The American Theater of Change. Images of the Past in Tony Kushner's "Angels in America" and Arthur Miller's "The Crucible"

Table of Contents

I. The American Theater of Change - An Introduction

II. The American Settlement and Colonial History

2.1 An Overview

2.2 Arthur Miller’s Salem

2.2.1 Prevailing Themes in The Crucible

2.2.2 The People of Salem

2.2.3 The Villainy of Abigail Williams

2.2.4 Miller’s Changes

2.3 Early America according to Tony Kushner

2.4 Summary

III. The Age of McCarthyism

3.1 Cold-War America

3.1.1 The Political Landscape

3.1.2 The Crisis of American Masculinity

3.2 “Is the accuser always holy now?” - McCarthyism in The Crucible

3.2.1 Parallels between Salem and McCarthyism

3.2.2 Misremembering history

3.3 “A Saint of the Right”: Roy Cohn

3.3.1 Kushner’s Roy

3.4 Summary

IV. The Administration of Ronald Reagan

4.1 Dr. Feelgood

4.2 Kushner’s America under Reagan

4.2.1 The American Zeitgeist of the 1980s

4.2.2 Family Values

4.3 Summary: Family in The Crucible

V. The American Religion

5.1 Guilt and Responsibility in The Crucible

5.2 Kushner’s Angels

5.2.1 Sexuality and Religion

5.2.2 Judaism and Mormonism

5.3 Summary

VI. The Reinvention of the American Dream

6.1 Dream or Nightmare?

6.2 Miller’s Disillusionment

6.3 Tony Kushner’s Message of Interconnectedness

6.4 Summary

VII. “History is about to crack wide open” - A Conclusion

Objectives and Core Themes

This thesis examines the representation and function of history in Tony Kushner’s Angels in America and Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, exploring how both playwrights utilize images of the past to critique American society, politics, and identity. The central research question investigates the role of these historical depictions in deconstructing and reinventing the American Dream while assessing the authors' contributions to modern American consciousness.

• The comparative analysis of historical allegories within both plays.
• The exploration of McCarthyism as a parallel to the Puritan witch trials.
• The examination of the Reagan era and its impact on the social and political climate of the 1980s.
• The role of religion, guilt, and the family unit in constructing American national identity.
• The critical revaluation of the American Dream through the lens of political dramaturgy.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

I. The American Theater of Change - An Introduction: This chapter introduces the core motivation behind Kushner’s and Miller’s works, focusing on their use of history to engage with contemporary American political and social issues.

II. The American Settlement and Colonial History: This section analyzes how both playwrights utilize the Puritan era to reflect on foundational American principles and the origins of modern societal structures.

III. The Age of McCarthyism: This chapter investigates the anticommunist era, linking the hysteria of the 1950s to Miller’s The Crucible and the character of Roy Cohn in Kushner’s Angels in America.

IV. The Administration of Ronald Reagan: This part examines the political climate of the 1980s, critiquing Reagan’s rhetoric and policies through the prism of the family theme in both plays.

V. The American Religion: This chapter explores the diverse roles religion plays in the works of Miller and Kushner, contrasting institutionalized religious control with personal spirituality and liberal pluralism.

VI. The Reinvention of the American Dream: This final analytical chapter reevaluates how both authors deconstruct popular myths of the American past to offer new, albeit different, visions for the nation's future.

VII. “History is about to crack wide open” - A Conclusion: This summary reflects on the enduring relevance of both playwrights in understanding American identity and the necessity of confronting history to achieve progress.

Keywords

American Dream, McCarthyism, The Crucible, Angels in America, Arthur Miller, Tony Kushner, Puritanism, History, Political Theater, Cold War, Reagan Administration, Roy Cohn, Religion, Social Identity, Collective Memory

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary focus of this academic work?

The work provides a comparative analysis of how Arthur Miller and Tony Kushner use historical events to critique and mirror contemporary American social and political developments.

What are the central thematic fields covered in the research?

The main themes include the construction of American identity, the influence of religion on societal norms, the role of political allegory, and the critical deconstruction of the American Dream.

What is the main research objective of the study?

The study aims to determine the functions of historical images in these plays and how they contribute to the audience's understanding of American nationhood and identity.

Which scientific methods are employed throughout the text?

The author uses a comparative literature approach, analyzing historical texts, political context, and dramaturgical devices within Miller’s and Kushner’s plays.

What aspects are covered in the main body of the research?

The main body covers the Puritan settlement, the impact of McCarthyism, the socio-political climate under Ronald Reagan, and the interplay between religion and power dynamics in American history.

Which key terms best characterize this thesis?

Key terms include political theater, historical allegory, the American Dream, anticommunism, social critique, and the integration of personal and political identity.

How does the author characterize Roy Cohn in Kushner's work?

The author describes Cohn as a pivotal, complex figure who embodies the contradictions of power, hypocrisy, and the political climate of both the 1950s and the 1980s.

Does Arthur Miller portray the Salem witch trials as historically accurate?

No, the author argues that Miller manipulates historical events to create a functional allegory for his own time, emphasizing moral themes over absolute historical record.

How does the concept of the family differ between the two playwrights?

Miller uses the family as a mirror for societal stability and traditional values, whereas Kushner advocates for a community of liberal pluralism that transcends traditional, blood-related family definitions.