Max is in his seventies, a widower, and the patriarch of The Homecoming’s family. He lives with his brother and two of his sons in the North London house he once shared with his deceased wife, Jessie. Max walks with a stick, which he is not afraid to wield in violent attacks on his brother, Sam, as he attempts to impose his rule on a family more in competition with each other than they are loving.

Max himself is caught between these roles. Sometimes he bullies his family members or hurls abuse at them (including misogynistic epithets for Jessie and Ruth). At other times he reveals a longing for his family’s love and approval—especially that of Teddy, his highly educated son visiting from America. He is caught between embracing the cynicism of his society (as depicted by Pinter) and a more caring family role. Ultimately, he finds himself hoisted by his own petard as his sons Lenny and Joey turn against him.

In the original production of The Homecoming by the Royal Shakespeare Company at London’s Aldwych Theatre in June 1965, Max was played by Paul Rogers.