows life as meaningless, hopeless, and without clear purpose. In this play, three lonely men live in a broken house. They talk much, but they fail to connect. They dream, but their dreams collapse. Pinter shows absurd elements through silence, repetition, lost identity, and lack of progress. For this reason, the play is truly an absurd drama.

Shabby Setting: The play takes place in one shabby room. The room is dirty, narrow, and full of broken things. It looks like a prison of life. Pinter says, 

“A bucket hangs from the ceiling.” 

This useless room reflects the absurd condition of man. Davies, Aston, and Mick live here without hope. They cannot escape this closed place. The setting itself shows absurd drama, where the world is meaningless and full of disorder.

Broken Communication: The three men talk, but they never truly understand each other. Their words are repeated, broken, and unfinished. Often silence replaces speech. Pinter writes, 

“They look at each other.” 

Aston speaks slowly with long gaps. Mick uses sharp and strange words. Davies changes his talk to please both. This broken communication is absurd in style. 

Lack of Plot: The play has no real beginning or end. Nothing truly happens in it. Davies says again and again, 

“All I got to do is to go down to Sidcup tomorrow.” 

But he never goes. Aston plans to build a shed, but he never builds it. Mick dreams of a palace, but he never creates it. The play begins with Davies entering and ends with him being rejected. There is no progress. This lack of movement is absurd. Life goes in circles with no clear result.

Unclear Identity: Davies’ identity is never certain.