Question- Writer a brief summary the play, "The Homecoming" written by Harold Pinter.

Answer -

The setting is a working Class London flat in the early 1960. This is the home of Max, the aging patriarch; his brother Sam; and Max is two sons Lenny, a small time pimp Joey an aspiring boxer.

Initially, Lenny and Max descries the paper and how max wants to find scissors so that he can cut out a coupon for some clothing at a navy surplus store.

Already, Lenny's unresponsiveness to Max's questions, as well-as max's rambling snapping manner of speech, idicaties that this is far from a normal family. Max's brother Sam enters the room having come from his Job as a chauffeur white Sam insists that he is one of the best in the business. Max clearly does not think much of his brother's occupation, believing it to be for inferior to his own career as butcher.

That evening Teddy, the eldest son who had been away in America teaching philosophy of sex years, arrives with his wife Ruth. they traveled to Italy and now stopped here so she could met his family for the first time. No one is awake so they plan to go to bed However, Ruth, an enigmatic woman over whom Teddy seems to fret, decides to go for walk at night.

When Ruth comes back in she finds Lenny waiting for her. They briefly introduce themselves and Lenny tries to unsettle her with a story of wanting to kill a prostitute who tried to have her away with him even though he know she was diseased and told her to leave him alone. Ruth shows little fear or concern over this story.

The next morning Teddy and Ruth come downstairs to see the family at breakfast Max, indigent that he did not know they were there, spites out that Ruth is obviously a slut and a tart. Teddy corrects him, explaining that she is his wife. When Joey tells Teddy their father is an old man, Max hits his son. The force of his blow toppless him and when Sam moves forward to help, Max hits him with his stick.

Act two begins with a note of cheerfulness, with the family sharing a meal some number of days later. Max deliveries a monologue about his deceased wife Jessie. The family continues to set and talk. Max criticizes Sam for not fighting in the war. He also asks about Teddy's wedding and says he would have given him a good one and that he gives them his blessing. Ruth quietly says she is happy he is pleased with her but that she had not been sure whether Teddy would have expected that. Max is confused and gruffly says she is so charming "she replies that she was different when she met Teddy."

Teddy beings to speak of how happy he is in America. Lenny tries to needle him with philosophical questions about revering unknown things vs revering things that are known. The debate the meaning of a table in terms of the object and what it signifies. Ruth weighs in, slowly calling attention to her legs as if it were a table big. But telling them to acknowledge that her underwear is beneath it.

There is awkward silence which Teddy breaks by talking about how moved to America. Joey prepares to leave for his workout and max and Lenny accompany him. When they are gone Teddy turns to Ruth and says may be they ought to go home. It is cleaner there, he notes and perhaps their children miss them. She does not care to leave and wonders if he does not like his family as much a she thought he did.

After Teddy goes upstairs Lenny returns and sits with Ruth she reminisces about how she. used to be model before she married Teddy. Joey and Max enter and Joey is stunned. He calls Ruth a tart and takes her over to the couch with him. He tells him Ruth is lonely and he Wishes Teddy was not ashamed of his family.

That evening Teddy sits near his luggage. Sam walks over to him and tells him he is favourite and was his mothers favourite too. When max hears about Joey and Ruth he is also disgusted. Mean while, Teddy seems resigned to his fate that he will have to leave Ruth behind with his family and return to his career in America.

After few moments Max muses that perhaps it would be good thing to have a woman in the house to cook and clean. He will ask her to stay, he decides, but Teddy eounters that she is not well and ought to get home. Lenny, Max and Joey continue to talk and ignore Teddy. They decide to donate money to pay for the things she needs like clothes. It seems like it will be expensive, but Lenny offers up the idea of Ruth getting of flat and taking a few customers and thus making some money. She will not work all night and his clients are generally topnotch. Perhaps Teddy can even take business cards with him back to America and this can be an international operation. Teddy is quiet but wonders of she would not quickly get old Max excitedly says not this day and age.

Finally Ruth comes downstairs. She sits before the silent men and smiles. Teddy explains slowly that his family has invited her to say as a guest of sorts

When Teddy informs her she will have to earn her keep, she negotiates with the other men about getting her a three-room flat, money for clothes a maid and signing a contract that they all agree to.

Sam is the only one disconcerted by this talk and he suddenly burts out that Mac Gregor had sex with Max's wife Jessie in the back of his cab. This explosive revelation causes him to pass out and fall to the ground. After it is determined that Sam is still living, the family prepares to say goodbye to Teddy.

After Teddy leaves, Ruths sits down and Joey put his head in her lap - Lenny stands over them. Max becomes distressed. He asks Ruth multiple times if she thinks he is too old for her. Perhaps she is using them. He begs her to kiss him and the curtain falls.

He has also become academic subject.

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