Award Date

1-1-1990

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

English

First Committee Member

Christopher C. Hudgins

Number of Pages

246

Abstract

This study examines the role of friendship in Arthur Miller's work from his book of reportage, Situation Normal to his latest play, The Ride Down Mount Morgan, attempting to show that friendship is a central and recurrent topic in Miller's work, both dramatic and non-dramatic; In chapter 1, the "Introduction," I trace Miller's ideas about friendship, which were framed during the Depression and solidified through his study of American training bases in WWII. Miller seems to contend that if all members of society could respond through friendship as the men in the military did, we would eliminate many social ills and parallel Aristotle's polis, which was unified through friendship; Chapter 2, "Focus," investigates friendship in Miller's only novel, concluding that the protagonist, Lawrence Newman is isolated from his community until he is motivated through friendship to reach beyond his once complacent and now-threatened existence; Chapter 3 "I Don't Need You Any More," traces friendship in Miller's collected short stories, focusing on "Monte Sant' Angelo" and "Fitter's Night," which both indicate that through friendship, one can "connect" with others and find a place in the community; Chapter 4, "Friendship in the Early Drama," looks at friendship in All My Sons and Death of a Salesman. In this chapter I consider the ways that friendship dominates Chris Keller's vision for a better world, and analyze Salesman as a play that details the failure of friendship; Chapter 5, "After The Fall," examines Quentin's struggle with his past, determining that his "journey" features the death and resurrection of friendship as a positive social force; Chapter 6, "Friendship in the Later Drama," concludes that while Miller's view of friendship is shattered as a result of the McCarthy era, his later drama continues to portray friendship as a means to unify our increasingly individual society.

Keywords

Arthur; Drama; Dramatic; Friendship; His; Major; Miller; Miller, Arthur; Miller, Arthur Role; Short; Short Stories; Stories; Study; Writing; Drama; Short Stories

Controlled Subject

American literature; Theater

File Format

pdf

File Size

6625.28 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

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