A Study On Aesthetic Effects Of Dramatic Suspense In Arthur Miller's Tragedies

As a prolific American playwright in 20 th century,Arthur Miller is regarded as the Conscience of American Drama,and he makes great contribution to the world literature.During his 60 years of writing career,Miller finishes many plays,short fictions and film scripts,but he is best known for his plays,which win great reputation for him.Miller is awarded the Pulitzer Prize,the New York Drama Critics Circle Award twice,two Emmy Awards and three Tony Awards,etc..These rewards lay an important foundation for his high status in the history of the American theater.Furthermore,Miller and two other top American playwrights,Eugene O'Neill and Tennessee Williams create the brilliance of Broadway during World War?.This thesis takes dramatic suspense as a cutting point to explore its patterns,approaches and aesthetic effects in Miller's works.The first section introduces Miller and his works,and then it concludes previous researches on Miller and his works in China and aboard.What's more,it also determines main ideas about dramatic suspense from ancient Greek.The body part of the thesis analyzes Miller's works form three aspects:Firstly,in order to elaborate different features of dramatic suspense in Miller's works,the thesis classifies the dramatic suspense into three patterns: main suspense and minor suspense,enclosed suspense and open suspense,as well as expected suspense and unexpected suspense.Secondly,it expounds four approaches to present dramatic suspense in Miller's works: indicating the development of a story to arouse audiences' interest;using expectation and peripeteia to surprise them;putting suspense aside to arouse their curiosities;interweaving suspense to intrigue their expectation.Thirdly,it analyzes the aesthetic effects of dramatic suspense in Miller's works.The usage of suspense has great aesthetic effects on promoting the development of conflict,influencing the setting of scene,molding the image of characters,affecting the formation of plot,and regulating the narration rhythm.Hence,Miller's plays are endowed with eternal artistic charms.This thesis summarizes the features of dramatic suspense in Miller's tragedies.Miller is based on dramatic suspense to create his works,so that his plays successfully arouse audiences' great expectation and interest as well as reinforce the impact of characters' tragedies.Therefore Miller attracts public attention to some hidden social problems,just as Edward Albee says,“Miller's works are exactly what we need”.