How Does Arthur Miller Create Tension
Miller creates tension in this moment in the play through the song, the dialogue and the stage directions.
The song creates a lot of tension in this moment in the play. The song does this by having Rudolpho singing this the song about Catherine. This creates tension because the song objectifies Catherine by calling her a “paper doll” in the song. This also creates because it helps confirm the theory that Rodolpho is only after Catherine because he wants his papers to be an american citizens. Tension is also created because Rudolpho is flirting with Catherine in front of Eddie saying how much he wants her. This is evident when he says “I’m gonna buy a paper doll that I can call my own” This could be directed at Eddie and be his way of telling …show more content…
him that Catherine is his.
Another way in which tension is created is through the stage directions. Tension is created when B gives Eddie a “cold look” after he makes Catherine take her heels of. This is Beatrice's way of saying I see what you are doing and you need to stop. This allows the audience to understand what is going on between Eddie and Catherine and that B is aware of it. The fact that Beatrice's look is “restrained only by the strangers” referring to her cousins is a significant word choice by Miller. He has done this to isolate the cousins from the family and feel as if they are not as included in the internal affairs. This isolation of these members from the family could be a reference to what is to come in the play. Another stage direction that Miller uses to create tension is when it says how Eddie has a “concealed suspicion” of Rudolpho which could allude to his distrust of Rudolpho and belief that he desires Catherine for his papers.
The final significant way that Arthur Miller creates tension in this moment in the play is through dialogue.
The primary contribution to the tension is Miller’s choice to have Beatrice in this scene but not have her say anything. This creates tension because it is almost as if Beatrice is watching Eddie and judging him. It makes it hard for Eddie to do anything too obvious because Beatrice is watching over him. This adds to the tension in the play because it creates an awkward dynamic between characters. The second thing that creates tension in the dialogue is how Catherine and Rudolpho flat obviously in front of Eddie. This is seen where Catherine says "you like sugar? "And the Rudolpho replies "Sugar? Yes! I like sugar very much! ". The audience may infer that they're referring to Catherine as "sugar " hence,objectifying her. This creates tension because Catherine has spent most of the play trying to become her own person and remove herself from the stereotypes of women. The final contributor to the tension in this moment in the play is Alfieri's speech at the end of the scene. Full of the words that creates tension are when Alfieri says that Eddie Carboni is "expected to have a destiny” this is an interesting use of ominous foreboding of what is to come later on in the play. It shows how Eddie has no choice, and has a set future. Also the fact that there is a that is “trouble that would not go away" shows that there is worry and problems to
come.
In conclusion there are three main ways in which Miller creates tension at this moment in the play. These are through the song, the stage directions and the dialogue.
Alex McAlpine 10L1
The song creates a lot of tension in this moment in the play. The song does this by having Rudolpho singing this the song about Catherine. This creates tension because the song objectifies Catherine by calling her a “paper doll” in the song. This also creates because it helps confirm the theory that Rodolpho is only after Catherine because he wants his papers to be an american citizens. Tension is also created because Rudolpho is flirting with Catherine in front of Eddie saying how much he wants her. This is evident when he says “I’m gonna buy a paper doll that I can call my own” This could be directed at Eddie and be his way of telling …show more content…
him that Catherine is his.
Another way in which tension is created is through the stage directions. Tension is created when B gives Eddie a “cold look” after he makes Catherine take her heels of. This is Beatrice's way of saying I see what you are doing and you need to stop. This allows the audience to understand what is going on between Eddie and Catherine and that B is aware of it. The fact that Beatrice's look is “restrained only by the strangers” referring to her cousins is a significant word choice by Miller. He has done this to isolate the cousins from the family and feel as if they are not as included in the internal affairs. This isolation of these members from the family could be a reference to what is to come in the play. Another stage direction that Miller uses to create tension is when it says how Eddie has a “concealed suspicion” of Rudolpho which could allude to his distrust of Rudolpho and belief that he desires Catherine for his papers.
The final significant way that Arthur Miller creates tension in this moment in the play is through dialogue.
The primary contribution to the tension is Miller’s choice to have Beatrice in this scene but not have her say anything. This creates tension because it is almost as if Beatrice is watching Eddie and judging him. It makes it hard for Eddie to do anything too obvious because Beatrice is watching over him. This adds to the tension in the play because it creates an awkward dynamic between characters. The second thing that creates tension in the dialogue is how Catherine and Rudolpho flat obviously in front of Eddie. This is seen where Catherine says "you like sugar? "And the Rudolpho replies "Sugar? Yes! I like sugar very much! ". The audience may infer that they're referring to Catherine as "sugar " hence,objectifying her. This creates tension because Catherine has spent most of the play trying to become her own person and remove herself from the stereotypes of women. The final contributor to the tension in this moment in the play is Alfieri's speech at the end of the scene. Full of the words that creates tension are when Alfieri says that Eddie Carboni is "expected to have a destiny” this is an interesting use of ominous foreboding of what is to come later on in the play. It shows how Eddie has no choice, and has a set future. Also the fact that there is a that is “trouble that would not go away" shows that there is worry and problems to
come.
In conclusion there are three main ways in which Miller creates tension at this moment in the play. These are through the song, the stage directions and the dialogue.
Alex McAlpine 10L1