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INFORMATION:
➢ Homecoming: written in 1964, First played in June 1965
Post-Modernist theater, theater of cruelty, Drama of human relationships
= This is a simple play and yet the text resists closure, elevates ambiguity
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Was evacuated from the city during the bombing of WW2
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2005: awarded the Nobel Prize of Literature
➢ Summary: Teddy, with his wife Ruth, returns to the family home to visit his two brothers, his father and
uncle, Lenny, Joey, Max, and Sam
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➢ Main question left at the end: who’s homecoming is it? Teddy’s or Ruth’s?
➢ Tragicomic drama: mix of violence (shocking) and burlesque (ridiculous)
Pinter invites the spectator to ‘live through’ the experiences of a group of people in a virtual universe
that operates in parallel to his or her everyday world
➢ Arrival of Teddy and Ruth = disturbing action

POWER OF SEXUALITY:
➢ Ruth is the only woman in the play but she appears to defeat the men’s power through her sexuality as
she slowly takes control over the household
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When they first arrive at the house, Teddy tries to get her to sit and then to sleep but Ruth easily asserts
her power over him: she will do as she pleases, including taking a walk at night
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➢ Upon meeting, Lenny and Ruth go into ‘a battle of wits’
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he thinks this is going
to have the effect of a bombshell but Ruth destabilizes him by asking why instead of saying yes or no
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She makes
clever use of timing here and the effects on Lenny is to stop him dead in his tracks
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= Ruth tells him to “sit on [her] lap”, “lie on the floor” and “have a sip” from her glass
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she uses the stereotypes Lenny wants to cast her into against him
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Ruth has subdued Lenny to her will and this will
serve as a model for her tactics with the other men!
➢ Max eccentric reaction of hitting Joey when he says he is “an old man” can be explained by Ruth’s
presence: he does this to show Ruth he is the one in charge, to prove his power and authority, wants to
show this is an all-male household; So before he has even said a single word to him, she already has
control over him
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In the end, Max backs down, changes the subject and
walks away
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She wants control,
and this gives her freedom to act as she wishes
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➢ Lenny puts on a record of slow jazz to have a final dance with her before she leaves
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Again, when
Ruth is openly seductive with Joey, we see how manipulative Ruth can be as she has no intention of
truly going any further with him
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This gives him power over most women he deals with because he has the upper hand,
and controls them
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➢ When introduce their plan to Ruth to invite her to be a “kind of guest” and imply her role as a prostitute,
Ruth begins to play along with the idea but gradually imposes her own terms such as demanding a flat
with 3 rooms and a bathroom, and “personal conveniences”
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➢ Play interesting because Ruth gain of control is progressive, she is slowly starting one aspect of their
lives after the other
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Though in his case, he is only attempting to use sexuality, but everytime is a
failed attempt because Ruth’s sexuality is much more powerful
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➢ Maybe sexuality is why Jessie was “the backbone to this family”: she had sexuality; And since her
death, the huge lack of sexuality in the household has allowed to go into chaos

STRUGGLE FOR SUPREMACY:
➢ The characters try to exert power through various means: intelligence, sexuality, and violence
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Max uses violence, Ruth
uses sexuality, and in the end, those using intelligence (Lenny Teddy and Sam) seem to always be
overpowered
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from the very beginning, tries to exert his power through violence: he is shown as the patriarchal
head of the household
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➢ Violence is shown as a tool for violence: Lenny (in his 30’s - arrogant and self assured pratt) is being
particularly vulgar to defy his father’s authority, says is father is a “daft prat” and a “stupid sod” =
constantly undermines his father’s authority
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➢ This household is a place of power struggle, lack of respect, and impious attitudes: this all comes back
to the characters’ animal instincts of hunger and sexual needs = it is the survival of the fittest
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While Max is
perfectly content with the explicit power he exerts over his brother, Sam uses the implicit as a weapon
and a tool for his quiet rebellion, a way to take his revenge for his submission + when sam explains his
job to Max, he makes it simple for him to understand, as if he was an idiot = other way for him to rebel
without max noticing it
Max tells Sam is he a “grub” and a “maggot” = he is a parasite
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] when the firm gets rid of [him]” = only empty threats,
pretends he still has enough power to do it
➢ Ruth/Teddy: Instead of using force and violence, like the men of the household, Ruth uses her sexuality
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Teddy has no power whatsoever over her = change in the natural balance of power
➢ Lenny and Ruth’s power games:
- Language games = As soon as she comes in, Lenny talks to her as if they were old friends
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Wants to appear as the social middle class man, and wants her to be the
submissive woman who entertains him
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However, she immediately destabilizes him by refusing
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Lenny tries to act as an
intellectual by using sophisticated vocabulary, and implies that they often have parties (tries to
appear sociable)
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Lenny refused and beat her, even contemplated killing her, but decided against it
because he simply couldn’t be bothered → tries to come across as a brooding macho, dangerously
violent and impulsive man
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She finds a flaw in his story and picks on it to set him off
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- Mind games = Lenny uses physical objects in his attempt to impose his will on Ruth
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She refuses to obey him, counters him, defies his
attempt to impose his power
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he thinks
this is going to have the effect of a bombshell but Ruth simply turns the tables on him by asking
why instead of saying yes or no
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She
makes clever use of timing here and the effects on Lenny is to stop dead in his tracks
...

