do you know what landmark this is?

Do you know what landmark this is? What city can you see at the end of the bridge?

industrial

wealthy

civilisedpoor

Full of opportunities

slum

Imagine the side of the bridge you can’t see. What do you think it is like?

In relation to the play what do you think this bridge could represent?

A View from the Bridge is set in 1940s Brooklyn, a famousarea of New York City. The inhabitants were immigrants from Europe (the Old World) and had arrived in America(the New World) to achieve their dreams of success. They soon discovered that life was still hard and most worked long hours in the dockyards. Miller himself also briefly worked on the docks. The bridge in the title is the Brooklyn Bridge which connects Brooklyn with Manhattan.

A unitary definition does not exist–the American dream probably has a different meaning to every US citizen. For some it is the dream of freedom and equality, for others it is the dream of a fulfilled life or even the dream of fame and wealth.

In general, the American dream can be defined as being the opportunity and freedom for all citizens to achieve their goals and become rich and famous if they work hard enough.

The idea of the American Dream is rooted in the United States Declaration of Independence which proclaims that "all men are created equal" and that they are "endowed by their Creator with certain inherent Rights" including "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

THE GREAT DEPRESSION – 1929 – early 1940’sHistorical Importance of the Great Depression: The Great Depression, an immense tragedy that placed millions of Americans out of work.

THE STOCK MARKET CRASH After nearly a decade of optimism and prosperity, the United States was thrown into despair on Black Tuesday, October 29, 1929, the day the stock market crashed and the official beginning of the Great Depression.

SETTING - The play is set in America in the 1940s

In previous depressions, farmers were usually safe from the severe effects of a depression because they could at least feed themselves. Unfortunately, during the Great Depression, the Great Plains were hit hard with both a drought and horrendous dust storms.

Interesting facts about Miller

Interesting facts about Miller

• Born in New York 1915 • Parents owned a successful clothing business

which went bust in 1929 during depression (when they moved to Brooklyn)

• Best known for plays; Death of a Salesman and The Crucible

• Asked to testify against communist sympathisers (he refused to and was charged)

Interesting facts about Miller In 1956 he divorced his college sweetheart and married Marilyn Monroe.

THEMES IN THE PLAY

LOVE JUSTICE AND THE LAW

HONOUR

GENDER AND SEXUALITY