An American Tragedy Essay, Research Paper
An American Tragedy
by: Jamie Newlands
2nd hour
American Literature
October 30, 1996
Two American authors, of two distinctly different time periods had one very similar task, to turn a piece of American History into a believable tragedy. Arthur Miller with The Crucible and Nathaniel Hawthorne with The Scarlet Letter. Perhaps one might wonder which author did a better job in doing so, but with such different pieces of work, this is hardly a question that can be answered.
Miller’s the Crucible was written in the nineteen-fifties, with a definite purpose, to remind Americans of the horrible witch trials that took place in Salem, even before the American Revolution was a thought. It served as a tool to warn against the same thing happening with the Communist hearings going on in our country at the time it was written. Miller wrote a play, which was not well received by the first audiences to witness it, but none the less is now recognized as one the finest pieces of literature written by an American.
Hawthorne’s the Scarlet Letter was written in the eighteen hundreds, with no other purpose but for Hawthorne to write a novel. Hawthorne perhaps chose this dark subject to convey his contempt for Puritanism. He was a man preoccupied with the hidden sin which is illustrated in not only the Scarlet Letter, but also in The Minister’s Black Veil. One might even say that Hawthorne’s ancestry (Hathorne) is what he might consider his own “Pearl”, and this is why he changed his name.
Like Miller’s the Crucible, The Scarlet Letter takes place in Puritan Salem and has a tragic hero, but these are the only similarities between the two great works.
In Miller’s play, the tragic hero is John Proctor, a man whose pride causes the demise of many women, tried as witches. Had Proctor chosen to reveal his sin of lechery with Abigail Williams before the problem got out of hand, he would’ve saved several women from being hanged. But Proctor, instead chose to keep quiet about it until it was his own wife’s destiny at stake, and then it was too late.
In Hawthorne’s novel, The tragic hero is Dimmesdale, who wouldn’t admit to being the father of Pearl. But Dimmesdale’s silence, and that of Hester’s lead only to his own demise. Pearl went on to live a very productive life full of luxury, marrying nobility as well as inheriting riches of her own.
A person reading Miller’s play and Hawthorne’s novel one right after the other might be tempted to say that the two are similar but this is very much a debatable subject. Although in both works, forbidden love is absolutely central to the plot, the actual concrete similarities beyond that are few. If these two works could be associated, one could associate any two works with a dead guy at the end and love society won’t allow in the middle. For example, the musical West Side Story, The tragic hero is Tony, a young man who has hated Puerto Ricans his whole life, until Maria. They meet, fall in love and plan a life together all in two nights, but alas Tony’s forbidden love for Maria and his loyalty to his friend, Riff, is the cause of his own demise. What person would associate this story with The Scarlet Letter? The similarities between the two are just the same as those between The Crucible and The Scarlet Letter. Both West Side Story and The Scarlet Letter have a tragic hero, as well as a climactic ending where the reader (or the auditor) actually thinks things may go as planned. But, in the end the hero dies and the heroin is left alone. No one would ever think to associate a musical with such an icon in American Literature, and in turn, shouldn’t associate the Crucible with it either. To say they are so very similar due only to the setting is as juvenile as saying two people must be twins since they are wearing the same sweater.
Though both fine pieces, the Crucible and the Scarlet Letter are not comparable beyond a very vague look at the settings and plot skeletons of the two. One a drama, the other a romance novel. One written almost a century before the other. One might refrain from saying they are similar beyond a very basic level.
32d
Другие работы по теме:
American Essay Research Paper What does it
American Essay, Research Paper What does it mean to be “American?” What makes it “American?” And how does it make us “American?” American stands for the beliefs, the music, as well as the people that come from
Los Vendidos Essay Research Paper Los Vendidos
Los Vendidos Essay, Research Paper Los Vendidos means the sell-outs. All the characters in the play sold-out at some point during the play. The characters sold out both their races and their way of life. I would say that the person who sold out the most was the Mexican-American because he sold-out both his Mexican, his American heritage and way of life.
Oedipus The King Essay Research Paper 3
Oedipus The King Essay, Research Paper 3. How Sophocles? Oedipus the King fits the description of tragedy provided by Aristotle? Why does Aristotle believe tragedy is superior to epic poetry?
Greek Tragedy Essay Research Paper The Greek
Greek Tragedy Essay, Research Paper The Greek Tragedy The tragedy was a large part of people’s lives in ancient Greece. Tragedies became prominent long before Christ was born. A tragedy, or goat-song, usually were seen during festivals in ancient Greek times. Tragedies gradually increased in seriousness until they were given utmost importance.