= Ruth tells him to “sit on [her] lap”, “lie on the floor” and “have a sip” from her
glass
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Despite the fact he does none of these things she clearly has the power and control
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This is
power struggle between the two men: the son is trying to replace his father (Is Lenny insinuating that he
was never conceived by Max? Addresses the subject to bug Max?) It’s a taboo subject: makes it it
excruciatingly uncomfortable for the audience to sit and listen to it
When Sam comes from the kitchen, where he’s been doing the dishes
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Seems to always be attacking the same thing = a regular thing, Sam just ignores Max, he
doesn’t even seem care about the insults
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He is not in
control anymore
Joey says that Max is “an old man”: not that big of an insult and yet Max still hits him for it (again he
uses violence as a last resort to regain power)
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However, Max eccentric reaction can also be explained by Ruth’s presence: he does this to show Ruth
he is the one in charge, to prove his power and authority, wants to show this is an all-male household;
So before he has even said a single word to him, she already has control over him
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Addresses her by “Miss” = this is provocative because it suggests that she is unmarried
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In the end, Max backs down and changes the subject and walking
away
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EX: Max asks Ruth if she is a good cook to remind her that in this house,
the woman’s place is in the kitchen
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➢ Ruth uses her leg: She wants to remind them that life is not about men, it’s about her
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Her main advantage is sexual charm, which gives her
power: she is lowering herself to a seual object and yet she still controls them
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This is obviously
provocation towards Teddy as they all seem to know this to be part of the sexual games
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Ruth has been deliberately tantalising him to ultimately refuse him her
favors when they are together in his bedroom
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She goes even to
threatening that if her demands are not met she “wouldn’t be content”
➢ Play ends with Ruth sitting in the armchair, in a place of power, with Joey resting his head on her lap
and Max on the floor, calling her (“Do you hear me?”), yearning for her attention
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The whole play happens in this one room: Pinter shows the characters in their
natural habitat
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Totally unsociable, locked in (with the audience!)
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These are people who are acting
unacceptably for the norm, there are completly recluse from society → makes us feel pity for them
➢ The first exchange of the play Max/Lenny is very one-sided communication, no real discussion
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➢ Sam enters: Both old man start rambling on about their past lives
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Sam = explains what he did that
day and why he’s the best chauffeur in the firm
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➢ Max is a lonely old man and he tries to open up with football by proposing to go to a football match
with Joey because he does not want to go alone
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➢ Dystopia = sinful society, full of mistakes (quite frightening)
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➢ When Lenny first meets Ruth, he offers her an aperitif in an attempt to impress her with his
sophistication
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POWER OF LANGUAGE:
➢ Sam seems to leave a lot of things unsaid when talking about his job and Jessie
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Sam suggests tacit meanings and there is a lot of ambiguity as the spectator is left to
guess what is implied: “She was your wife
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] it was my pleasure
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Here, in Max first conversation with
Sam, Sam’s use of the implicit is a weapon, a tool for his quiet rebellion, a way to take his revenge for
his submission
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He offers her an
aperitif in an attempt to impress her with his sophistication and refinement but she immediately
destabilizes him by refusing
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Lenny tries to act as an intellectual by using sophisticated vocabulary, and implies that
they often have parties (tries to appear sociable)
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Lenny refused and beat her, even contemplated killing her, but decided against it because he simply
couldn’t be bothered → tries to come across as a brooding macho, dangerously violent and
impulsive man
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➢ When Max feigns the considerate and loving father, Pinter explores how people use language
insincerely (other example Lenny with Ruth!)
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➢ When Max is speaking to Ruth, he uses very polite and very conventional language which is very
different to his usual speaking habits: “I’m glad you like it”, “this is a very lovely cup of tea”
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➢ Lenny mockes the sophistication of Teddy by caricaturing the vision of the American lifestyle, which
contrasts hugely with their way of life:
- Bermuda shorts = Fashionable clothes, unisex clothes, freedom of emancipation, whereas they have
to buy their clothes in thrift shops, very restricted
- Deutch Gin = expansive, imported luxury goods, symbol of wealth, while they all drink cheap,
unsophisticated alcohol
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➢ In the last moments of the play, Max loses control over language and begins to stutter before falling to
his knees, clutching his stick = complete and utter loss of all his power

