thebeardedpoet's review against another edition
2.0
Interestingly the play After the Fall deals with the historical tragedies of the Great Depression, the Holocaust, and the Red Scare.
The best thing about Arthur Miller's After the Fall is the format: As a transition between scenes, Quentin, the main character, speaks out loud about his life and experiences to an unseen "Listener." The story emerges from Quentin's memories and associations. Persons from various time periods in his life might appear on stage in a given scene at the same time due to the connections and associations those people evoke. Because moments at different times are portrayed simultaneously, the format can be confusing at first, but eventually becomes an effective technique for bringing the audience into Quentin's mind.
What I did not care for was the repeated portrayal of the disintegrations of marriage and friendship relationships. We witness the failure of Quentin's two marriages. We see Quentin's parents decent into brokenness. For me it simply got too depressing and discouraging to see couples fall apart like that. Also this repeated motif made the hopeful ending seem very unlikely and unbelievable. Really? We are to believe that Quentin's next relationship will function well?
The character of Maggie is thought by many to be a parallel for Marilyn Monroe, who was briefly married to Arthur Miller. Maggie enacts the descent of innocent girl who becomes a star and can't handle an artist's public life. She becomes an insanely jealous primadonna, constantly whining to get her way and spending herself into a vast hole of debt. She turns to drugs and becomes suicidal. Perhaps you can understand why I didn't find the Second Act (mostly about Maggie and Quentin's marriage) to be much fun.
The best thing about Arthur Miller's After the Fall is the format: As a transition between scenes, Quentin, the main character, speaks out loud about his life and experiences to an unseen "Listener." The story emerges from Quentin's memories and associations. Persons from various time periods in his life might appear on stage in a given scene at the same time due to the connections and associations those people evoke. Because moments at different times are portrayed simultaneously, the format can be confusing at first, but eventually becomes an effective technique for bringing the audience into Quentin's mind.
What I did not care for was the repeated portrayal of the disintegrations of marriage and friendship relationships. We witness the failure of Quentin's two marriages. We see Quentin's parents decent into brokenness. For me it simply got too depressing and discouraging to see couples fall apart like that. Also this repeated motif made the hopeful ending seem very unlikely and unbelievable. Really? We are to believe that Quentin's next relationship will function well?
The character of Maggie is thought by many to be a parallel for Marilyn Monroe, who was briefly married to Arthur Miller. Maggie enacts the descent of innocent girl who becomes a star and can't handle an artist's public life. She becomes an insanely jealous primadonna, constantly whining to get her way and spending herself into a vast hole of debt. She turns to drugs and becomes suicidal. Perhaps you can understand why I didn't find the Second Act (mostly about Maggie and Quentin's marriage) to be much fun.
menu89's review against another edition
Arthur Miller is the first playwright I am reading outside the allotted Shakespeare. I found the technique employed in the narration of events/dialogue in this play interest (although a little difficult to follow). I had a vague notion from the title that there might be biblical implications but since those parallels do not interest me, I will not pursue them.
One theme that struck out at me was of complicity and guilt. This was there throughout the first act. About who is guilty and for what reason, and how everyone is complicit. I saw him juxtapose the holocaust with other events in his life and the lives of others.
I felt that he other'd the women in his writing a lot. He focused on two male character (if i remember correctly) and these characters saved him (Lou who threw himself in front of the train to supposedly save his career and his brother who took up work so that he could go to school?) but all female characters seemed (to what?) deny him what he needed? But I think this ties into him not understanding women, or failing to treat them as actual separate entities, or at least that is what was established in the first act.
The second act furthers the story I suppose and tries to fix the lose end of trying to get out of the hopeless jumble of guilt associated to us via the past to arrive at a present where we can accept it and move on. I think this person "Holga" is a personification of this idea final idea, which is why she is brought in time and again as an ideal that Quentin wants to reach out to grab but doesn't feel like he can.
I don't really know if that was the intention of the author but those are some ideas that occurred to me whilst reading this play. I did feel like the ending was a bit vague and that the play lacked fluidity.
