ENg Lit

Part One- Discuss & analyze, The Homecoming by Harold Pinter, as an attack on modern intellectuals. In 5-7 paragraphs, professionally written with competent and complete college level content?

PART TWO - comment very briefly in one paragraph for each comment.

1. Regarding when Teddy speaks of “intellectual equilibrium,” in Pinter’s play, The Homecoming (1965), it is a performance readily associated with the phrase, Theatre of the Absurd. This phrase defined in The Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms means the “works that use absurdity as a device to depict the actual absurdity of the modern human condition, often with implicit reference to humanity’s loss or lack of religious, philosophical, or cultural roots” (Theatre of the Absurd). Therefore, viewed as an attack on modern intellectuals is best argued as a question: Who uses whom in the man-woman relationship?

Pinter’s theme and assessment exposing issues relating to gender roles is a great subject of debate when it comes to values embedded in sex and power. For example, in the Homecoming, the character Ruth’s welcoming into the home is depicted as a woman having to weather verbal abuse and the intimidation of violence, as well as psychological cruelty in order to survive. Even more so, it is unimaginable why she would choose to stay in this home. From the beginning, Max assessment, “There hasn’t been a whore in this house since your mother died,” is indeed a mix of absurdity at all levels because Pinter is careful to guide the audience to a topic and method by which the female will prevail in the end. But if absurdity gives rise to the power struggles between men and women by showing a woman’s capability to persuade or control a man is based on her sexual prowess, it is for good reason the “Me-Too-Movement” is so relevant in defense of the attack on modern intellectuals.NV

2. Culture of “The Homecoming” is set in the 60s.  In a typical household during this time, the woman would stay home and take care of the house and kids while the man would go to work and provide.  Therefore, modern intellectuals during this time may have thought outside of this spectrum and felt that woman were able to branch out of the domestic lifestyle and have a life of their own.

When Ruth does in fact demonstrate this lifestyle of having her own life, it is clear to the audience that this is not a favorable decision.  Hence, the author is attacking this modern way of thinking.  He is casting her decision in a negative light with the dysfunction and moral misconduct that surrounds her.  Therefore, it is clear that this play attacks modern intellectuals and their new ways of thinking.BA

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