“We are not free, and the sky can still fall on our heads”: Performing Torture in Harold Pinter’s <i>The New World Order</i>

ABSTRACT In Harold Pinter’s The New World Order (1991),1 Des and Lionel discuss the upcoming punishment and torture of a nameless, hooded character and his wife. Surprisingly, the guilt of the hooded man and his wife is never established throughout the sketch. Yet their imminent torture is discussed, while never being shown on stage. This article examines torture from two angles: first, the performativity of torture as shown by Des and Lionel, and the expendability of the victims, considering Giorgio Agamben’s “bare life” theory. In conclusion, this article provides a new understanding of Pinter’s sketch, placing it in the context of present-day torture and world political affairs. All Pinter references in the article are to this sketch.