The Caretaker

Aston, a quiet, reserved man, lives alone in a tiny, cluttered apartment in a poor London district. He befriends and takes in Mac Davies, an old derelict who has been fired from a menial job in a cafe. In time Aston offers him a job as caretaker of the house. Aston’s brother, Mick – a taunting, quasi-sadist – harasses the derelict when his brother is away, countermanding his orders. Pinter uses elements of both comedy and tragedy. The complexity of the play, Pinter’s masterful use of dialogue, and the depth and perception shown in Pinter’s themes all contribute to The Caretaker’s consideration as a modern masterpiece.