The Kite Runnerpsychology Essay Example
The Kite Runnerpsychology Essay Example

The Kite Runnerpsychology Essay Example

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  • Pages: 4 (845 words)
  • Published: August 23, 2017
  • Type: Essay
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Author Miller, a celebrated contemporary dramatist recognized for his empathy towards the mistreated and neglected in society wrote The Crucible. It serves as a noteworthy example of the detrimental effects that arise when people's covert desires go unchecked, escalating to uncontrollable levels, with severe consequences. Abigail's infatuation with John Proctor exemplifies this, as although the audience never witnesses their initial encounter, we learn of their secret affair. This wrongdoing ultimately casts an eternal darkness over Elizabeth's heart.

Act two of the play explores several themes, including compassion, betrayal, power, and integrity, as well as Elizabeth and John's inferior tension. Author Miller uses literary techniques such as contrasts and parallels, characters' dialogue, stage direction, and the roles of the puritans during that time to achieve these themes. The act begins with a descripti

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on of the setting, contrasting the "fields outside" with the "low, dark, and rather long living room" inside John and Elizabeth's house.

During the later parts of the play, John expressed his dissatisfaction with the decorations to Elizabeth, suggesting "bring flowers in the house" and commenting "I never see such a load of flowers on the Earth". He actively works to enhance the interior features of their home. The audience can see that the indoors of their residence is characterized by a vivid yet dull atmosphere overflowing with envy and stress, while the outside promises happiness and freedom from anxiety. This creates tension as the surroundings establish the characters' attitudes, and the lifeless atmosphere influences the flat and unexciting conversation that will take place in the scene. The theme of integrity is only introduced here through John openly expressing his feelings about the internal furniture o

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their home.

Short closed questions are used to restrict conversation and limit character responses. For instance, John asking Elizabeth, "i think your sad again. Are you?" only to receive a question in return, "You come so late I thought you'd gone to Salem this afternoon". Despite this limitation, John's questioning shows affection towards Elizabeth and highlights his continued care for her throughout their unstable relationship.

Elizabeth's reluctance to answer John's question and her counter-example reveals her suspicion towards him and dissatisfaction with any verbal attempts to please her. This ultimately leads to tension between them as John feels saddened by Elizabeth's irrelevant response. The recurring theme of love and betrayal is apparent, as John wants Elizabeth to open up to him but she remains unforgiving and unwilling to do so. As the tension builds, the scene ends in an argument with John unleashing his anger to uphold his integrity.

In the given excerpt, John's superiority over Elizabeth is emphasized through the addition of stage directions. However, it also portrays his effort to please her and the remaining compassion he has for her. As he gets up and kisses her, she receives it but with disappointment, ultimately returning to the table. This highlights the tension in their relationship where John is attempting to make amends while Elizabeth remains unsatisfied and ignores his actions.

The audience can see that Abigail's affair has affected the couple's relationship, despite their attempts to communicate and express their feelings. The affair continues to cause tension between them. John believes that Elizabeth doesn't value his love as she does not return his affection. He feels unappreciated for his efforts to please her while it appears

that Elizabeth no longer loves him and is unwilling to work on saving their relationship.

The two lovers lack chemistry, causing tension as they try to understand each other despite their efforts. This could be due to the traditional gender roles of puritan society in 1692. Men were expected to lead and provide for their families, exemplified when John returns home after a day of "seeding the soil" while carrying a gun. Meanwhile, women were submissive housewives with no authority, demonstrated when she brings rabbit to the table and focuses on nourishing her husband.

In general, this quote suggests that John holds the role of the dominant parent, which relates to the theme of power, and Elizabeth must obey his commands. The audience can clearly observe John as the one controlling and guiding the family while Elizabeth has limited sway in his decisions. This results in tension between the couple due to their unequal distribution of power.

Elizabeth is not free to express her opinions on current events because John can overpower her. She feels compelled to fake happiness in uncomfortable situations, even when she wants to speak out. Miller creates tension by continuously reminding both John and Elizabeth of Abigail Williams, causing friction and leading to conflicts in act two. Abigail is the source of anxiety for the lovers and is responsible for the chaos in the play, including the witchcraft hysteria. However, without Abigail in the play, it would not be the same.

Without a doubt, Miller centers each plotline on Abigail. She generates the conflict between John and Elizabeth, and plays a critical role in The Crucible's popularity as a highly engaging drama.

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