Cathartic Responses in Works of Black Comedy

            A Cathartic Response is the build-up of emotions that can lead to many physical or emotional responses such as, in this case, laughter. The plays "The Homecoming," by Harold Pinter, and "Lieutenant of Inishmore," by Martin McDonagh, evoke a cathartic response in audiences through portraying the characters and their relationships, which facilitate the levels of the theatrical orgasm embellished in the comedic styles of the plays. Through exploring the juxtaposition of the relationships between men and women, fathers and sons, it explores the characteristics of humour and guiding the audience, which then induces a cathartic experience throughout.
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             The relationship between men and women can be seen throughout both plays, the first example depicted in The Homecoming, when Ruth comes home late to find Lenny on the lounge. This scene can be shown and performed in two different ways. The first way, we can depict Ruth as being sexually predatory and Lenny being uncomfortable because he does not know how to respond due to the lack of female presence in the patriarchal household.
             Lenny: Good Evening.
             Ruth: Morning, I think.
             Lenny: you're right there.
             Pause.
             My name's Lenny. What's yours?.
             Ruth: Ruth.
             Sits up and pulls collar towards her.
             Lenny: Cold?.
             Ruth: No.
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             The second way we can perform this, is by showing Ruth to be shy and quiet, and Lenny as an overconfident, flirty male who knows what he wants due to his misogynistic views towards women.
             Lenny: Good Evening.
             Ruth: Morning, I think.
             Lenny: you're right there.
             Pause.
             My name's Lenny. What's yours?.
             Ruth: Ruth.
             Sits up and pulls collar towards her.
             Lenny: Cold?.
             Ruth: No.
             By performing either version we can see an entirely different meaning that will assist the audience in understanding what's being depicted. This can also affect the way the audience realizes Lenny's view on women.
             Lenny: But in the end I thought Aaaah, why go to all the bother you know, getting rid of the corpse and all that, getting yourself into the state of tension.