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Essay / Infidelity, infidelity and modesty in "Betrayal"
Infidelity, infidelity and modesty outline the surface of the play Betrayal written by Harold Pinter. From a distance, the relationships between the trio of characters seem normal but; upon closer inspection, the correlations are visibly dysfunctional. The three main characters, Emma, Jerry and Robert interact kindly, never seem to interrupt each other, ask innocent questions and generally don't inspect the answers much. They help each other through occasional difficult times and talk to each other when necessary. But these characters delight in knowing something that someone else doesn't, and that knowledge sometimes translates into power. Although it takes time, sometimes even years, to uncover things beneath the surface, they eventually come to light in unexpected ways. Eventually, when everyone knows everything and the game has reached its endpoint, life returns to its normal cyclical routine. In Betrayal, the dramatic storyline of the love triangle goes through many storms of deception which tests the marital relations and fidelity of the characters and allows them to change their inner personalities. Emma goes through various phases of betrayal towards herself and others. At first glance, Emma seems confident and loyal to her husband. At the party at Robert and Emma's house, where Jerry seduces and compliments Emma, it's as if she wants nothing to do with him. She is shocked by Jerry's confession and feels uneasy about the fact that she is married; she repeats: “My husband’s witness.” Your best friend's best friend. (Pinter 135) However, at the end of the scene, when Robert enters the room and then leaves, Emma also attempts to leave but is stopped by Jerry. They then share a moment and stand still and are in the middle of a paper... finding meaning in their lives. Ultimately, it's a betrayal of oneself that every character and every audience is forced to observe. Each character shows drastic changes in themselves throughout the play. Emma goes from strong and loyal to weak and dependent. Robert's hostility and aggression increase linearly over the years and Jerry's jealousy and forgetfulness intensify. I think the betrayal felt is more widely felt within families and towards their children. Being unfaithful and cheating on your husband or wife is basically like cheating on your entire family and losing all self-respect. Physical betrayal between characters is obvious but mental deception plays a greater role in terms of betrayal. They have each experienced shifts in power, transformations within themselves, and changes in their way of life as a result of their choices...