Reference to the context: The Caretaker by Harold Printer

 Reference to the context examples for The  Caretaker by Harold Printer.

    I was going down today, but I'm...I'm waiting for the weather to break.    

Answer:

Reference to the context:

A: This quote is from The Caretaker by Harold Pinter, a three-act play that belongs to the genre of Theatre of the Absurd. The quote is spoken by Davies, a homeless tramp who is staying in Aston's room as a caretaker. He is talking to Aston, a mentally disturbed man who lives in a cluttered room. Davies is explaining why he has not left the room yet, even though he said he would.

The literal meaning of this quote is that Davies was planning to go down to the street today, but he is waiting for the weather to change. This relates to the plot of the play because Davies wants to go to Sidcup, where he claims he has some belongings and papers. However, he never goes there, because he always finds excuses and obstacles. The figurative meaning of this quote is that Davies is procrastinating and avoiding his responsibilities. He is waiting for something to happen that will improve his situation, but he is not taking any action or initiative. He is also showing his fear of the outside world and his dependence on Aston. He is waiting for the weather to break, meaning he is waiting for it to stop raining or snowing, but he is also waiting for a break in his bad luck or misfortune.

The significance of this quote is that it reveals Davies' character as a lazy, cowardly, and unreliable person who relies on others for shelter and comfort. It also foreshadows his eventual rejection by both Aston and Mick, who will not tolerate his presence any longer. He is stuck in a cycle of inertia and uncertainty, and he is unable to take action or responsibility for his life. This quote also relates to other parts of the play and other texts by Pinter, where characters often face existential dilemmas and challenges, and where the weather often symbolizes their mood or fate.

In reference to the context

"I've got no papers. I've got no papers at all. They took them from me. They took everything from me. I'm not going to tell you who they are. You know who they are. They're all around us. They're everywhere." (Act 2)

A: This quote is from The Caretaker by Harold Pinter, a three-act play that belongs to the genre of Theatre of the Absurd. The quote is spoken by Davies, a homeless tramp who is staying in Aston's room as a caretaker. He is talking to Mick, Aston's younger brother who is also interested in hiring Davies as a caretaker. Davies is trying to convince Mick that he is trustworthy and reliable, but he also reveals his paranoia and delusion. He claims that he has no papers, meaning no identification documents or proof of citizenship. He blames an unnamed group of people for taking his papers and everything else from him. He implies that these people are powerful and dangerous and that they are everywhere. He does not want to tell Mick who they are, because he thinks Mick already knows them.

The literal meaning of this quote is that Davies has no papers and that someone has taken them from him. This relates to the plot of the play because Davies needs papers to get a job and to travel to Sidcup, where he claims he has some belongings. However, he never manages to get his papers or go to Sidcup, because he is always making excuses and lying. The figurative meaning of this quote is that Davies has no identity and no sense of belonging. He feels persecuted and threatened by society and authority figures. He is also suspicious and distrustful of everyone around him. He does not want to tell Mick who they are, because he does not trust Mick either. This reveals Davies' character as a paranoid, delusional, and insecure person who is unable to cope with reality.

The significance of this quote is that it shows how Davies tries to manipulate Mick by playing on his sympathy and curiosity. He also tries to create a bond with Mick by suggesting that they share a common enemy. However, this backfires on him, because Mick sees through his lies and rejects him as a caretaker. This quote also foreshadows Davies' downfall at the end of the play, when he loses both Aston's and Mick's support and is left alone in the room with no papers and no hope. This quote also relates to other parts of the play and other texts by Pinter, where characters often struggle with issues of identity, power, alienation, and communication.

Reference to the Context:

"You've got...this thing. That's your complaint. And we've decided, he said, that in your interests there's only one course we can take. He said...he said, we're going to do something to your brain." 

A: This quote is from The Caretaker by Harold Pinter, a three-act play that belongs to the genre of Theatre of the Absurd. The play was first performed in 1960 and became Pinter's first commercially successful production. The play explores themes of power, identity, loneliness, and betrayal through the interactions of three characters: Aston, a mentally disturbed man who lives in a cluttered room; Mick, his younger brother who is aggressive and ambitious; and Davies, a homeless tramp who is invited by Aston to stay in his room as a caretaker.

This quote is spoken by Aston in the second act of the play when he is telling Davies about his past experience of being subjected to electroconvulsive therapy at a mental hospital. He is describing how the doctors diagnosed him with "this thing", which is never specified, and how they decided to treat him by shocking his brain with electricity. He is repeating what the doctors said to him, but he also pauses and stutters, indicating his trauma and difficulty in recalling the event. He is confiding in Davies, hoping to find some sympathy and understanding, but he also exposes his vulnerability and weakness.

The literal meaning of this quote is that Aston was given electroconvulsive therapy against his will and that it damaged his brain and personality. This relates to the plot of the play because it explains why Aston is slow-witted, withdrawn, and obsessed with fixing things. It also explains why he invited Davies to stay with him because he wanted some company and friendship. The figurative meaning of this quote is that Aston was deprived of his identity and autonomy by the society and authority figures that labeled him as mentally ill and tried to "cure" him by force. He was also betrayed by his own family, who did not support him or protect him from the doctors. He was subjected to violence and humiliation, and he lost his sense of self and purpose.

The significance of this quote is that it shows how Aston tries to connect with Davies by sharing his personal story, but he also risks losing Davies' respect and trust. He also reveals the contrast between his gentle and passive nature and Mick's harsh and dominant nature, as they are both products of the same family and society. This quote also foreshadows Davies' betrayal of Aston at the end of the play, when he insults him for being crazy and useless. This quote also relates to other parts of the play and other texts by Pinter, where characters often suffer from psychological problems and oppression, and where violence and comedy are used to create tension and irony.