After The Fall
(Arthur Miller)
The semi-autobiographical play by Arthur Miller was first
produced in 1964, shortly after the death of his ex-wife,
Marilyn Monroe in 1962. However, this play seems largely an
attempt to come to terms with the author?s life and his
marriage failures which occurred throughout his career. The
story focuses on Quentin, a middle aged lawyer who
addresses the audience with a series of reminisces about
his life. The play is a memory play and Quentin leads the
audience throughout his past by jumping backwards and
forwards through the different events which shaped his
life. Like most of Miller?s plays, the action focuses on a
man and the women in his life. By telling us about his
mother and how she abused her husband and lied to her son,
the beginning of his life does not bold well for its
future. He speaks of his first wife?s burgeoning
independence which he cannot help and his second wife
(obviously Marilyn Monroe), the actress? vulnerable
personality and addiction to drugs and alcohol. However
there is hope with his new fiancé, a German archeologist
who is haunted by her experience during the Second World
War; as each of them attempt to get over their past
experiences, perhaps they can have a future together.
Quentin also delves into his experience during the McCarthy
trials and his family and friends? indictment for supposed
communist activities during that turbulent time. Quentin?s
life is one which is consumed by guilt; he feels guilty of
not being able to fulfill his previous wives? needs and
especially guilty of his wife Maggie, the actress? suicide.
Maggie depended upon Quentin to an extreme extent and
Quentin could not handle the burden of her emotional needs.
As Maggie decided to end her life, Quentin remains torn by
his responsibility but hopes that Hoga, his new fiancé, and
he can perhaps heal each other and find life beyond their
past and the tumultuous events of American and European
history which also haunt them.
Resumos Relacionados
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- The Interuption Of Everything
- Herzog
- Maggie A Girl Of The Streets
- Once And Forever
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