Language Versus Violence: A Feminist Reading Of Identity And Power Pursuit In Harold Pinter's The Homecoming

As the most conspicuous play of Harold Pinter, The Homecoming concerns the power struggle and identity construction issues. This thesis focuses on male strategies to solidify their authority and confirm their identities, and also on female strategies to resist male aggression and the process to overthrow male dominance, thus to achieve power and establish their own identities independent of male's, and of male existence.This thesis consists of four parts. Chapter One gives a brief introduction to power struggle between genders and their identity issues in Pinter's works. Chapter Two is made of three sections. The first part focuses on male strategy in consolidating their dominance and authority. Usually, in Pinter's early and all-male plays, males resort to physical violence, while in his gender plays, they prefer verbal one. Confronted with the obvious or potential menace, males in The Homecoming exert their power without mercy. They attack whoever brings threats to their masculinity, male or female. The second part explores Pinter's female prototype. Regarding as secondary in social status, females are silenced, deprived of words. They are marginalized as the Other. The third part is about the female images in The Homecoming and verbal violence imposed on them by males of the family. Chapter Three engages itself with an analysis of female strategy—language, in gaining identity. Ruth tactically exercises language to counterattack, trying to construct her own individuality within the patriarchal society. She does make some success by actively joining in male's discussion of her exchange as a commodity and making her requirements clear. Chapter Four is the conclusion with the proposal that despite Ruth's strenuous struggle in gaining autonomy and integrity; however, her future remains uncertain. Without overthrowing the patriarchal structure, she is only a mimic of"the symbolic father".