Amy Smith

‘The Crucible’ –Arthur Miller

The play opens with an in depth description of the character Reverend Samuel Parris who has “very little good to be said for him”. The way in which Miller casted him as a vicar is extremely significant as Salem is described as a thoroughly religious place, where “a holiday from work meant only that they must concentrate even more upon prayer”.
Miller draws apparent parallels between the seventeenth-century Salem witch trials and the anti-communist era, as the religious oppression could be considered anagorical of the injustice that took place.
In the opening it is revealed that Parris’s daughter is extremely ill and ideas of witchcraft as a cause are hinted at. Consequentially we witness the character Abigail (the reverend’s daughter) begin to take the blame for her cousin’s poor health as she was “discovered dancing like heathen in the forest”.

Books to consider for comparison: ‘The Bell Jar’ Sylvia Plath, ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’ Arthur Golden (the oppression of women); ‘To Kill a Mocking Bird’ Harper Lee, ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ Ken Kesey (themes of power and authority being abused)


‘Stuart –A Life Backwards’ -Alexander Masters

We are introduced to the character of Stuart, an “ex-homeless, ex junkie psychopath” from the point of view of the author Alexander and understand that Stuart is assisting in the writing of the book. We are aware that it will follow his life events and portray the struggle of a drug addict in twenty-first century Britain.
In acute juxtaposition to the early revelation and foreshadowing of Stuart’s death, we are lead to believe that the novel will be optimistic due to the statistics that Stuart lived against and his optimistic language such as “I want to thank them what got me out”. We begin to like Stuart as he seems to be a pleasant man, catering for Alexander, getting himself back together and wishing to inform others of his misfortune.
Despite the probable friendship between Alexander and Stuart, Alexander does not fail to include negativity towards Stuart’s positive actions such as “The only problem … in his desirable new home is mould” and “Stuart has devised a special colour-coding for this book” which may be interpreted as patronising.

Books to consider for comparison: ‘rozac Nation’ Elizabeth Wurtzel (substances and mental breakdowns); ‘The Virgin Suicides’ Jeffrey Eugenides (suicide),


‘Notes on a Scandal’ -Zoë Heller

This book is written from the point of view of the character Barbara Covett, a retired schoolteacher and ex-collegue of protagonist Bathsheba “Sheba” Hart. We read how Sheba has been persecuted as a result of having an affair with a 15 year old schoolboy, who she constantly speaks of whilst Barbara tends to just listen.
Sheba’s fragility is made apparent, as she is described as being “in a highly nervous state … extremely sensitive about being “ressured” as a result of her affair and subsequent persecution, marital breakdown and court cases.
We may empathise with Barbara, feeling that she is very much used yet still loyal to her friend who seems to have a snobby and selfish attitude towards their relationship. However, we may have feelings of suspicion towards her, as she is writing about her friend in secret.

Books to consider for comparison: ‘Running with Scissors’ & ‘ossible Side Effects’ Augusten Burroughs, ‘Romeo & Juliette’ William Shakespeare (forbidden love)

‘The Bell Jar’ –Sylvia Plath

We are introduced to an academically successful fashion journalist with an overall pessimistic view of her financial state and the city of New York. The opening to the book establishes the morbid overlay for the rest of the book, baring a description of exocution by electrocution; described as “being burned alive all along your nerves”. This is obviously a result of obsessive thinking, paying extra attention to the pessimism that the majority of us tend to subconsciously ignore.
The character of Doreen may be regarded as a bad influence, despite being described as “wonderfully funny”. However, Plath plants seeds of doubt into our head about this character, which is apparent in the quotation which serves as an entire paragraph “I guess one of my troubles was Doreen”.

Books to consider for comparison: ‘The Handsmaid’s Tale’ Margret Atwood (feminism), ‘rozac Nation’ Elizabeth Wurtzel, ‘Stuart: A Life Backwards’ Alexander Masters’ (depression and suicide)