The Endless Pursuit Of Identity

Harold Pinter, the Nobel Prize laureate in literature of 2005, is one of the most important contemporary British playwrights. His distinct style is specified as"pinteresque", which has been incorporated into The Oxford English Dictionary. His playwriting career has spanned more than four decades, from the silenced post-war world and the clamorous post-modern age. His early works mainly focus on metal anxiety, existential fear and antagonistic interpersonal relationship of human being in post-war world. The depth he explores in humanity has endowed his works with"uniquely strong and inspiring"contexts for nearly half a century.The Homecoming, acknowledged by most critics as Pinter's most important work, is a triumph of craftsmanship and artistic intention. From the perspective of identity politics in social studies, this thesis attempts to trace the social psychological motivations behind the main characters, and to dig the deep motive of this play. Ruth, whose self-awareness awakens in the unsatisfied marriage, is an image of New Woman in post-war Britain. In the patriarchal family, by using the power of sexuality and her own wit, she takes control of the male members and realizes her gender identity. The violent conversations among the family members make the home far away from the"home"in the traditional sense. Family though they are, they treat each other hostilely and strive ruthlessly for the authority in the house so as to verify their own identity in the family. Additionally, the behaviors, for example, Teddy's exile from his under-class family six years ago, his over-rational and calm action when coming home as a philosophical professor after six years, and the repeated challenges from Lenny who is the representative of the working class, all reveal their desire for the realization of the class identity. As a matter of fact, the reason for the struggles between two sexes, two family members or two classes can be all ascribed to the pursuit of identity. The sense of insecurity caused by WWII drives them to strive for authority and power to verify their identities and the meaning of existence. The Homecoming is of great social significance in reflecting the western world after the Second World War. Beneath the struggle for authority and power in this play, Pinter conveys the mental dilemma of human being in postwar Britain, that is, the endless pursuit of identity.