For your fourth essay of the semester, you are to focus on either or both of two plays: Arthur Miller's The Crucible and Miller's Death of a Salesman. If you believe that a similar theme runs through the two plays, and you want to develop that theme, then feel free to write on both plays. If you choose to focus on one play, then feel free to do that. As in your previous essays, your purpose is to create an argument--a thesis that states what you believe the writer is saying about one of the central themes of the play or plays you choose. This thesis should reflect the opinion that you are going to support throughout the essay. Remember that--unless the topics below state differently-- we are interested in what you believe the writer is saying about capitalism or socialism, not what you believe about those issues. Avoid a thesis that is obvious, and, of course, one that is factual. If you choose a theme that we have discussed in class, be sure to explore your ideas well beyond what we have stated in our discussions. Support your views with four--note that this is one more than your previous essays--outside critical sources. By critical, I mean literary critics who write about Miller's work. I don't consider dictionaries, encyclopedias, the Bible, fiction, other plays and poetry appropriate to fulfill these requirements. Document your sources according to the MLA format found in your Diana Hacker text or on my web site. When you quote material, be sure to use in-text citations. This usually consists of the author's last name and the page reference. If you mention the author's name before the citation, then there's no need to repeat "Miller." However, if you are writing about two plays, then you will have to state clearly to which play you are referring. In this case, you should do the following: As John Proctor says to the Deputy Governor Danforth, "is there no good penitence but it be public?" (Miller, The Crucible 142). Then later, when you use a quotation from the second play, you should write as follows: Willy's son Biff frankly says to his father, "You were never anything but a hard-working drummer who landed in the ash can like all the rest of them" (Miller, Death of a Salesman 132). On the first reference to the play, make sure that you give the full name. Thereafter, feel free to abbreviate (Crucible 98) or (Death 122). Since these plays are in prose, you should not put a slash ( / ) at the end of the line. Just quote them as you would normal ficition. If you quote up to four lines in your paper, run them into the normal paragraph of your text. If you quote five or more lines in your paper, then indent the quotation ten spaces from the left margin. An indented quotation requires no quotation marks. The indentation alone tells the reader that the passage is a quotation. No more than 15% of your paper should be in direct quotations; this includes the critics' views. One important caveat: Please do not devote any time in your paper to Miller's biography. Focus on the plays as fiction, and analyze them as such. Some Suggested Topics 1. Critics often state that The Crucible is Arthur Miller's study of power, guilt, and communal hysteria. Choose any one of these three--or all three if you can weave them together--and argue that this is a valid way of looking at the play. 2. In the Crucible, Miller alters the history in some cases for dramatic purposes. Research the history of the Salem Witch Trials, and then note the differences between the history and the play. Argue what you believe Miller gains or loses dramatically through his changes. Be careful with this topic: I don't want you to turn it into a history lesson. It's still to be an argument. 3. In his 27 February 1949 article "Tragedy and the Common Man," in the New York Times, Miller sets forth his view of tragedy. Using Miller's criteria from that article, argue that John Proctor either does or does not fit Miller's view of a tragic character in the Crucible. However, if you believe the tragic character in the play is someone else, feel free to choose that character and create the same argument. Remember to use Miller's criteria about tragedy, not your own. 4. Using the same article as mentioned in #3, argue that Willy Loman is or is not a tragic character in Death of a Salesman. Be sure to measure Loman against the characteristics that Miller creates, not your own view of tragedy. 5. Rather than take the view that Willy Loman is a tragic figure, argue that Miller has--perhaps in spite of himself--created a character out of Naturalistic fiction of the late nineteenth century. Be sure that you understand what Naturalism in fiction is, state the basic tenets of it, then argue that Loman is a Naturalistic character. 6. Assume that you are the director of Death of a Salesman. Tell me whom you would cast as Willy Loman--and how you would have him play the part. For example--and these are just suggestions--would your Willy be overtly angry? Would he have repressed anger? Would he be a strong character who has temporary bouts of weakness, or would he be a pathetic character who is a victim of a system? Would he be a responsible Willy Loman, or has he given up responsbility--or perhaps never had it to give up? Be creative with this topic, but also be logical and intelligent, not whimsical. If the actor you choose, is not well-known, you should tell us something about him. Remember, of course, that Willy is sixty-three-years-old in the play. 7. Check your syllabus for the due date for this essay. |