Product Description

This play was first performed in 1960. Harold Pinter specializes in the tragicomedy of the breakdown of communication, broadly in the tradition of the theatre of the absurds and this is demonstrated in both "The Caretaker" and "The Birthday Party".

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #51529 in Books
• Published on: 1991-03-04
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 88 pages

Customer Reviews

There's no caretaker at all !
This is the story of three men. Mick is the proprietor of a shabby house in the country side. Aston-his brother-is always busy with something but never accomplishes anything. Finally there is Davies, some kind of a hobo, adopted by Aston who gives him a place to sleep and - after a while - asks him if he wants a job as caretaker. Davies is very reluctant and finds petty excuses to postpone the decision of becoming the caretaker.
What is the plot of this play? Everything stays the same, nothing will ever happen. It becomes clear that the three characters are stuck with each other (Pretty much like the characters of 'With closed doors' by J.P.Sartre.).
The most impressive part of the play is the monologue by Aston in which he tells how he was treated with electro shocks when he was a kid. This is one of the most gruesome parts I know in modern theatre.

The Caretaker
Although I studied this play for GCSE English, I found it a marvellous play, beautifully written. A deep play considering the fact it only contains 3 characters, with Pinter delving deep into the psyche of the character. I highly recommend it to fans of Harold Pinter. Studying it took the edge out of it for me, but still and enjoyable read.