The African by Harold Pinter

 

Harold Pinter CH CBE
Pinter in 1962
Born	10 October 1930 London, England
Died	24 December 2008 (aged 78) London, England
Occupation	Playwright, screenwriter, actor, theatre director, poet
Alma mater	Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Period	1947–2008
Notable awards	Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (2002) Nobel Prize in Literature (2005) Légion d'honneur (2007) David Cohen Prize (1995) Laurence Olivier Award (1996)
Spouse	Vivien Merchant ​ ​ (m. 1956; div. 1980)​ Lady Antonia Fraser ​ ​ (m. 1980)​
Children	1
Signature
Harold Pinter's voice Duration: 39 seconds.0:39 from the BBC programme Front Row Interviews, 26 December 2008.[1]
Website
www.haroldpinter.org
Literature portal

The African is a short story by Harold Pinter, first published in 1991. Known for his works in both theatre and prose, Pinter's writing is often marked by its sharp dialogue, underlying tension, and exploration of the darker sides of human nature. While The African is not one of his most famous pieces, it is still an intriguing example of his style and thematic preoccupations.

The story follows a seemingly ordinary encounter between two men: one of whom is an African man living in a Western country, and the other, a European man who meets him in an unspecified setting. As is typical of Pinter’s work, the story is laced with layers of ambiguity, with dialogue that teases out deeper, often uncomfortable truths about power dynamics, race, and identity.

Pinter's style in The African reflects his characteristic use of language as a tool of both connection and disconnection. The dialogue is fragmented and elliptical, revealing the emotional undercurrents of the characters rather than directly addressing the central themes. The short story plays with the tension between the characters' outward politeness and the internal discomforts or prejudices they may be trying to hide.

The story is notable for its exploration of race, colonialism, and the psychological tensions that arise from these issues. In Pinter’s world, there are always layers of unspoken truth, and his characters are often caught in a web of miscommunication and power struggles.

Like much of Pinter's work, The African can be interpreted in many ways, and it might require a closer reading to fully unpack its meaning and implications. Themes of isolation, dislocation, and the complexities of human interaction are central to the story, resonating with Pinter’s broader body of work.

If you're interested in delving deeper into the themes of this short story or the larger context of Pinter's writing, feel free to ask!