Introduction

Project Timeline

Techniques and Styles in The Caretaker

Who is the Caretaker?

Davies:

Davies is probably the most important character in The Caretaker, he remains on stage for most of the play. He is; unattractive, and shabbily dressed. A total failure. Despite his dislikable characteristics, Pinter makes him a credible character - in him we can see elements of our own character (all be it unpleasant characteristics like selfishness).

Lonely and alone Davies trusts no one - the world is a dangerous and incomprehensible place. It is a world of hardships, of sleeping rough, menial and meaningless temporary jobs, of not having enough to eat and of having to walk to all the way to Luton in the hope of blagging a pair of shoes.

His identity is always in doubt. He uses two names Mac Davies and Bernard Jenkins. He claims Jenkins is an assumed name but it is difficult to tell if this is just another of his lies like his stories of serving in the colonies. Davies has spend his life on the margins of society and has an animal instinct for survival. We see this in the way he constantly changes his persona and memories to reflect those around him.

Davies comes to terms with his own failure by blaming others - the blacks, Poles, Greeks, employers his wife etc are all criticized. His sense of grievance is illustrated throughout the play. At first grateful to Aston for his kindness Davies soon finds reason for complaint. Through Davies Pinter illustrates our ready acceptance to blame others for our own failures.

Davies craves respect but has no self respect. He is selfish and he is a racist. Because of his situation and uncertain existence he is deferential to Aston until he betrays him when he decides to ally himself with Mick who he sees as the more powerful of the two brothers. His downfall is his inability to comprehend the concept of sibling protection, misreading Mick's intentions leads to his rejection by Aston. Davies is a perfect example of a man who is both persecuted and a persecutor.

Pinter shows us how unpleasant Davies is but he also arouses our sympathy for him. He is violent, selfish, complaining, disloyal, idle, violent and obsesses with his own survival. Yet Pinter also arouses our compassion for Davies at the end of the play as he begs Aston not to throw him back onto the streets.

Mick:

Aston’s brother. His actions are motivated by his protectiveness for Aston and resentment of Davies’ relationship with him. He owns the house and could simply evict Davies but in deference to his brothers feelings he chooses to enter into a long term power game with Davies attempting to trick him into making himself unpopular with Aston, so in the end Aston asks Davies to leave of his own accord.

Mick’s dream is to convert part of the house into a penthouse flat that he will share with his brother. This illustrates the close bond he has with his brother, (his imagination), whilst showing us the sadness of his life.

He is concerned about Aston’s mental history and its effect on him. He has set Aston up in the house with the view to his rehabilitation. Despite their close bond, their relationship is contradictory and complex.

Mick’s fluent use of language contrasts both with Aston and Davies and illustrates his intelligence. It also illustrates his clever and devious nature - he dominates Davies and uses his linguistic skills against him; and backs that verbal dominance up with brute force.

His behaviour is erratic and violent (he subjects Davies to both mental and physical violence). Mick’s sadistic, mocking nature means he takes pleasure in unsettling Davies as seen in his interrogation of Davies at the start of Act II.

Mick switches between hostility and friendship in his relationship with Davies in his attempt to gain power over him. He continually tests Davies, setting traps for him and trying to trick him into revealing his real character.

Aston:

Mick’s older brother, he is around 30 years old.

Aston is generous in contrast to his brother Mick. Aston is gentle and calm, enduring Davies continual complaints. He rescues Davies from a potential fight, bringing him into his home. After inviting him back to his house Aston still tries to care for Davies. He offers him, tobacco, somewhere to sleep, gives him money and replaces the bag he has lost.

At the end of the second act Aston reveals what might be behind his calm, generous nature. He tells Davies of his electric shock treatment, of how he thought he would die and his reluctance to speak to people after the treatment. The world beyond the house is dangerous and frightening to Aston.

His speech is short and suggests he has difficulty in formulating thoughts and expressing them. Throughout the play he is always busy (mending the plug) but he never seems to get anything done. He keeps himself busy in order to fill up his life.

His appearance, (he is dressed in a suit), may be a way of indicating that he is trying to fit into society. Yet its incompatibility to the job he is trying to complete (building a shed and renovating the top floor of the house) may represent the fact that he is still outside that society.

Aston’s world is connected with violence. While he remains passive other people around him react with violence (Davies draws a knife on him), and violent acts are carried out against him (the electric shock treatment). He is a passive resister; he attempts to escape from the hospital.