The Lover is a quirky, tense, intriguing one-act by Harold Pinter that examines the private intricacies of modern marriage. To all outward appearances, Sarah and Richard are a respectable, conventional suburban couple. Behind closed doors, however, the couple enjoys a surprising and intriguing arrangement: every day, while Richard is at work, Sarah’s lover comes to the house. Richard, meanwhile, frequents a prostitute in the city. Yet, the two speak openly to one another of their extramarital affairs without jealousy, judgement, or anger. As we learn more about Sarah and Richard’s affairs, we see how a modern married couple has found an unconventional way to cope with extramarital temptation. Like any of Pinter’s works, this one-act contains the laughs, tears, and tensions that arise from the social intricacies of modern life.
The Lover guide sections