Playwrights Aeschylus Sophocles And Euripides Essay Research
Paper The starting point when discussing comedy and tragedy would be to define the main terms. Comedy is the dramatic genre that focuses on human weakness through humor. Comedy celebrates the regeneration of life through love and reconciliation. Tragedy is the dramatic genre initiated by ancient Greek playwrights such as Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides.
Tragedy Essay Research Paper What makes a
Tragedy Essay, Research Paper What makes a tragedy tragic? Though the dictionary makes the word tragic seem like an accident or a bad happening, I think what makes a tragedy tragic is more than events, which occur through out a piece of writing. It is more of a feeling than a physical action or specific event.
Poem Destiny Essay Research Paper Sometimes I
Poem: Destiny Essay, Research Paper Sometimes I wonder if life is just meant to be If we have not a choice in the matter, or we really are free I walked down the street on one fine day
AudenS Musee Des Beaux Arts And Dylans
?Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night? Essay, Research Paper Both Auden’s “Musee des Beaux Arts” and Dylans “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” can be seen as having a theme of tragedy. Both concern the topic of death, although each has a different message. Auden is one side of the spectrum saying that death and suffering are natural parts of the life cycle, while Thomas wants to fight death because there is still much to be done.
Columbine Essay Research Paper Columbine Cause and
Columbine Essay, Research Paper Columbine: Cause and Effect The Columbine tragedy has struck another victim last week. If all thoughts were that the tragedy was behind us, no one has considered the effects of the massacre. A student that was injured in the massacre was making progress on recovering, when backlash from the tragedy struck.
Love In Hamlet Essay Research Paper Hamlet
Love In Hamlet Essay, Research Paper Hamlet is, without any doubt, one of William Shakespeare’s most puzzling plays. Often times, the reader becomes engulfed in the mystery, trickery and deceit in this tragedy. People become perplexed while reading Hamlet when they ask themselves the question, “Does Hamlet truly love Ophelia?”.
Untitled Essay Research Paper With the story
Untitled Essay, Research Paper With the story unfolding out in the vein of a Greek tragedy, F. Scott Fitzgerald, with his quintessential work The Great Gatsby, has created a novel that destroys the illusion of the American Dream – a dream of money, wealth, prosperity, and happiness. The American Dream is shown to be a tragedy, an achievable goal that was a catalyst to the ruining of dreams and dashing of hopes, best represented by the turmoil and dealings of the book’s protagonist, Jay Gatsby.
Tragedy Of Pudd
’nhead Wilson Essay, Research Paper The Tragedy of Pudd’nhead Wilson is one of Mark Twain’s most thorough examinations of the institution of slavery and the superficiality of racial prejudice. It was written during an era when Jim Crow segregation was spreading throughout the South and was published two years before the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of segregation in Plessy v.
Oedipus Rex Essay Research Paper There have
Oedipus Rex Essay, Research Paper There have been many tragedies throughout history, including Sophocles play Oedipus Rex. I utterly agree with Aristotle in saying that Oedipus Rex, is one such tragedy. Through the plot, character and thoughts it is evident the Oedipus Rex is a model tragedy.
American Revolution Essay Research Paper Q
American Revolution Essay, Research Paper Q: Explain why Japan reacted to western ideas by adopting a policy of isolation. How did this reaction to outside influences effect Japans development over the next few centuries.
Vietnam Essay Research Paper Against the celebrated
Vietnam Essay, Research Paper -Against the celebrated and glorious backdrop of American history, the Vietnam War stands ghastly out of place. The war was an exercise in economic, military, and political futility. The greatest tragedy of the Vietnam War, however, stems from the unnecessary deaths of 58 000 young American boys and the installment of terror, mistrust, and sorrow in those who found a way to survive in an inferno where the laws of man were obsolete.
Poetics Essay Research Paper The subject of
Poetics Essay, Research Paper The subject of the Poetics is poetry, including epic poetry, tragedy and comedy. Unlike Plato, Aristotle regards poetry as a techne. The practice of poetry is governed by rules; these rules can be formulated and taught. Poetry is rationally comprehensible.
John Minnie And Petie A Love Triangle
Essay, Research Paper Karen Rayne Mrs. Wolf English 102.004 2 March 2001 John, Minnie, and Petie, A Love Triangle: Comedy and Tragedy in Susan Glaspell’s Trifles
Oedipus Essay Research Paper Oedipus is a
Oedipus Essay, Research Paper Oedipus is a blind old man. He is the son of a former king of Thebes. His father?s name was Laius and his mother was Jocasta, the former queen. In the previous tragedy, Oedipus inadvertently killed his father and married his mother. He had four kids with his wife. Moreover, his wife/mother was going through a lot of stress so she decided to hang herself.
