GCSE: Arthur Miller
- Marked by Teachers essays 8
- Peer Reviewed essays 11
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Is John Proctor a good man?
4 star(s)This is a very serious crime at this time as it is seen as breaking one of the 10 commandments. If this information that he had committed the sin of adultery were to be realised to the town or church then his name and reputation in the town would be greatly corrupted. Abigail sees this and uses it to hold a power over proctor, as she knows that she has a powerful piece of blackmail in her hands. We also learn a lot about the relationship that Abigail and proctor have in this act when proctor says to Abigail This
- Word count: 2520
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Consider the relationship between John Proctor and Abigail Williams and how Arthur Miller presents it to an audience.
4 star(s)He is described as a man in his mid-thirties, powerful of body and even tempered. We see John and Abigail in conversation together. John says, "What's this mischief here?" and Abigail replies, "Oh, she's gone silly somehow," talking of Mercy, another young girl of the town. Abigail tells him of some silly behaviour of some local young girls in response to his question about the townsfolk having been mumbling witchcraft. John replies, "Ah, you're wicked yet, aren't y! You'll be clapped in the stocks before you're twenty." The relationship between them is flirtatious. Abigail then asks of him, "Give me a word, John, a soft word."
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Can 'Death of a Salesman' be Described as a Tragedy?
4 star(s)In Death of a Salesman, Willy dies just trying to live the American Dream and he never gives up on it - an indication of his extreme optimism in all things - despite how blatantly unrealistic achieving the American Dream was for him. The characterisation of Willy Loman is also quite interesting. He strives to be like a very old, successful salesman he met that worked from home, who when he died, numerous people he knew went to his funeral.
- Word count: 2503
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Why does Eddie die at the end of A View from the Bridge?
Having released the extremely successful Death of a Salesman in 1949, Miller worked alongside Kazan, the director of Death of a Salesman, to write The Hook, based on the story of a longshoreman - Pete Panto - who was killed for standing up against the oppressive bosses of the docks. However, The Hook was never put into the theatres of America due to the interference of the FBI and US Government who force Miller to either change his script or abandon the play.
- Word count: 2326
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Do you consider John Proctor to be a modern tragic hero?
The possession of lists pertaining to possible offenders is a particular link, and Miller fashioned The Crucible around both the events of his time and the Salem witch trials. Miller wrote the play for modern audiences and while John Proctor's path is similar to the one defined by Aristotle, there are a number of differences. John Proctor is described as blunt and honest: "He had a sharp and biting way with hypocrites," He has a rebellious spirit which leads him to be impulsive and rash on occasions.
- Word count: 2489
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John Proctor says to himself What is John Proctor? I am no saint; for me it is fraud. I am not that man. Explore Millers Presentation of Proctor in The Crucible. How far do you agree with Proctors analysis of himself?
This gives the impression that he is a dominant and respected man. He also comes across as quite guilty for some reason and seems aware of his mistakes: 'He is a sinner, a sinner not only against the moral fashion of the time but against his own decent conduct.' This shows that John Proctor has a strong sense of morals and he knows when he's done something wrong. At the beginning of the play, we also discover that John Proctor has had a sexual relationship with Abigail, his servant at the time.
- Word count: 2918
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Discuss the change or lack of change undergone by the main characters in Arthur Miller's - The Crucible
Proctor, a farmer, goes from a local, well respected man to a man accused of being in contact with the Devil. Abigail transforms from sweet and beautiful to malicious and evil. Hale on the other hand is bought into the play as a witchcraft 'expert', he ends up struggling with this particular case and so changes into a frail, old and weak man. Putnam is much like Proctor and his story throughout the play is much the same and ultimately ends in death.
- Word count: 2130
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A View From The Bridge
It seems that Alfieri is drowned in stress and needs someone to talk to that is why he talks to the audience at certain intervals of the play. It's also as though Alfieri is retelling the play as he mostly speaks in past tense. Alfieri really begins to introduce drama to the play in his chat with Eddie before the boxing scene; this is a really tense conversation between them both as Eddie starts to reveal his true feelings for Catherine without realising himself.
- Word count: 2092
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Is John Proctor a Good Man in Arthur Miller's Crucible?
