Harold Pinter’s Language Style with a Focus on Silence and Pause

Abstract

Silence and Pause mark one of Pinter’s dramatic features in terms of its language style. They are important elements in creating the dramatic tension in his plays. Thus, the way to explain silence and pause has become an important factor in understanding Pinter’s language. Silence and Pause are more effective and powerful in revealing the characters’ anger, fear and desperation than words. At the same time, they can create a kind of menacing aura which intensifies the dramatic tension. With the skillful employment of silence and pause, the playwright asks the audience to be an active participant in the psychological activity of the character. For the playwright, the dialogue, silence and pause have equal status in terms of communication. Language, silence and pause could communicate in some specific contexts. Pinter is good at using the strategy in which the characters use both language and silence at the same time. The thesis intends to use textual analysis to observe the creativity of Pinter’s language with a view to helping readers have a deeper understanding of the dramatic art of Pinter’s dramas.