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영어

The purpose of this paper is to examine Arthur Miller’s two plays, Incident at Vichy and Broken Glass, focusing on main characters’ self-denial and moral paralysis which are hindrance to their self-recognition. Paralysis and self-denial symbolize the moral impotency which entwines all the characters in both plays. Characters’ inability to confront themselves brings tragic results. So they have to face their real identities through unmasking their false personas. As a Jewish American playwright, Miller has been called as ‘Moralist’ or ‘Social Dramatist’. He thinks of the moral value as the individual or private responsibility related to the broad social issues. Miller emphasizes that one makes oneself totally responsible for the choices which shape his existence. Therefore Miller’s insistence on individual choice and responsibility gives force to his plays which contain moral messages. In both Incident at Vichy and Broken Glass Miller juxtaposes the frightening power of Nazism with the silence and passivity of their victims. In Incident at Vichy the protagonist Von Berg doesn’t face the reality of his situation but chooses rather to take refuge in innocence. But Leduc’s lesson makes him recognize that man is inherently evil. Finally he becomes the tragic hero who is willing to sacrifice his life. In Broken Glass Gellberg refuses to take responsibility for his own identity as a Jew and Sylvia has engaged in self-denial of her miserable marriage. But with the help of Dr. Hyman, a healer, they overcome their own Nazism and the paralysis. So they come to grip with their true identities. Miller claims that Jewish outlook on life prevents him from writing plays that end in total despair and hopelessness. Therefore the strength of his plays lies less in their intellectual force than in the moral optimism.