• dhanyashree

The ‘theatre of the absurd’, a term used to describe the new style of theatre which developed following the Second World War. The concept refers to the plays of the 1950s and 1960s which centre on the notion that life is illogical, without purpose and devoid of meaning. The absurd in life, art and literature arose due to several reasons. First of all, industrialization changed man’s social nature. Its by-product urbanization added a further dimension to it. The growth of science and technology furthered man’s scientific temperament and enquiry, thereby causing man’s disbelief in the God and religion and the impact of the First World War and The Second World War. The Birthday party was the first full length play of Pinter. The play depicts man’s helplessness and unease today. The Birthday Party seems a play can be understood easily yet it has elements which make it unique and absurd. The feature of absurdity such as unclarity of scenes dialogues and plot. The lack of communication is used so strongly that even a pause and silence tells much more which makes the play special. The play isn’t completely unconventional, it has the usual setting as of the cotemporary style but uniqueness is seen when surprise awaits in the form of imagery unusual circumstances and lack of dialogue or some time strange approaches. This play doesn’t go to explain everything easily through the dialogues but the play itself reveals much more than the common elements of the play.

Existentialism, Absurdity, Meaningless, Helplessness, Human Condition

"HAROLDPINTER’S ‘THE BIRTHDAY PARTY’ AS AN ABSURD PLAY", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 1, page no.684-688, January-2019, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1901692.pdf

"HAROLDPINTER’S ‘THE BIRTHDAY PARTY’ AS AN ABSURD PLAY", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.6, Issue 1, page no. pp684-688, January-2019, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1901692.pdf