1. Name-Bhatt Dhara. Roll No :- 2 M.A Part :-2 Sem :- 3 Paper No :-E-C 301 The Modernist Literature Pinter’s Art of Characterization Page -1

2. The Past Histories of the Characters Not very Helpful Pinter’s treatment of his themes and his characters in his plays is completely realistic. In The Birthday Party, almost every character gives us some account of his or her past life. Page -2

3. The Missing Links in the Characterization None of pinter’s characters are defined by their past history, because they are liable to distort it. When stanley first appears he is unshaven,he is wearing a Pyjama jacket,and he is wearing spectacles. Page -3

4. Individualized Characters Pinter’s does not believe in multiplicity of characters for a play . At first glance, The Birthday Party seems to present a set stock characters, the staple diet served by authors in popular comedy sketches. These characters appears to be instantly classifiable; they are flat and therefore unlikely to surprise anyone. Page -4

5. Convincing Characters The three inmates of the boarding-house(Meg, petey and Stanley), the next-door neighbour (Lulu) ,and the two intruders (Goldberg and McCann) have all been realistically portrayed. Their inter-relations and their encounters with one another have also convincingly been depicted. The one thing lacking is the motivation behind the actions of least three of the four principle characters. Page -5

6. The Symbolic Significance of Three Characters Goldberg and McCann have been regarded as possessing a symbolic significance. According to one view, the men are embodiments of Stanley's thoughts and personifications of Stanley’s sense of guilt. Messengers of death Agents of repressive society Representative force of corruption and violence Page -6

7. Conclusion Stanley Webber-Life of aloofness-Puzzling behavior Meg Boles-Petey’s wife –Good nature Petey Boles –Dull and ambitionless Nat Goldberg- Stranger Dermont McCann-stranger Page -7

8. Thank you Page -8