Dramatic Elements in Pinter's the Dumb Waiter

Harold Pinter once said, "Life is much more mysterious than plays make it out to be. And it is this mystery which fascinates me" (qtd. in Kane 132). It is precisely this element of mystery that makes The Dumb Waiter intriguingly captivating. The predicament of Gus and Ben, two men trapped in a basement room, captures eloquently that which Martin Esslin described as the "metaphysical anguish and the absurdity of the human condition" (Esslin 23), that is recognized as a defining element of absurd theater. Pinter uses many dramatic devices and techniques by which to convey his political and personal statements. He discusses the systemic violence of the ‘system of capitalist slavery', while simultaneously problematizing the prevailing hierarchies in society. Through the relationship between the characters, the basement setting, silence, unexpected action, time, overt violence and the unknown subject, Pinter communicates his message by utilizing the genre of the ‘comedy of menace'.

The relationship between Gus and Ben is indeed of a complex nature. From the outset of the play there is a certain tension that seems to drive their association. Gus is continuously questioning the capitalist system when he chooses to discuss deep social issues such as the dull routine of life and the nature of their mysterious employer Wilson. Ben, however, chooses not to contemplate such thoughts and continuously avoids providing answers to the questions posed by Gus and moves on to discuss more trivial matters. This act of questioning on the part of Gus is characteristic of his disillusionment with the system, because he has come to the realization that the system is indeed unjust. He sees through the façade of Wilson and those in authority, thereby refusing to adhere blindly to their instructions. He is unafraid to question and confronts the hierarchy when he speaks to them harshly up the serving hatch, "WE'VE GOT NOTHING LEFT! NOTHING! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?" (Pinter 118). This rebellion on the part of Gus leads to his being victimized and singled out as a target at the conclusion of the play.

Ben, who is portrayed on the surface as the dominant partner in the relationship, is as much a victim of the system as Gus. He continuously refuses to engage in meaningful dialogue. This can be read as his feeling of unease with the purpose of the job. His actions too reflect this sense of discomfort as he is repeatedly described as being "anxious" and "nervous". Ben is portrayed as being a slave to the capitalist system because he blindly accepts the orders of the authority, including the order to annihilate his own partner. His betrayal is a manifestation of the power of the authority and its ability to manipulate and influence the lower classes and turn them against each other. Thereby, Ben is as much a victim as Gus even though he seems to be more in control. They both embody the purpose