Betrayal - Pinter - Drama Flashcards
Awkward, stilted conversation shows the remnants of a lost love in Scene 1. Both unwilling to talk about themselves.
Jerry - “Well…”
Emma - “Long time” Jerry - “Yes. It is.” (Pause) “How’s it going? The gallery?”
What is strange about the play’s structure? What is the effect of this?
Backward chronology - This gives the audience the gift of foresight. As the play progress’, the audience brings to each scene a growing knowledge of what the romantic triangle will be like in the future. Creates an elaborately woven, layered story.
Neither Emma nor Jerry want to reveal anything personal about themselves - scared to face past? Emma answers Jerry with a question - linguistic power struggle, they are both trying to get upper hand in conversation.
Jerry - “How’s Robert?” Emma - “When did you last see him?” Jerry - “Why?” Emma - “Why what?”
One of the main features of Pinter’s work, creates a more awkward and naturalistic conversation.
“Pause.”
Double-standards about betrayal - Emma selfishly seems upset that her husband has been betraying her for years, even though she has been betraying him too.
Emma: “He’s betrayed me for years.”
Jerry: “But we betrayed him for years.”
Emma: “And he betrayed me for years.”
Looking back in hindsight Emma and Jerry talk about how they tried to make their flat a home - to legitimise their affair.
Jerry: “it could never… actually be a home. You have a home. I have a home. With curtains, et cetera.”
Emma says empty words - a bravado - to try and conceal her true feelings about their affair. She is crude and rude and true to belittle what they had to better cope.
Jerry: “I saw it as a flat… you know.”
Emma: “For fucking.”
Jerry: “No, for loving.”
Jerry is afraid to admit his feelings straight to Emma for fear of her reaction so is very indirect. He removes the emotion from this statement about love.
Jerry: “I don’t think we don’t love each other.”
Emma: “Ah well.”
