1. The Dumb Waiter by Harold Pinter 圖／路透社

2. Harold Pinter (1930- ) ► A playwright, director, actor, poet and political activist ► Pinter was born on 10 October 1930 in East London. ► He studied briefly at the Academy of Dramatic Art.

3. Harold Pinter (1930- ) ► One of the most important and challenging playwrights in the last half century ► An actor ► His first three plays: (1957) The Room The Room The Dumb Waiter The Dumb Waiter The Birthday Party The Birthday Party ► The Caretaker (1960)

4. Harold Pinter (1930- ) ► Screenplays ► He was influenced by the theater of the absurd, especially by Samuel Beckett and Eugene Ionesco. ► Pinter ’ s plays generally take place in a single and prison-like room which symbolizes the world of its occupants

5. Harold Pinter (1930- ) ► His works often focus on jealousy, betrayal, and sexual politics, and are known for the dialogue and the lack of dialogue. ► Pinter ’ s language has been described as poetic. ► Harold Pinter has been awarded the 2005 Nobel Prize for Literature.

6. Plot Summary ► Ben and Gus are waiting in a basement room for their assignment. ► Ben reads the newspaper articles and recites them out loud when he finds them interesting. ► Gus is pacing around the room nervously, and he complains constantly, including that he is haunted by the memory of their last victim, a girl.

7. Plot Summary ► In the back of the room is a dumb waiter. ► As these orders come in, the tension builds. ► Gus keeps asking Ben questions, and Ben refuses to answer (or even listen to) him. ► When Gus leaves the room to get a drink of water, Ben receives a message through the speaking tube that the man has arrived and they will execute their job.

8. Plot Summary ► Then Ben hangs up and calls for Gus. ► Ben levels his gun at the door and Gus stumbles in. Gus looks up at Ben, and they stares at each other through a long silence.

9. Themes ► The Silence and Violence of Language [The Theatre of Menace] [The Theatre of Menace]  Ben ’ s prominent response to Gus ’ s questions is silence.  Wilson has never appeared, he can give his malevolent message in silence.

10. Themes ► Miscommunication between ► Individuals  The language seems not to be with the function of communication.  There ’ s no communication between Wilson and the two assassins.

11. Themes ► Anxiety Over Social Class  Ben and Gus are both lower-class criminals.  Ben ’ s attitude

12. Characters ► Ben  He is the more dominant of the two criminals.  He considers they ’ re fortunate for having the job.  He also accepts whatever Wilson orders him.  He executes Wilson ’ s order and betrays Gus.

13. Characters ► Gus  Gus is slower junior partner to Ben, and generally submissive to Ben ’ s orders.  He is somewhat child-like.  He is actually more sensitive than Ben.  He is betrayed by Ben.

14. Symbol: The Dumb Waiter ► A small elevator used to convey food or other goods from one floor to another ► “ Dumb ” Waiter: the one who serves and waits for others is supposed to be “ dumb ” -- not express his own opinions but just to fulfill the master ’ s command and order

15. Study Questions ► What is the significance of the title: “ The Dumb Waiter ” ? ► What is the relationship between Ben and Gus? ► How do silence and pauses work in this play? ► What are Ben and Gus waiting for? ► What happens to Gus in the end of the play?

16. Works Cited and Consulted ► The Dumb Waiter by Harold Pinter and The Zoo Story by Edward Albee. 21 Mar. 2006.. ► Harold Pinter. Harold Pinter.org. 21 Mar. 2006.. ► Liu, Cecilia. Modern/Postmodern English Literature: The Dumb Waiter... ► Pinter, Harold. The Dumb Waiter. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. 7th ed. Vol. 2. Ed. M. H. Abrams, et al. New York: Norton, 2000. 2594-2616. ► Spark notes: The Dumb Waiter by Harold Pinter. 21 Mar. 2006..