Arthur Miller 1915 - 2005

1. Arthur Miller 1915 - 2005 1. Arthur Miller was born in America, but his parents were Polish-Jewish immigrants. 2. In 1940 he started writing plays. Death of a Salesman and The Crucible were two early successes.

2. 3. In 1955 A View From the Bridge was first performed. 4. Miller became interested in the lives of longshoremen. He said that “the waterfront was the Wild West, a desert beyond the law”. 5. Between 1861 and 1934 the population of Italy increased to 400,000. 6. Unemployment was high and disease was rife in Italy.

3. 7. Between 1919 and 1924 many Italians emigrated to America. In 1920 alone 300,000 Italians made the move. 8. In 1924 the US Immigration Act meant that only 3,845 Italians could move to America a year. This meant that many moved illegally.

4. 9. In 1956 Miller split up with his wife and married Marilyn Monroe. 10. Miller was part of the Communist Party of which America disapproved. Miller was jailed in 1957 for his political activities. 11. He split up with Marilyn Monroe.

5. 12. A View from the Bridge is about the Carbone family who are descended from Italian immigrants. They are legal American citizens, but are about to let two illegal immigrants (their cousins Marco and Rodolfo) stay with them.

6. How does Arthur Miller create a dramatic character in Eddie Carbone? Paragraph 1 Explain who Arthur Miller is and explain why you think he wrote a play about Italian immigrants.

7. How does Arthur Miller create a dramatic character in Eddie Carbone? Paragraph 1 Explain who Arthur Miller is and explain why you think he wrote a play about Italian immigrants. Parents Polish-Jewish immigrants. Death of a Salesman & The Crucible - 1940 A View from the Bridge first performed - 1955 “The waterfront was the Wild West, a desert beyond the law” - life of longshoremen (a lot of Italian immigrants were longshoremen and Eddie is in the play. 1861-1934 - Italy increases to 400,000 Unemployment and disease in Italy 1920 - 300,000 Italians move to America 1924 - Law said that only 3,845 Italians could move to America a year. Marries Marilyn Monroe. Jailed for involvement with Communist Party. Splits up with Marilyn Monroe and dies in 2005. A View from the Bridge about family descended from immigrants.

8. A View from the Bridge Parents should be strict with their children Parents should allow children to do whatever they want

9. Eddie seems protective of Catherine: “Now don’t aggravate me, Katie, you are walkin’ wavy!” The audience understand how difficult it is to bring up children How it makes the audience feel What it tells us about the character Eddie treats Catherine like a child Eddie has been set up as the head of the house The dramatic effect on the stage The power relationships between men and women Aggressive and use of slang Ideas it makes us think about The language used by Eddie

10. How does Arthur Miller create a dramatic character in Eddie Carbone? Paragraph 2: Eddie and Catherine “I think it’s too short ain’t it.” “Now don’t aggravate me, Katie, you are walkin’ wavy!” “I don’t like the looks they’re giving you in the candy store.” “You ain’t ‘all the girls’” “Why didn’t you ask me before you take a job?” “I want you to be in a nice office” “(with a sense of her childhood, her babyhood, and the years): All right, go to work.”

11. 1. What makes you suspicious of people? 2. What might Marco and Rodolfo do to make Eddie feel suspicious of them? 3. What do you think is going to happen next?

12. How does Arthur Miller create a dramatic character in Eddie Carbone? Paragraph 3: Eddie meets Marco and Rodolfo “You’re welcome, Marco, we got plenty of room here.” “[To Rodolfo] Why can’t you just walk, or take a trolley, or sump’m?” “[Catherine] gives Eddie a cold look, restrained only by the strangers.” “[Eddie] is sizing up Rodolfo, and there is a concealed suspicion.” Key Words: Foreboding Stage directions Dramatic tension

13. How does Arthur Miller create a dramatic character in Eddie Carbone? Paragraph 4: Eddie’s attitude to Rodolfo “He’s like a chorus girl or sump’m.” “That’s a nice kid. He gives me the heeby-jeebies.” “Katie, he’s only bowin’ to his passport.” Beatrice: “(with open fright and fury) You going to leave her alone? Or you gonna drive me crazy?” Eddie talking to Alfieri: “I see it in her eyes; he’s laughin’ at her and he’s laughin’ at me.” Eddie talking to Alfieri: “They’re laughin’ at him on the piers. I’m ashamed.” “I worked like a dog twenty years so a punk could have her.”

14. Who’s the strongest person in the class?

15. How does Arthur Miller create a dramatic character in Eddie Carbone? Paragraph 5: The chair lifting contest “[Eddie] feints with his left hand and lands with his right. It mildly staggers Rodolfo.” “Eddie tries again, and again fails.” “Marco is face to face with Eddie… the chair raised like a weapon over Eddie’s head.” “[Marco] transforms what might appear like a glare of warning into a smile of triumph.” Key Words: Symbolise Dramatic tension Turning point

16. How does Arthur Miller create a dramatic character in Eddie Carbone? Paragraph 6: The kiss and the betrayal “[Eddie] draws her to him, and as she strives to free herself he kisses her on the mouth.” “Eddie pins his arms, laughing and suddenly kisses him.” “They are like animals who have torn at one another and broken up without a decision.” “I want to report something. Illegal immigrants. Two of them.” Beatrice: “He snitched to the Immigration… they grabbed him and pulled him down the stairs – three flights his head was bouncin’ like a coconut.” (story about Vinny Bolzano from earlier in the play)

17. All law is not in a book • Put right or wrong next to each of these statements. • Talking about someone behind their back. • 2. Grassing up on a friend to a teacher. • 3. Keeping the money if a shop keeper has given you too much change. • 4. Fighting in a war that you don’t believe is right. • 5. Being honest with someone and telling them that their breath smells. • 6. Sneaking away after accidentally breaking someone’s window. • 7. Giving your pet dog a kick. • 8. Cheering when England concede a goal in the World Cup.

18. How does Arthur Miller create a dramatic character in Eddie Carbone? Paragraph 7: The death Marco: “That one! He killed my children! That one stole food from my children.” Alfieri: “All law is not in a book.” “I want my respect.” “[Eddie] is incensing himself and little bits of laughter even escape him as eyes are murderous and he cracks his knuckles in his hands with a strange sort of relaxation.” Alfieri: “It is better to settle for half, it must be!”

19. How does Arthur Miller create a dramatic character in Eddie Carbone? Paragraph 8: The conclusion Does the audience have any sympathy for Eddie at the end? Is there a moral message to this play? How did we know that Eddie was always destined to die? Why is Eddie a fascinating character for the audience? Key Words: Fatal flaw Foreshadowing Greek tragedy