The belief in witches who had signed the 'Devil's book' was rife. In 1692, Salem suffered from mass hysteria as a group of young girls accused fellow villagers of being witches; John's wife was accused as was he. This resulted in social upheaval and the hangings of many and it proved that even the ideal society of Salem had problems. This society was an excellent setting to explore goodness because on the outset it seemed like a perfect civilization where the residents wanted to be as morally good but these events showed a different story and it is important to see why bad morals still remained.
- Word count: 2513
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Consider how Miller creates and maintains tension in Act 3 of The Crucible?
The first scenes of Act 3 show us how Miller embarks on his way to create hostility by setting the scene in a very serious and enclosed environment. The first insight of suspense for the audience is the start of the Act when Miller is describing the room, "As the curtain rises, the room is empty, but for sunlight pouring through two high windows in the back wall." This sunlight could suggest the light of Heaven falling onto the proceedings, however as an audience we know the light brings nothing of the sort, and we are lulled into a false sense of security.
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A view from the bridge - how does arthur miller create tension
At the right there is a forestage and a desk. This is Alfieri's law office. There is also a telephone booth. Alfieri gives us a broader outlook on our setting. He says, "this is Red Hook ... this is the slum that faces the bay on the seaward side of Brooklyn Bridge. This is the gullet of New York swallowing the tonnage of the world". We're in a hard core neighbourhood, where people work everyday on the waterfront. People don't have a lot of creature comforts here. They have their families and they have work, hard work.
- Word count: 2932
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The dramatic presentation of the family in A View from the Bridge
With the presence of 'There is also a telephone booth. This is not used until the last scenes so it may be covered or left in view', it shows isolation from the set of the home and can represent the isolation of the Carbone family from the rest of the community. The fact that it is not used until the last scenes, suggests that some event will take place that results in someone from the family making a call to the outside world. The fact that Miller has 'Ramps, representing the street', signifies the Italian community as a whole, and again showing the family connection to the rest of the community who live around them.
- Word count: 2110
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The Crucible as a piece of drama is structurally flawed. It reaches a climax is the trial scene and subsequently loses momentum. Discuss.
The start of the injustices in Act 3 begins with Martha Corey's trial in the court. We hear Martha saying: "I know not what a witch is" and for that reason she should be released. However, the judges continue to interrogate Martha until Giles' outburst, he claims that he has "evidence for the court." Instead of listening to him, Danforth cries out: "Arrest him, Excellency." This could suggest to us that, even though the court knows the truth, they do not want to hear it. If they did they would be admitting that they were wrong to hang people for witchcraft and so it will spoil the credibility of further court trials.
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Saving Private Ryan
Upon arriving at Omaha Beach Captain Miller was faced with many problems. The Germans were awaiting the arrival of the American forces and attacked the ships landing on the beach before the troops were even able to exit the boats. Scene 1 gradually introduces us into the film with the images of the elderly man, impatiently approaching the river of white graves and collapses on one knee in front of one of the graves as he is overcome with emotion.
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A view from the bridge
"A chorus is also needed in a Greek tragedy, The chorus explains and narrates the plot" The chorus in the play is Alfieri as he is the commentator, he sets the scenes dramatically and also informs you what is going to happen in the upcoming scene/section. "The protagonist is essentially good but his/her fate is sealed by a central flaws in character" This is briefly reflected towards Eddie, as he was loving caring and protective over Catherine to start of with.
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Discuss the importance of stage directions in A View from the bridge and what they reveal to the audience about the character of Eddie Carbone.
This gives us a better understanding of how Miller wanted it to be performed as the stage directions are so specific. Eddie Carbone, the protagonist of the play, follows the rules of the Sicilian code of conduct very strongly. People who follow the Sicilian Code of conduct believe that men should be in charge of the house, they are the people in the house who lay down the rules and are very protective of members of the family but they are also the ones who provide for the people in their family.
- Word count: 2290
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Essay on 'The Crucible'
They felt surrounded by ungodly people and they associated the forest with savages and with evil. Salem was a puritan community their lives were ruled by religion. The role pf religion is very powerful and id used to control the community within the courts of Salem, religion is referred to throughout the play. 'The Crucible' criticises the effects of the Cold War America experienced in the 1950's. McCarthy felt his power threatened by his people's interest in communism. It was feared that Russia take over the world. This links to 'The Crucible' because the people in the play are craving for freedom, they don't want to be tied to religion and the Bible.
