A Lacanian Interpretation of Harold Pinter’s A Slight Ache

In this article the aim is to show how Harold Pinter’s A Slight Ache can be read throughLacanian theory of psychoanalysis including the Imaginary, the Symbolic and the Real.Pinter’s use of neurotic, anxious, hysteric and isolated characters in his plays brings him closerto Lacan, who tried to redefine the developing psychological aspects of personality. In thisplay, the couple are confronted with the truth of their identity. Dealing with inner fear andisolated individuals, the play demonstrates the struggles of the unconscious which provides apossible reading of Lacanian psychoanalysis for us. Flora and Edward seem to have been lostin their search of the Real. In their imagination, they fantasize about their desires. ReadingLacan, we learn that we spend all our life looking for our objet petit a and trying to satisfy ourdesires. The ambiguous blind matchseller who is silent throughout the play serves a differentfunction for Flora and Edward. The matchseller is the fulfillment of Flora’s lost passion,however, he brings annihilation to Edward

کلیدواژه ها:

A Slight Ache ، Harold Pinter ، Lacan ، psychoanalysis ، the Imaginary ، the Symbolic ، the Real ، objet petit a.