Themes

Question 1

Symbolism of blind mans bluff

Answer 1

Dictatorial regimes keeping people ignorant to control them , interrogation of Stanley , pauses , black out - ‘Mccaan switches out the light, comes back and shines a torch in Stanley’s face .’

Question 2

What does the banality do

Answer 2

Reflects the state of the bystander , carrying on as normal after atrocities have been committed
Beginning - ‘was it dark? ‘ ‘no it was light’ return to banal conversation despite what has been done to Stanley , Petey ‘Reading.’ Meg - ‘Is it good’

Question 3

Why do they avoid communication

Answer 3

Maintaining ignorance is a form of power

Question 4

Why do Goldberg and McCann create disorder and chaos

Answer 4

In order to control everyone

Question 5

Why does Pinter use pause

Answer 5

Lack of speech becomes speech meg - where’s Stan ?pause Is Stan down yet, Petey ?
Stanley - ‘I’ve … er …. I’ve been offered a job as a matter of fact’
Silence is used by Pinter to express heaistation meaningless of communication and is a better form of expression than words

Question 6

What is the audience in

Answer 6

Ignorance characters are formulated by their past but we don’t know what their past is although Pinter wanted the director to know what their past was

Question 7

What happens when Goldberg is called simey

Answer 7

Name change creates confusion audience unaware of Goldbergs true identity violent fit seizes Goldberg showing underlying violence of the dictator charm is a facade , ‘murderously. Don’t call me that!’
Pinter wanted to shock the audience

Question 8

How does Pinter mix genres

Answer 8

Tragedy split by comic one liners , aspects of melodrama (drum) mixed with domestic realism

Question 9

What does the erosion of Stanley’s indentity signify

Answer 9

Similar to the erosion of identity in a totalitarian state , bp is about the control of the individual and truth alllows the individual to stand against the state .

Question 10

Goldberg’s boasting

Answer 10

Long monologues of nostalgia boasting and fantasy show the bravado of the dictator
- ‘culture ? Don’t talk me to about culture.’ Goldberg’s arrogance and impersonal language reflect the use of charisma to uphold tyranny . Exaggerates cliche - ‘good? Pure ? She wasn’t a Sunday school teacher for nothing ‘ - hyperbolic exaggeration to present himself as a positive member of society

Question 11

Random victimisation of Stanley is similar to

Answer 11

Joseph K in ‘the Trial’ ‘accosted in his own home’

Question 12

How is Goldberg a cliche of power and dominance and what is the significance of his background

Answer 12

Says ‘mention my name ‘, comes from strong cultural background as does McCann showing harmful impacts of orthodoxy and its destruction of identity and selfhood. Their backgrounds exert strict control over their followers reflected in Goldberg and McCaans desire to control Stanley

Question 13

How does Pinter allude to news manipulation

Answer 13

High levels of espionage and and news manipulation when Pinter write the BP , Goldberg says ‘true ? It’s more than true . It’s a fact ‘ paradox shows absurdity of the post truth world where information is only validated through authority figures , lending them ultimate control of the world around them.

Question 14

Change of tone

Answer 14

Sudden change of Goldberg’s tone from charming incinsere cliches to ‘quiet official tone ‘ calls Stanley ‘out subject ‘

Question 15

How can Goldberg infiltrate Stanley’s privacy and indentity

Answer 15

Authoritative tone never challenged
‘We’re going to remind him. We’re going to give him a party ‘ demonstartes immorality of tyrannical regimes that seek to control individuals who have little say in the matter .

Question 16

What does the drum do

Answer 16

Infantilises Stanley and pushes him into a primate infantile state allowing Goldberg and mccaan to break him down
‘His shoulders sag ‘
‘Beat becomes erratic, uncontrolled ‘ loss of senses builds pathos

Question 17

Poor treatment of lulu

Answer 17

‘Who used who?’