- Word count: 2124
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A View from the Bridge. Hes stealing from me! Look closely at Act 1 Scene 5 + 6. How is a sense of dramatic tension created in these scenes and how does it contribute to our overall understanding of the main characters of A View From
This also shows the social and historical context because Eddie would rather choose who loves Catherine, which would not be Rodolfo. This creates tension because Eddie is probably used to getting his own way. Eddie then says, "I'm talking to you confidential, aren't I?" which is then followed by the stage directions that says, "He takes a deep breath and glances briefly over each shoulder" This shows Eddie is clearly on edge and very uncomfortable about telling Alfieri his secret information.
- Word count: 2218
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A view from the bridge. Before the cousins arrival we can see that Eddie and Catherine have a strong bond between them. Eddie arrived home from work and is confronted with Catherines changing appearance
Before the cousins arrival we can see that Eddie and Catherine have a strong bond between them. Eddie arrived home from work and is confronted with Catherines changing appearance, "Almost in tears because he disapproves." This suggests that Eddie is overprotective towards Catherine and may imply that he does not want her to grow up or gain independence. This also shows that Catherine cares about Eddies opinion of her; it tells the reader they are close and that Catherine may act younger than her age. Miller establishes Eddie as a caring character. This is apparent when Catherine and Beatrice have just told him about the job. "It's not wonderful. You'll never get nowheres unless you finish school."
- Word count: 2246
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Inspector Goole- An Inspector Calls Coursework
If Priestley wanted to show the inspector was the ordinary he would have used 'the' as this is specific. The play is set in the house of the Birling family who are a family of a high status, which is shown by the props in the setting. They have gathered in celebration to celebrate the engagement between both Shelia, who is Mr Birling's daughter and Gerald who is from the Croft family who are of an even higher status than the Birling's. Mr Birling is a major character in this play as he has the strongest personality. Birling is a character that believes in Capatalism where each man is for himself.
- Word count: 2496
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A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE
Arthur Miller uses stage directions as one of his techniques to foreshadow and inform the audience what is coming next. "There is also a telephone booth. This is not used until the last scenes so it may be covered or left in view". This probably implies that some one is going to call and tell the government about the illegal immigrants, which can then create tension. The audience has all of Act One to feel tense about it. It is not used until Act Two.
- Word count: 2446
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Death Of A Salesman
However the truth is that he is really just another ordinary man trying to earn a fair amount of money for a living. We know that Willy is trying to earn some money because throughout the play a few times he has to go to his neighbour Charley to borrow money to pay off the mortgage or fix the refrigerator and other everyday needs. This implies that Willy had not achieved the 'American Dream' and this presents one of the failures of the 'American Dream'.
- Word count: 2284
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Analysis of Arthur Miller's Presentation of Abigail
In the McCarthy trails the only way to clear your name was to name members of the extremist party, but even still a person's reputation would be extremely tarnished. Therefore I will be looking at the presentation of Abigail and how it conveys this idea, in relation to the McCarthy Trials. During the beginning of Act One we discover Abigail is a girl who can't be trusted and people don't believe her. Paris refers to her as a 'child' so she is assumed as being young and questioned over how she can make up so many lies.
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Discussing how effectively Arthur Miller portrays Eddie Carbone
Most narratives give us a cheerful outline of the story but this one is entirely diverse. We can imagine it will be tragic just because of the four words Alfieri has said. By reading the first page or two of the play we can get some hints. First of all we can try to understand what Eddie's fate will be like; heart-rending. Secondly if his fate is tragic we expect death as we associate tragedy with death or something which is extremely sad. According to the rules of the Greek writer Aristotle, the character Eddie Carbone is not promising material for a tragic hero.
- Word count: 2306
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GCSE Essay on Act III of the Crucible
The driving plot line of Act III is these three men's attempt to redeem their wives a particular focus is on Proctor's struggle. Part of Miller's dramatic success is attributed to the way he is able to manipulate the historic and social context. The historical setting of the play is a theocratic Puritan settlement in 1692 in the Massachusetts. The theocracy is a significant part of the play as it leads to mounting frustration for the audience and it is the basis to the plot; Miller also uses the theocracy in Salem to convey an important message about Miller's own social setting in 1950s America.
- Word count: 2092
