The paper examines the role ‘Silence’ and ‘Pause’
play and signify in Modern drama or simply Avant-garde theater through the
analysis of Pinter’s drama The Homecoming. ‘Silence’ and ‘Pause’ in Modern drama
are technical directional elements which transforms the fictive dramatic imagery
to a mirrored imagery of reality. They may be defined as extensions of
conventional language which are used preferentially to better mimic the reality
that is being mirrored. ‘Silence’ and ‘Pause’ are non-verbal communicative tools
and are sub-textual in manner. The use has become one of the distinguishing
elements that represent and characterize the Modern drama in that they no longer
remain as simple directions where needed to stop a continuation of action on
stage but accentuate and futhermore demand and bring about an engagement from
the audience/reader. The use of ‘Silence’ and ‘Pause’ represent for the
dramatist an active recognition as to what an actual reality is and what the
stage supposedly should reflect. In conclusion the use of the two elements
functions in narrowing the perspective that separates the dramatist and the
audience/reader regarding what is actually real and as to how reality be it
fictional be represented on stage.

Key words: Pinter, The Homecoming, Vocalization,
Sub-textual, Modern drama, Avant-garde