Hipocicy of those in power

Question 18

Interrogation of Stanley Forcing him to join the lunacy

Answer 18

‘How many fingers do you use ?’
‘No hands ‘
Language games use to divert attention

Question 19

Meg patronising Stanley

Answer 19

‘You’re a liar, a little liar’

Keeps him under her control

Question 20

How is Stanley a guilty victim

Answer 20

Anxious at the arrival of 2 men , ‘(pacing the room) Here? they wanted to come here ?’

Question 21

Short sentences and idealism

Answer 21

‘A good one , too. A night club. In Berlin ‘

Question 22

Inconsistencies

Answer 22

Surrounding Stanley’s background is his nostalgia fabricated - ‘ my farther nearly came down to see me ‘ , meg ‘his father brought him champagne ‘

Question 23

Stanley already broken down

Answer 23

‘You could do with a shave , do you know that ?’

Question 24

How does Pinter show Stanley desperate for freedom

Answer 24

‘rises and walks to the window ‘ entrapped by meg then entrapped by Goldberg

Question 25

Control of information

Answer 25

McCann ‘tearing a sheet of newspaper into five equal strips ‘

Question 26

Stanley feels he is innocent but coerced into feeling guilty

Answer 26

Victimised , Goldberg - ‘where was your wife ?’ Stanley ‘in-‘ then says ‘what wife ?’ McCann ‘you throttled her ‘ , stereotypical crime victimises Stanley

Question 27

Meg’s suspicion

Answer 27

Bystander senses something wrong Stanley worms her of men and a wheelbarrow and then asks ‘is there a wheelabaroow in it’

Question 28

Name changes

Answer 28

Petey says ‘your friend - dermot ‘ whereas god berg says ‘seamus who came before your father ?’ Name change audience in ignorance about the truth , Goldberg draws on ideas of a dynasty to evoke the sense of the dictators right to power .

Question 29

Interrogation of Stanley

Answer 29

Tell him how to feel McCann ‘ you’re a dead duck ‘, Stanley no sense of truth allows him to be manipulated ‘but we can save you’ Goldberg , McCann ‘you’ll be rich ‘Stanley ‘attempts to speak, fails and emits sounds from his throat ‘ speech taken away play is about the power of language

Question 30

Peteys behaviour

Answer 30

‘Moving downstage what about a doctor ?’ Attempts to save Stanley and stand up to authority figures , won’t except cliche of a ‘nervous breakdown ‘ but when his own personal security is threatened he stops standing up for Stanley , Goldberg - ‘inidisously why don’t you come with us , mr boles ?’ Petey joins Goldberg and McCann in concealing what has been done to Stanley ‘yes, he’s ... still asleep ‘

Question 31

How is meg manipulated by Goldberg

Answer 31

Forced to drink too much , ‘oh, mr Goldberg , what should I drink ?’ Manipulated into not rmebering ‘we had dancing and signing. And games ‘ self centres ‘I was the belle of the ball’

Question 32

Why is Goldberg never challenged

Answer 32

Authoritative tone , ‘we’re going to remind him. We’re going to give him a party.’ , infiltrate Stanley’s privacy and identity , immorality of tyrannical regimes seek to control individuals who have little say in the matter

Question 33

Why is Stanley not an innocent victim

Answer 33

Innocent made to feel guilty in the modern world . Corrupted victims in east Germany, spy on their neighbours

Question 34

What effect does nostalgia have

Answer 34

Draw people over , show the corruption of humanity that dictators were once normal human beings too

Question 35

What is the efffect of language games

Answer 35

Diverts attention

Question 36

How does pinters poem ‘a view of the party ‘ inform our reading of the play?

Answer 36

Petey is a guilty bystander , saw the party

Question 37

How does godmverg speak like an entertainer

Answer 37

Through rhetorical patterning , ‘What a thing to celebrate- birth !’

