Overview
Synopsis
In the early stages of a new love, paralyzing memories of past relationships haunt Quentin, a liberal New York attorney who questions his own ability to truly connect with the women in his life. Arthur Miller’s most personal and autobiographical play, After the Fall, unflinchingly tackles the emotional brutality that can unfold within a marriage, against a national backdrop of McCarthyism and the commodification of celebrity. In doing so, Miller unravels the political complications in personal relationships while exposing the personal consequences of big-issue politics. The middle-aged Quentin is courting Holga, a German woman still struggling with her experiences during World War II. As he seeks to define his own feelings and decide the future of their relationship, his fragmented memories reassert themselves, sometimes without his willing participation. His mother, his first wife Louise, and his second wife Maggie feature most prominently in the large ensemble cast, which also portrays his father and brother, clients, partners, friends, and other fleeting romances.
The play constitutes a roman á clef: it is no secret that Quentin, though written as a lawyer, is the voice of the playwright, and Maggie is based, not so loosely, on Miller’s own second wife Marilyn Monroe. The dissolution of that marriage, between Quentin and Maggie, and the journey through addiction, alcoholism, and rising stardom which ultimately leads to Maggie’s suicide attempts, form the central action of the play. After the fall from Eden, no one is innocent, and finally we are left with only questions as Quentin is followed into darkness by the whispering mob of his personified past.
Show Information
- Book
- Arthur Miller
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Mature Audiences (M)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1964
- Genres
- Drama
- Settings
- Contemporary, Simple/No Set
- Time & Place
- Mid-twentieth century usa/germany; “the action takes place in the mind, thought
- Cast Size
- medium
- Licensor
- Samuel French
- Ideal For
- College/University, Mature Audiences, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Female Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Arthur Miller’s After the Fall (1964) is one of his most personal and controversial plays, often viewed as a thinly veiled autobiographical reflection on his own life, relationships, and political struggles. Set in a non-linear, memory-driven structure, the play unfolds inside the mind of Quentin, a lawyer who revisits pivotal moments from his past. Through Quentin’s reflections, Miller examines guilt, responsibility, and self-deception, drawing attention to how individuals rationalize their
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Characters
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Lead |
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Supporting |
Female |
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Supporting |
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Supporting |
Female |
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Featured |
Female |
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Featured |
Male |
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Ensemble |
Male |
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Ensemble |
Female |
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Ensemble |
Male |
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Ensemble |
Female |
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Ensemble |
Male |
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Ensemble |
Male |
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Ensemble |
Female |
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Ensemble |
Either Gender |
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Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
Allegory is a storytelling device in which characters, events, and settings represent abstract ideas or moral qualities. In theatre, allegorical plays often deliver social, political, or religious messages beneath their surface narrative.
An emotional release experienced by the audience, often a goal of Ancient Greek tragedy.
A theatrical style that distorts reality to convey inner emotional experience, popular in early 20th-century drama.
A dramatic form where a character recalls past events, often blurring reality with subjective perception.
A form of self-referential drama where the play draws attention to its own theatricality. This device challenges the audience’s suspension of disbelief and is used in Epic Theatre and postmodern works.
A plot structure that presents events out of sequence to challenge perception, deepen theme, or reflect fragmented experience.
Political theatre is drama that directly addresses social, cultural, or governmental issues with the aim of provoking thought, debate, or change. It often critiques systems of power, highlights injustices, and challenges audiences to reflect on their own roles within society. By blurring the line between art and activism, political theatre seeks not only to entertain but also to raise awareness and inspire action.
Videos
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Themes, Symbols & Motifs
Themes
Guilt and Responsibility At the heart
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