LACK OR FAILURE OF COMMUNICATION:
➢ The first exchange of the play Max/Lenny is very one-sided communication, no real discussion
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The only real conversation they are able to have is quarrelling
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Max = talks about his past and his
special understanding of horses, how he was the best at calming them
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They are basically talking to themselves, no real
conversation is taking place
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➢ Pinter uses pauses to accentuate the family’s lack of communication
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Theses pauses are used to changed subject by one character to avoid
another: “You’re getting demented” says Lenny “ PAUSE
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However this is an extremely awkward moment because he does not know how to communicate his
feeling, and this is ultimately why his attempt for bonding fails
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Tries to
appear cultured and experienced by talking about italian politics and about Venice like he’s actually
been there = shows he does not know how to hold a conversation (not used to it at all), normally, one
would ask about the details and how well it went instead of only talking about themselves → these
continued failed attempts to hold a conversation with her will continue all throughout the play
➢ The men communicate with cliches and have no original language patterns
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➢ Teddy’s depart is completely absurd as Max and Teddy part as if they were on good terms

DRAMATIC IMPORTANCE OF PAUSES AND SILENCE:
➢ Pinter: “We communicate only to well, in our silence, in what is left unsaid”
The Pinteresque Pause = One of Pinter’s hallmarks is his use of pauses: Creates tension, way to leave
something unsaid (more important than what is said), makes it excruciatingly uncomfortable for the
audience → especially important because they are what indicate that what is significant is left unsaid
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➢ Especially interesting because there is no difficult vocabulary, but paradoxically, the play can be
difficult to understand because of what is not said!
➢ Pinter uses pauses to accentuate the family’s lack of communication
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Theses pauses are used to
changed subject by one character to avoid another: “You’re getting demented” says Lenny “ PAUSE
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➢ Pauses are used to let the doubt set into the audience’s mind
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This leaves us thinking: ‘What is he insinuating?!’
➢ Blackout = all the lights are turned off → isolates the audience
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➢ When Ruth is speaking, the pauses become sensual, emphasis on the ambiguity of her words and
actions
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RELATIONSHIPS:
➢ Max’s relationship with Lenny is quite complex because of their constant conflicts and this omnipresent
struggle to have authority over the other
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They alternate between peace and war, but they always reach a kind of
continuous truce
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Both sides are getting hurt and yet no one is winning,
the relationship just keeps on deteriorating = stand off between them
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➢

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No, please”
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Max’s relationship with Sam is one of standoffs with threatening undertones
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This is how a balance of power is maintained
between them: Sam never provokes him directly, only by insinuation, and though Max does not seem to
understand what he is insinuating and is perfectly content with the explicit power he exerts over his
brother, Sam uses the implicit almost as a weapon, a tool for his quiet rebellion, a way to take his
revenge for his submission
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Ruth, however, is
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There is no emotion in their discussion, they are both incredibly stoic
upon seeing the other, making the encounter all the more awkward for the audience (implied sibling
rivalry?)
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Max proposes to go to a football match with Joey who refuses
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He has a much better relationship with him because Joey doesn’t try to exert power
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Max portrays Jessie as the perfect housewife, intelligent and devoted, the person that held the whole
family together: “the backbone to this family” = implies that the reason that all their relationships are so
deteriorated is because she is gone now
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Max and Lenny mock the intellectual Teddy
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he emasculates teddy, deflates his ego, ridicules him
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On one hand, it shows weakness (frail old man), on the other, it is a sign of power and
shows Max’s desire to dominate as he uses it to threaten his son, it is therefore also a symbol of
masculinity = phallic symbol
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When Max
first meets Ruth, he threatens her with his stick as he orders her to come closer
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➢ The armchair: Within the first minute of the play, it becomes a symbol of domination/authority when
Max sits in it after threatening Lenny: represents the property of dominant
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Ruth sitting in the chair, upon her arrival foreshadows that Ruth will
have a certain power later on (more power than that which she has over Teddy)

➢ Lenny uses physical objects in his attempt to impose his will on Ruth
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➢ When sam enters the living room from the kitchen, he is holding a cloth
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➢ Cigars is a man’s sign, a sign of masculinity (especially in the 60s), while the woman does the dishes
and is supposed to take care of the men: Max asks Ruth if she is a good cook to remind her that in this
house, the woman’s place is in the kitchen
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➢ In this play, it is because they cannot have their way with ruth that the men’s position is undermined
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➢ Lenny: “You get all the gravy” (to Teddy) = all he sees are the perks of married life → the parallel
between women and food suggest that women are only to satisfy man's basic need, only for their
consumption
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➢ Max idea is to exploit ruth as a sexual object
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The man suggest putting Ruth “on the game” = exploit her as a prostitute



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