Question 38

What is the impact of rhyme in the interrogation scene

Answer 38

Creates poetic language juxtaposing inhumane behaviour

Question 39

How is act 3 a reprise

Answer 39

Return to meaningless banal conversation , ‘I’ve run out of cornflakes ‘

Question 40

How is Petey aware something has been done to Stanley ,

Answer 40

quickly ‘no don’t do that, meg. Let him sleep.’

Question 41

How is tragedy worsened

Answer 41

As it is amusing eg darkness farcical yet terrifying , Mcacnn ‘ Let go of me!’ Goldberg ‘who’s this ?’

Question 42

How does Stanley violently defend himself against the oppressor

Answer 42

‘His hands move towards her throat ‘

Question 43

How does meg feign innocence

Answer 43

Stereotypical connection between Goldberg and Stanley , ‘Do you think they know each other ? I think they’re old friends .’

Question 44

Homecoming verification of the truth

Answer 44

We don’t know Sam is the best taxi driver

Question 45

Violence in the caretaker

Answer 45

Bullying of Ashton , in the birthday party violence is more concealed lik in a totalitarian regime , sudden silencing of Stanley not explicit how this occurs

Question 46

Contrast between characters and dialogue

Answer 46

Characters are more realistic creating absurd world yet dialogue and banality create mundane world , similar to 1984

Question 47

What did Pinter believe in

Answer 47

Importance of individual , hated collectivism , loss of autonomy under hegemony

Question 48

How does Goldberg exploit lulu

Answer 48

‘You got the needle to Uncle Natey?’ Cliche and sensen of childhood security used to charm Lulu into doing his bidding , ‘kiss and makeup’ forcefulness painted as innocent fun . Impersonal language reflects use of charisma by tyrannical figures

Question 49

Monologue effect

Answer 49

Show show Goldberg dominates those around him and utilises speaking skills to enforce control

Question 50

Toast juxtaposition

Answer 50

‘Mazel Tov! And may we only meet at simchas!’ Immediately after instructs McCann ‘turns n out the light’ cekbeatoy language juxtaposed with sinister instruction , Goldberg can mask malevolence and exploit people

Question 51

Lulu cast as guilty victim

Answer 51

Goldberg ‘who opened the briefcase , me or you ?’ Unspecified briefcase leaves audience in ignorance of the truth , reflecting the state of characters on stage , past is a continuous mystery placing Lulu in a state of insecurity as she is reliant on Goldberg for information

Question 52

How does Pinter show exploitation in the post war world ?

Answer 52

Weak are preyed on by authority figures , Goldberg and McCann further Meg’s exploitation of Stanley , ‘ picks up the drum and places it sideways in Stanley’s path. Stanley walks into the drum and falls over with his foot caught in it.’ Physical disable Stanley with megs tool of exploitation

Question 53

Not an innconcent victim breakdown

Answer 53

‘All those years I lived in Baskingstoke I never stepped outside the door’, beginning of breakdown not inncincent and inconsistent , previously claimed to live in Maidenhead

Question 54

What’s significance of a party

Answer 54

Redirects false promises of totalitarian regimes that promise utopia but deliver life of terror

Question 55

False confession in Soviet Union

Answer 55

Stanley asked ‘where’s your wife ‘’in-‘ ‘what wife?’ ‘You throttled her’ cliched crime manipulates and vilified by Goldberg and McCann

Question 56

How does Stanley initially tests

Answer 56

‘Looks up slowly and kicks Goldberg in the stomach ‘ contacts act 3 interrogation where he ‘shows no reaction ‘ maniyoakted by state with false promises ‘ you’ll be rich ‘

Question 57

Why is Stanley’s monologues less believable

Answer 57

Inconsistencies and memories of powerlessness unlike Goldberg who references his virtuousity

Question 58

What is the significance of glasses being taken away

Answer 58

Weak and destroyed , lost one of his senses and is now vulnerable , infajrilsi d by Goldberg like meg ‘ why do you behave so badly Webber?’, blindness represents blindness to the Cruelty of others , playing blind mans bluff allows them to torment Stanley

Question 59

Power cadence if interrogation

Answer 59

‘Rheumatic ‘ ‘myopic ‘ epileptic’ builds menace and demonstrates oppression .

