The Dumb Waiter (1957) by Harold Pinter (List of Characters)

 

The Dumb Waiter (1957)

by Harold Pinter

(List of Characters) 

List of Characters in The Dumb Waiter

1. Ben

Ben is the older, more experienced of the two hired killers. He is calm, disciplined, and completely loyal to the mysterious organization that employs him. Throughout the play, he follows orders without questioning them and expects Gus to do the same. Ben often reads a newspaper while waiting and tries to maintain control of every situation. His unquestioning obedience contrasts with Gus's growing doubts. In the final scene, he is confronted with the shocking realization that his next assignment may involve his own partner.

 

2. Gus

Gus is Ben's younger partner and fellow hired killer. Unlike Ben, he is restless, curious, and increasingly uncomfortable with the work they perform. He frequently asks questions about their employer, their assignment, and the morality of killing people without knowing the reasons. His anxiety grows as mysterious events unfold in the basement room. Gus's humanity and desire to understand make him very different from Ben. At the end of the play, he unexpectedly returns to the room unarmed and becomes the apparent target of the mission.

 

3. Wilson (Unseen Character)

Wilson is the mysterious employer who never appears on stage but whose presence dominates the entire play. Ben and Gus work for him and wait for his instructions. Orders are delivered through indirect means, such as the speaking tube and the dumb waiter, emphasizing his authority and invisibility. Although Wilson never speaks directly to the audience, his unseen control over the characters symbolizes the powerful but anonymous forces that govern their lives.

 

4. The Unseen Voices

Throughout the play, unseen individuals communicate with Ben through the speaking tube and send food orders via the dumb waiter. These voices are never identified or seen, yet they exercise authority over the two men. Their mysterious presence contributes to the atmosphere of uncertainty and reinforces the idea that the characters are controlled by invisible powers.