Melancholic Post-War Human Affliction – The Birthday Party (Harold Pinter)

The play The Birthday Party delineates the predicaments faced by the people in the second half of the 20th century. It represents the existential problems among the post-war generations who have given up life and stuck in utter seclusion.  Life in post-war period is seen as a dark-phase in the history of England. The circumstances were completely unfavourable to sustain and lead a life in the certain optimistic mood. Pinter has portrayed this sense of being and existence in dramatic approach through his narratives giving the image of menace and suffering in post-war period. He employs psychological devices to present melancholic post-war human affliction. 

     The play depicts mental and nervous breakdown of post-war individuals and their ontological predicaments that human society profusely experienced. The threat that has colonized the hearts of post-war individuals has disabled them both physically and mentally. Absurd individuals do not want to get exposed to external world and experience fear of strangers. Stanley feels the extreme fear from the world outside and, so he chooses to put himself in isolation. Stanley finds refuge in Meg and Petey at the boarding house and the moment he is informed by Meg about the visit of two gentlemen he loses his temper and begins to act strangely in a violent manner.  

      The play reflects the state of mid-20th century youth—lost and hopeless. The idle and unpleasant life that Stanley lives is noticed by Meg’s next-door neighbour Lulu. She notices the absurd attitude of Stanley and desires him to feel calm and relaxed, and abandon all worries and miseries. From Stanley’s nonsensible activities, we observe that he has been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder that repeatedly overwhelms him in the course of the play.

    The post-war individuals struggle for dominance over one another, and initiate their interaction in an aggressive fashion. This we detect in Stanley’s first encounter with Goldberg and McCann where he strives to achieve supremacy. Goldberg has been the dominating figure in all events since his arrival into the house. He scolds Stanley many times for his foolish behaviour. Depressed Stanley behaves in a rude way with Goldberg.

       Thus, the play reflects the ridiculous state of the individuals in the second half of the 20th century.  The modern life at each and every instance shocked the general folk in the post-war Western society. The play declares the multidimensional chaos, arbitrariness and illogical episodes at their virtual facades. It reinforces the idea of discreet solution to the existing human predicaments that have ailed and crippled the societies.