One theme that struck out at me was of complicity and guilt. This was there throughout the first act. About who is guilty and for what reason, and how everyone is complicit. I saw him juxtapose the holocaust with other events in his life and the lives of others.
I felt that he other'd the women in his writing a lot. He focused on two male character (if i remember correctly) and these characters saved him (Lou who threw himself in front of the train to supposedly save his career and his brother who took up work so that he could go to school?) but all female characters seemed (to what?) deny him what he needed? But I think this ties into him not understanding women, or failing to treat them as actual separate entities, or at least that is what was established in the first act.
The second act furthers the story I suppose and tries to fix the lose end of trying to get out of the hopeless jumble of guilt associated to us via the past to arrive at a present where we can accept it and move on. I think this person "Holga" is a personification of this idea final idea, which is why she is brought in time and again as an ideal that Quentin wants to reach out to grab but doesn't feel like he can.
I don't really know if that was the intention of the author but those are some ideas that occurred to me whilst reading this play. I did feel like the ending was a bit vague and that the play lacked fluidity.
not_a_bagel's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Arthur Miller's masterpiece, this semi-autobiographical work takes Miller's life and makes it so brutally realistic and devastating that after I finished reading I had to just sit there for a while in awe of his writing. Makes every other realistic fiction author look like an amateur. The Nazi sympathies are interesting from a jewish playwright though.
hageryousef99's review against another edition
4.0
خلال حياتك ستجد كتاب تتغير عنده كل أفكارك وآرائك لن تعود كما كنت قبل قراءة هذا العمل أبداً ستتغير نظرتك لكل الكتب التي تنتمي لنفس الفئة، بالنسبة لي لقد خضت هذا الشعور لأول مرة مع هذا الكتاب. لقد تغيرت كل معتقداتي في عالم المسرحيات من هذه اللحظة؛ أكاد أشعر بعقلي وهو ينضج ويتغذي علي لون جديد من ألوان الأدب. بدون أدني تردد هذه المسرحية من أجمل ما قرأت في عالم المسرحيات حتي الآن لا أدري كيف لعمل بكل هذا الجمال والإتقان ألّا يلاقي رواجاً وشهرة، شهرته لا تمثل 1% من مدي جماله. لم أري كاتب مسرحيات بتلك النظرة الإخراجية العبقرية، أعلن صراحة تلك المسرحية ورؤية كاتبها وطريقة صياغتها أفضل بمراحل من مسرحيات لشكسبير تعد البناء الأساسي في عالم المسرحيات. حبكة عظيمة إخراج رائع تسلسل أحداث مذهل حوار أكثر من ممتاز النتيجة أفضل مسرحية علي الإطلاق! من أول سطر اندمجت وغصت مع المسرحية وأبطالها وحكايتها والصراعات. المذهل أن هذه المسرحية غير حقيقية فهي عبارة عن جولة في عقل البطل ذكرياته ومأساته تبريرات وتحليلات العودة بالزمن والرجوع للحاضر مقارنة الماضي بما يحدث الآن هل البطل قاتل أم مقتول ضحية أم جاني... أسئلة كثيرة يعج بها رأسك ربما تجد لها إجابة وربما تغرق في مستنقع التحليلات. أمر رائع ومدهش ان تتجول في عقل شخص ما، دائما ما نخطئ في حق بعضنا البعض ونحكم علي الآخرين من وجهة نظرنا وعادة ما نكتشف خطأ ذلك الحكم ولكن دعني أسألك.. ما بالك لو أخطأت في حق نفسك؟ هنا في الرواية تتعري الطبيعة البشرية أمامك في عقل البطل وصراعاته سواء أكانت مع الآخرين أو مع نفسه. الترجمة أكثر من رائعة متقنة لدرجة أنك لن تشعر أنه نص مترجم بالإضافة فإن المترجم جمع في بداية الكتاب ملخص لحياة الكاتب ومسرحياته ونبذة عن كل مسرحية و في جزء مسرحية "بعد السقوط" كان شرحه للمسرحية رائع واضاف آراء النقاد وحوارات سابقة للكاتب يتحدث فيها عن المسرحية. واضح جداً مدي إتقانه لعمله ومدي شغفه به ولكن تعليقي الوحيد أن يأتي كل هذا بعد نص المسرحية الأصلي كي لا يحرق الأحداث علي القارئ فكل هذا الشرح والآراء من الأفضل أن تختم به بعد قراءة المسرحية ليتضح لك كل الجوانب.
