An Interpretation of The Dumb Waiter from Foucault’s Disciplinary Power Theory

Harold Pinter is one of Britian’s greatest playwrights in the 20th century. He is famous for his “Comedy of Menace” which discloses the menace theme in people’s daily life and the power discipline and resistance behind the great menace. In the one-act play The Dumb Waiter, the subtle power struggles are revealed through the closed space, absurd dialogues and repetitive actions. Michel Foucault, one of the greatest French philosophies, points out that power occurs everywhere and it is related to body, knowledge and discourse. Thus this thesis attempts to explore the discipline punishment and resistance in the power struggle in The Dumb Waiter, and then reveal the plight of human being in the 20th century.