Harold Pinter and Anti-humanism: An Althusserian Reading of his Plays

The aim of the current essay is to investigate Althusser’s mode of antihumanism and his theory of ideology in Harold Pinter’s plays including The Hothouse and Party Time. Althusser’s method of antihumanism is shown in his structuralist Marxism that refuses any form of anthropology or values related to the human freedom. His antihumanism is vividly shown against the background of the Marxist subjects. Regarding antihumanism, some other concepts become significant which include ISA, RSA, and Interpellation. The researcher traces there concepts within the play. In the beginning, the researcher traces the notion of antihumanism in The Hothouse and then the functions of both ISA and RSA are investigated. In the last part of the play, the researcher investigates how characters are hailed through interpellation. Another key aspect of the essay is to show refutation of ideological states in all the plays. Accordingly, Pinter visits doctors whenever they have time.

Keywords:

ISA , RSA , Antihumanism , Althusser , Interpellation.