mwaskom's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
2.0
men will really write a mediocre play at the expense of their ex wives before going to therapy
montagves's review against another edition
4.0
Definitely a superb first approach to Arthur Miller's fantastic writing. Loved it.
gloriasun's review against another edition
4.0
Read this sitting in a Page One store (it's relatively short). What an intellectual, psychologically interesting piece of work this is! I definitely want to see a staging of this play.
amsbennet's review against another edition
3.0
As opposed to many, I actually loved the messy disjointed switch between characters and dialogue; it is after all happening in the human mind.
Initially and for the most part, I didn't quite understand what was he talking about when it came to the conversations with his parents neither with his colleagues. I wanted a good monologue but that didn't happen either.
Apart from that, I thoroughly enjoyed the scenes and dialogues with his wives- be it Louise or Maggie.
Initially and for the most part, I didn't quite understand what was he talking about when it came to the conversations with his parents neither with his colleagues. I wanted a good monologue but that didn't happen either.
Apart from that, I thoroughly enjoyed the scenes and dialogues with his wives- be it Louise or Maggie.
ellacgoose1's review against another edition
5.0
psa: nothing here will be most likely even remotely concise, so my apologies
but okay this was one of the most beautiful things i've read in a long time. i already adore plays, both acting in and reading them but this was just...i'm speechless. i'm sitting in my geomatry class right now trying not to get emotional over this and its just hard as i want to scream from the sheer emotion this play brought me to
it's probably rather evident that i like to include mass amounts of quotes in my reviews. i could quote this entire play. i can't think of a line that didn't stick out or mean nothing. i truly wish i could simply transcribe the entire play into this review but that might take time i don't have, plus i'd much rather share my thoughts. but don't worry, i can't not include quotes altogether.
"maybe the dead do bother her"
the medium in which this play takes place was one of the special things about it. the entire thing took place in the mental state of quentin, the main character, which was something i loved. i once wrote a short play (*sighs at myself*) about different aspects of a specific person, sort of their personality traits but personified, coming to life one night to discuss the individual. & that took place in this strange, dark, mental state of mind. & then i read after the fall and i thought "hey! he wrote it like i did!" needless to say it was stunning
also i'm just realizing that goodreads now has a character count so you know how long your reviews can be. interesting. anyways
"yes! that we conspired to violate the past, and the past is holy and its horrors are the holiest of all!"
imagine being so in love with the world and its people and love itself but just doing so many things that hurt you and other people. i think people like that are special. they love others so much but sometimes they don't realize what they're doing. the world is a full of sensitivity. not the kind of sensitivity we see today but the kind arthur miller wrote about was something unordinary in our culture today. it was something soft, innocent, and inexplicably honest
"quentin: and i am full of hatred, i, maggie, the sweet over of all life - i hate the world
maggie: get out of here!
quentin: hate women, hate men, hate all who will not grovel at my feet proclaiming my limitless love for ever and ever!
she spills a handfull of pills into her palm. he speaks desperately, trying not to physically take the pills from her
throw them in the sea; death in the sea and drink your life instead; your rotton, betrayed, hateful mockery of a life. that power is death, maggie! do the hardest thing of all - see our own hatred, and live!"
i so badly desire to play maggie in this show. someone who knows me needs to read the second act of this beautiful play & maybe they'd understand.
