Harold Pinter's Modernism and Postmodernism

Abstract

Pinter's position is controversial and can never be easily predetermined between modernist and postmodernist writers for he denies any labels. It remains a very important point to place him in his right position because he is an influential playwright. This thesis attempts to investigate and identify the features, and characteristics that distinguish modernism, and postmodernism. Besides, the research examines the relation among modernism, postmodernism, and the ethical concept of alterity as a factor that can affect the character's actions and reactions. By applying these features and characteristics on the characters portrayal in selected plays of Harold Pinter, the thesis tries to validate the hypotheses being put. Analysis of Pinter's first full- length play, The Birthday Party (1957) shows that Pinter has displayed the private level of the relation with "the other". So doing, he presents two groups of characters. The first is those who regard "the other" as a rival who must be controlled. They use violence verbally and physically to dominate "the other". In this sense, they can be regarded as modernist characters whose highest ethic is power. The second is those who behave in accord with "the other". they are seen as postmodernist character In fact, Pinter's first stage reflects the relation among modernism, postmodernism, and alterity regarding the character in private level. The analysis of two one-act plays of Harold Pinter: Landscape( 1968), Silence (1969) underlines that Pinter has shifted his view in the second or the middle stage of his writing to the reverse of that he was doing in the first stage. These plays bring to a close that this stage is to give contradictory interval by which Pinter has been preparing to the coming third stage. He presents plays without conflict and so lifeless. Celebration(2000), Pinter's last full-length play shows the features of characterization which clearly mirror those of the first stage-plays. In third stage, Pinter has shown that the relation among modernism, postmodernism, and alterity is inevitably affective on the public as well as the private levels. The research shows that Pinter's main concern is to inspire the audience and help them get the awareness that all the people are responsible for keeping peace in this world. Moreover, what can hurt few people now, may cause harm for a lot of people in the future. So responsibility towards "the other" is the responsibility towards one's own self.