The predicament of man in Harold Pinter’s play (The Birthday Party)

Abstract

Harold Pinter frequently depicts the dilemmas of destroyed individuals who are incapable of perceive their own existence. In a society that strips them of their humanity, these characters are fatigued and dissatisfied. They withdraw into a small world in search of safety and security. The character's sense of security is threatened by external forces, represented by invading figures who represent the mysterious forces that are indefinable. The conflict between these invaders and the characters eventually ends with the character's defeat. The reason for the intruder's attack on the victims remains unclear and is not explained. The element of mystery pervades Pinter's games and is one of its main characteristics. This paper attempts to examine how Pinter dealt with this problem in his
first play, The Birthday Party (1957). How man escapes his reality, what types of threats attack man, and why man cannot fight these threats are the questions this essay seeks to
answer.