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Betraying Betrayal Harold Pinter’s Betrayal is fraught with just that. The three characters create a web of betrayal, building one upon the other. Adultery makes up much of the betrayal set forth in this play. The first and most obvious betrayal is that of Emma to Robert. She carries on a long-term affair with another man. On top of that the man is Robert’s best friend. From this, it can be said that Jerry is betraying Robert as well. He is sleeping with another man’s wife, his best friend’s wife. Jerry is also betraying his own wife by carrying on this affair. However, Robert is not without betrayals of his own. He sleeps around with what seems to be many women. He has betrayed the woman who is betraying him. Throughout much of the action, Emma is even betraying Jerry by not telling him that Robert knows about the affair. She has placed Robert in a high position in their friendship. Robert is also betraying Jerry by maintaining this position and not telling Jerry that he knows. The betrayal in this play does not just include adultery. It includes another sense of the word altogether: to divulge information against a sense of secrecy. Emma betrays her own affair to Robert. Robert also betrays his affairs to Emma. Robert has furthered betrayed his own best friend by not confiding in him about his various affairs. Throughout Betrayal, the bond of honesty, trust, marriage, and friendship are broken repeatedly, seemingly without caution. top – discuss – essays
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All original material © 2003 Erika Salomon.