Question 60

Why is the play set within one room

Answer 60

Claustrophobic , tabley can’t escape invasion by Goldberg and McCann is an extreme breach of privacy . Stanley has protection in boarding house , retreated from society , meg acts as a mother , safe atmosphere broken and Stanley is physically blocked ‘ Stanley walks around the table towards the door. McCann meets him.’ Physically blocked unavkAt to escape, represents the spirit of defiance .

Question 61

How are audiences left in ignorance

Answer 61

Characters do not act according to reason , impacted by their past which is a mystery

Question 62

Why is mockery masked by grace and concern

Answer 62

Based on the cockney pissyake , underlying violence and hunt of distance Menance

Question 63

What does Stanley do instead of accepting his identity

Answer 63

Tries to justify himself through bluff and pretense. Little control disables an dhelplesa by loss of glasses ‘ could I have my glasses?’ ‘Stanley stands blindfold . McCann backs slowly across the stage to the left. He breaks Stanley’s glasses snapping the frames ‘ Stanley desperate for dinigy, McCann ‘he tried to fit the eyeholes into his Hess ‘

Question 64

How can language be used as a weapon

Answer 64

Abuse overpower demoralise victims , concerns of the state disregard the individual .

Question 65

Banal conservation over cornflakes

Answer 65

‘Are they nice ?’ Very nice ‘ ‘ I though they’d be nice ‘

Question 66

How does meg patronise Stanley

Answer 66

‘You’re a liar, a little liar’ Stanley offensive to meg ‘you’re a bad wife ‘

Question 67

What does goldbergs fast Rythmn show

Answer 67

Answers immediately megs question over time of the party , ‘ nine ocklock ‘ fast Rythmn shows ultimate control and premeditation .

Question 68

Audience left in anticipation

Answer 68

Meg ‘do you know them?’ ‘Stanley does not answer’ sinister

Question 69

How does Stanley not know himself

Answer 69

Doesn’t know his birthday , ‘it’s your birthday , Stan. I was going to keep it a secret until tonight

Question 70

McCann desire to exert control

Answer 70

‘McCann holds the grip’ tells Stanley how to feel about his birthday , Stanley ‘that’s unfortunate’ mcannn ‘ah no. It’s very nice.’

Question 71

Double act of Goldberg and McCann

Answer 71

Builds intimidation

Question 72

How does mundane life carry on through brutality

Answer 72

Sense of injustice eroded , meg ‘isn’t the light in his eyes ‘ Peetey ‘what about a doctor?’ ‘I think I’ll see how my peas are getting on , in the meantime’joins McCann in concealing what has been done to Stanley ‘yes, he’s ...still asleep

Question 73

Goldberg as a director

Answer 73

‘Beautiful ! A beautiful speech. Put the light on .’

Question 74

How is Stanley dehumanised

Answer 74

Power of speech taken away ‘Stanley concentrates , his mouth opens , he attempts to speak, fails ‘ Unable to talk , society silences the free thinking individual

Question 75

Nostalgia

Answer 75

``` ‘I’d say hello to the little boys , little girls’ ‘Simey! My old mum used to shout’ ‘I’ll be moving soon. Back home .’ ‘No place like home ‘ ‘ I used to live very quietly ‘ ‘‘ ```

Question 76

Goldberg false childhood

Answer 76

Violent eruption after being called simey, ‘murderously , ‘Dont call me that ! He seizes McCann by the throat NEVER CALL ME THAT!’ ‘Benny, benny he said come, here.’ He was dying’

Question 77

Belle of the ball significance

Answer 77

Meg’s certainty of untruth , how can we know anything to be true