POLITICAL DISCOURSE IN PINTER’S PLAYS

Abstract

This paper explores how Harold Pinter's plays One for the Road and Mountain Language confront authoritarianism and the abuse of power, themes pervasive throughout his work. While these plays represent a shift toward an explicitly political stance, Pinter maintains that the conflict between individual freedom and authoritarian repression has always been present in his writing. In One for the Road, Pinter draws on his experiences with Amnesty International, exposing totalitarian cruelty, psychological manipulation, and the violent suppression of dissent. His characters, such as Victor and Nicholas, embody the brutal struggle between ideological commitment and oppressive power. Mountain Language further explores these themes, addressing the suppression of language as a metaphor for silencing minority voices. Pinter uses Foucault's insights into state control to illustrate a society where individuality is punished and dissenting voices are suppressed. Ultimately, Pinter’s characters, through their quiet resilience, embody a powerful critique of institutionalized cruelty, presenting a harrowing warning about the erosion of human rights and the destructive potential of unchecked power.