Why was Davies fired from his job at the café?
The Caretaker 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 Caretaker.
Answer
Why was Davies fired from his job at the café? [NU: 2015]
Harold Pinter (1930–2008) wrote The Caretaker in 1959. The play presents three lonely men. They are struggling with identity and trying to find a sense of survival. Davies, an old tramp, lost his café job because of his rude behavior. His words clearly explain the cause of his dismissal. Let us now move to the main discussion.
Quarrel at the Café: Davies got into a quarrel with another worker. He said,
“If I had a few years off me, I’d break you in half.”
His angry words created a noisy fight in the café. This fight showed his bad temper and lack of control.
Disrespect to Coworker: Davies thought the other man had insulted him. The man told him to take out the bucket. Davies felt humiliated and refused. He believed the worker treated him badly. His pride and rude reaction caused trouble at work.
Hatred for Foreigners: Davies complained about “them Blacks, Greeks, Poles” in the café. He blamed them for everything and said they “treated me like dirt.” His prejudice and hateful attitude made him disliked by others. His speech showed he could not adjust to people of other races.
Unfit for Work: Davies’s behavior showed that he was not suitable for work. He quarreled easily, disrespected people, and could not follow rules. The owner or manager could not keep such a worker. His firing was the natural result of his actions.
In short, Davies was fired because of his anger, pride, and intolerance. His quarrel, disrespect, and hatred for others made him lose his job. His dismissal reflected his failure to live peacefully in society.