Waiting for Godot, a 1955 play by Samuel Beckett, is frequently compared to The Caretaker and is widely acknowledged, like many of Beckett's works, as a significant influence on Pinter's style.

Look Back in Anger, a 1956 play by John Osborne, is often recognized as a pivotal moment in modern British drama, marking the beginning of the "Angry Young Men" theatre movement. The play highlights the struggles of a young couple, the unemployed Jimmy Porter and his wife, whom he mistreats.

The Birthday Party, a 1958 play by Pinter, revolves around Stanley, the sole tenant in a run-down boarding house, who is terrorized by two enigmatic men searching for him. Although initially met with negative reviews, this play is now considered one of Pinter's most significant works.

Old Times, a 1971 play by Pinter, centers on a married couple, Deeley and Kate, who receive a visit from Kate's old friend Anna. The play explores a power struggle between Deeley and Anna, each attempting to assert their claim over Kate.

The Bell Jar (1963), an autobiographical novel by American poet Sylvia Plath, details Plath's experiences with mental illness in the early 1950s. The novel provides a personal account of mental health care and electroshock treatment during that era.