"quentin: all right, you lie down, and i'll put a little music on.
maggie: no you; you, sit down. and take off your shoes. i mean just to rest. you don't have to do anything. she goes to turn on the machine, turns it on, jazz. was i sleeping?
quentin: for a moment, i think
maggie: was she... was anybody else here?
quentin: no. just me
maggie: is there smoke?
quentin: your mother's dead and gone, dear, she can't hurt you anymore, don't be afraid
maggie, in a helpless voice of a child : where you going to put me?
quentin his chest threatening a cry : nowhere, dear - he'll decide with you. he might be here tonight
maggie: see? i'll lay down. she hurries to the bed, lies down. see?
quentin: good
maggie: 'member how used to talk to me till i went to sleep?
quentin: yes, dear. he sits beside the bed
maggie - she struggles for lucidity, for some little pose of quiet charm it nice in chicago?"
later
"maggie, we've got to have some humility towards ourselves; we were both born of many errors, a human being has to forgive himself! you want me to say i killed you? all right, i killed you. now what? what do you want?"
solid 5/5 stars. arthur miller is such a talented playwright. sotd: ob-la-di, ob-la-da by the beatles
but okay this was one of the most beautiful things i've read in a long time. i already adore plays, both acting in and reading them but this was just...i'm speechless. i'm sitting in my geomatry class right now trying not to get emotional over this and its just hard as i want to scream from the sheer emotion this play brought me to
it's probably rather evident that i like to include mass amounts of quotes in my reviews. i could quote this entire play. i can't think of a line that didn't stick out or mean nothing. i truly wish i could simply transcribe the entire play into this review but that might take time i don't have, plus i'd much rather share my thoughts. but don't worry, i can't not include quotes altogether.
"maybe the dead do bother her"
the medium in which this play takes place was one of the special things about it. the entire thing took place in the mental state of quentin, the main character, which was something i loved. i once wrote a short play (*sighs at myself*) about different aspects of a specific person, sort of their personality traits but personified, coming to life one night to discuss the individual. & that took place in this strange, dark, mental state of mind. & then i read after the fall and i thought "hey! he wrote it like i did!" needless to say it was stunning
also i'm just realizing that goodreads now has a character count so you know how long your reviews can be. interesting. anyways
"yes! that we conspired to violate the past, and the past is holy and its horrors are the holiest of all!"
imagine being so in love with the world and its people and love itself but just doing so many things that hurt you and other people. i think people like that are special. they love others so much but sometimes they don't realize what they're doing. the world is a full of sensitivity. not the kind of sensitivity we see today but the kind arthur miller wrote about was something unordinary in our culture today. it was something soft, innocent, and inexplicably honest
"quentin: and i am full of hatred, i, maggie, the sweet over of all life - i hate the world
maggie: get out of here!
quentin: hate women, hate men, hate all who will not grovel at my feet proclaiming my limitless love for ever and ever!
she spills a handfull of pills into her palm. he speaks desperately, trying not to physically take the pills from her
throw them in the sea; death in the sea and drink your life instead; your rotton, betrayed, hateful mockery of a life. that power is death, maggie! do the hardest thing of all - see our own hatred, and live!"
i so badly desire to play maggie in this show. someone who knows me needs to read the second act of this beautiful play & maybe they'd understand.
"quentin: all right, you lie down, and i'll put a little music on.
maggie: no you; you, sit down. and take off your shoes. i mean just to rest. you don't have to do anything. she goes to turn on the machine, turns it on, jazz. was i sleeping?
quentin: for a moment, i think
maggie: was she... was anybody else here?
quentin: no. just me
maggie: is there smoke?
quentin: your mother's dead and gone, dear, she can't hurt you anymore, don't be afraid
maggie, in a helpless voice of a child : where you going to put me?
quentin his chest threatening a cry : nowhere, dear - he'll decide with you. he might be here tonight
maggie: see? i'll lay down. she hurries to the bed, lies down. see?
quentin: good
maggie: 'member how used to talk to me till i went to sleep?
quentin: yes, dear. he sits beside the bed
maggie - she struggles for lucidity, for some little pose of quiet charm it nice in chicago?"
later
"maggie, we've got to have some humility towards ourselves; we were both born of many errors, a human being has to forgive himself! you want me to say i killed you? all right, i killed you. now what? what do you want?"
solid 5/5 stars. arthur miller is such a talented playwright. sotd: ob-la-di, ob-la-da by the beatles