The clash of absurdity and reality in Harold Pinter’s Play The Dumb waiter Introduction Harold Pinter’s play is an excellent example between absurdity and reality. Developed within the anti-literary movement known as the Theater of the Absurd, the play forgoes its characteristics and blends absurd, surface realism and farce elements into a fascinating story between two hitmen, Gus and Ben who are getting ready for their mission, while awaiting instructions from a higher master, in a windowless basement. The play is built on realistic setting, characters, and conversations from the early twentieth century in a plot which highlights the absurdity of existence in timeless manner. The essay attempts to illustrate how the reality and absurdity interact in the Pinter’s Play The Dumb Waiter, and what is the take away story of the clash. Surface Realism The Dumb Waiter is developed on surface realism. Surface realism is defined as the attempt from the author to input minimal realistic elements into the play to make it look real. Within the Dumb Waiter, Pinter uses the traditional notion of his days reflected in the setting i.e. the room of the play, the characters, and the everyday meaningless conversations they have.