Romeo And Juliet Tragedy Of A Family
Or A City? Essay, Research Paper Romeo and Juliet: Tragedy of A Family or A City? Is Romeo and Juliet’s death a tragedy of two families or a tragedy of a city? In the following quote, W. H. Auden says, “The tragedy of Romeo and
Romeo And Juliet Tragedy Love Story Or
Both? Essay, Research Paper Romeo and Juliet: Tragedy, Love Story or Both? Shakespeare’s tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, is the tale of two lovers who take their lives for each other when their love is hindered by their feuding parents.
Othello By Shakespeare Essay Research Paper Andrew
Othello By Shakespeare Essay, Research Paper Andrew Cecil Bradley discusses Shakespearean tragedy as being exemplified by a tragic hero with a tragic flaw, which ultimately leads to the demise of this hero. He states that “no play at the end of which the hero remains alive is, in the full Shakespearean sense, a tragedy”.
Antigone And Creon Essay Research Paper The
Antigone And Creon Essay, Research Paper The play Antigone, written by sophocles in 441 B.C.E., presents a tragedy of characters whom suffer greatly, caused by series of tragic flaws. Antigone, the title character of the play, seems to be the perfect character in the role of a tragic hero, in the light of the fact that she dies in doing what is right.
Native Son Reviews Essay Research Paper Native
Native Son: Reviews Essay, Research Paper Native Son: Reviews Native Son, by Richard Wright, was hailed by reviewers as an instant classic upon its release in 1940. The novel was an instant bestseller, having
American Ethics Essay Research Paper American Beauty
American Ethics Essay, Research Paper American Beauty is a very intricate film portraying the sarcasm intertwined within American values, or beauties. Every scene within American Beauty influences each character in the movie as well as other scenes. The structure of this flick is as if it were not possible to remove one scene from the work, otherwise the entire movie would collapse like a domino effect.
Cruel Tears Essay Research Paper In reading
Cruel Tears Essay, Research Paper In reading the play Cruel Tears, you will find that there is definitely a tragedy. However, it is unclear as to what the tragedy is caused by. In looking at Johnny and Jack you can start to unwind this debatable event. Did Johnny s weakness or Jack s jealousy cause this tragedy? It is unfortunate that more history of the relation between Johnny and Jack is not available.
American Dream Essay Research Paper scribes the
American Dream Essay, Research Paper scribes the defeat of the American dream, and that the American ideals differ with the actual social conditions that exist in society. For the American constitutions stands for the freedom, and equality among people, but the truth of the matter is that social discrimination still exists and the grouping among the classes can never be overcome.
A Worn Path Essay Research Paper Tragedy
A Worn Path Essay, Research Paper Tragedy and the Common Man An Essay by Arthur Miller 1949 In this age few tragedies are written. It has often been held that the lack is due to a
Hamlet And Tragedy Essay Research Paper Peter
Hamlet And Tragedy Essay, Research Paper Peter Gillis April 20, 2001 Block 4 Hamlet: A Tragedy When you think of William Shakespeare, Hamlet is the first thing most people think of, as his work. Hamlet is also a classic example of a tragedy. In all tragedies the hero suffers, and usually dies at the end. All good pieces of literature written way back when, are usually tragedies.
PARADISE LOST Essay Research Paper THE PURPOSE
PARADISE LOST Essay, Research Paper THE PURPOSE OF CLASSICAL TRAGEDY IS TO AROUSE PITY AND FEAR AND THUS TO PRODUSE IN THE AUDIENCE A CATHARSIS {PROPER PURGATION} OF THESE EMOTIONS THAT HE AS A SPECTATOR OWNS. THE AUDIENCE SENSE OF PITY TOWARDS THE HERO OCCURS BECAUSE THE HERO THROUGH HIS TRAGIC FLAW {HAMARTIA} BECOMES A TRAGIC BUT REMAINS A NOBLE FIGURE.
My Dog Essay Research Paper My dog
My Dog Essay, Research Paper My dog has a hat, and the hat has a shoe and that show is you. How many dogs is there in a mile to get to the other side of the siterate substance. It is known that is Shakespear’es tragedies main chatcaters die in the end,a nd in his comedy people marry. SInce Romeo and juliet is a tragedy, romeo and juliet are going to die in the end.
An Excerpt From Joseph Freeman
’s AN AMERICAN TESTAMENT Essay, Research Paper from An American Testament by novelist and apparatchik Joseph Freeman (1936) Reconciliation to the city is only a prelude to our transformation. The conflict of
The Moder Tragedy Death Of A Salesman
Essay, Research Paper A Modern Tragedy A form of drama in which a person of superior intelligence and character is overcome by the very obstacles he/she is struggling to remove defines a tragedy as most people know it. However, tragedy can reflect another aspect of life: the tragedies of the common people.