Part 3: Texts and Contexts
Examination review
The Reader and The Merchant of Venice are texts that reflects society during the time period that they were written in. Both texts examine how
characters are marginalized and judged by society, through the use of characterization, setting and themes. The Reader is a novel that explores
the post-war generation's perspective on the older German generation and we are positioned to sympathize with the Nazi generation. On the
other hand, The Merchant of Venice is a play that examines the societal attitudes between Christians and Jews in the context of the Elizabethan
era. These texts will be examined within a modern paradigm.
CONTEXT
EXIT WEST
THE CRUCIBLE
Time Written
2017
1953
Important
Bibliographical
information about
the author.
Emerged as an author known for writing fiction that
explores alternate ways of global living and emphasizes
the disadvantages of being born in a third-world country
Born to middle-class parents – perhaps had access to both
low and higher class worlds
The Crucible opened in 1952 – considered an attack on antiCommunist McCarthyism then raging in the United States
How the text is
"Exit West" as a response to the refugee crisis and the
related/connected growing sense of xenophobia in many parts of the world
to the author and
his experience.
Hamid was a migrant himself being born in Pakistan, and
moving to Palo Alto California then returning to Pakistan
and leaving it again
Author’s main
Hamid’s main intention in writing Exit West was to
purpose/intention explore the human side of the crisis and to remind
in writing the text. readers that refugees are people with hopes, dreams, and
fears, just like anyone else
He wanted to challenge the idea that refugees are
somehow different or less deserving of compassion than
people who are born in a particular country or have a
certain set of beliefs
By humanizing the refugee experience and challenging
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Miller himself brought before congress in 1956 and
convicted of contempt for refusing to cooperate. The
conviction was eventually overturned.
Miller’s main intention in writing the Crucible was to draw
parallels between the 17th century Salem witch trials and
the political climate of his own time, particularly the anticommunist hysteria of the 1950s.
Miller saw the witch trials as an example of how fear,
paranoia, and mob mentality can lead to widespread
injustice and persecution
He wanted to highlight the dangers of false accusations and
the importance of standing up for one's principles, even in
Part 3: Texts and Contexts
Examination review
readers' assumptions about who deserves to belong,
Hamid invites us to imagine a world where borders are
less important than our common humanity.
the face of adversity
TEXT
EXIT WEST
THE CRUCIBLE
Genre
Magical realism - a literary genre that combines realistic
narrative with supernatural or magical elements
Historical drama - set in the context of the Salem witch trials
of 1692, and depicts the events and characters of that time
Political novel - it explores issues such as migration,
identity, and displacement in the context of a global crisis
Tragedy - play follows the downfall of the protagonist, John
Proctor, who is accused of witchcraft and struggles to clear
his name and protect his reputation
Structure
Structure of the
Story - how the
plot is arranged
Beginnings/
Endings/Titles
Style
Including
Narrative Style
and point of view.
First person
The Crucible has an odd structure, in which each of the
four acts ends on a climax.
Act 1: The girls scream out then names of the witches
Act 2: Proctor vows he will confront Abigail
Act 3: Proctor reveals his adultery with Abigail and
Elizabeth lies
Act 4: Proctor rips up his confession
First person perspective
Plays rely heavily on dialogue and stage directions to
convey the story
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Miller's intention was to use the Salem witch trials as a lens
through which to examine the political and social issues of
his own time, and to offer a warning about the dangers of
unchecked power and conformity
Social commentary - explores issues such as mass hysteria,
the abuse of power, and the dangers of religious extremism.
Miller uses the play to comment on the political climate of
his time, particularly the anti-communist hysteria of the
McCarthy era in the United States.
Each time Saeed and Nadia migrate to a new country, they
experience conflicts that have to do with their abrupt arrival
into a new environment, and each of these conflicts
ultimately builds itself into its own climax. Having said that
the story’s most prevalent narrative arc reaches its peak
when the couple finally decides to end their romantic
relationship
Third-person omniscient
Novels use descriptive prose to create a world and
characters that the reader can imagine and visualize in their
mind
Part 3: Texts and Contexts
Examination review
Third Person –
subjective,
omniscient
Plays are often structured in acts and scenes, with each
scene serving a specific dramatic purpose and building
towards a climax
Setting within the
work (time and
place)
Novels, on the other hand, are structured in chapters or
sections, with each chapter building upon the previous one
to create a narrative arc
The setting of the play is crucial to the plot and themes of
the story, as it creates a tense, oppressive atmosphere that
contributes to the characters' actions and motivations
The setting of Salem in 1692 is a small, tightly-knit
community with a strict moral code and a religious hierarchy
that governs every aspect of people's lives. The Puritan
lifestyle is one of simplicity and self-discipline, with an
emphasis on hard work and religious devotion. However,
this strict adherence to religious dogma also creates a
culture of fear, suspicion, and paranoia. The characters in
the play are trapped in this suffocating environment, where
any deviation from the norm is seen as a threat to the
community.
The physical setting of the play is also significant. The action
takes place primarily in the courtroom and the homes of the
characters. The courtroom is a place of judgment and
power, where the fate of the accused is decided by the
magistrates and judges. The homes of the characters are a
symbol of their private lives, where their secrets and desires
are kept hidden from public view. However, the boundary
between the public and the private is blurred in the play, as
the accusations of witchcraft invade every aspect of people's
lives.
Overall, the setting of "The Crucible" is a powerful symbol of
the social and political context in which the play is set. The
claustrophobic atmosphere of Salem, with its rigid religious
hierarchy and culture of fear and suspicion, creates a tense
and oppressive environment that drives the characters'
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Part 3: Texts and Contexts
Examination review
actions and motivations. The physical setting of the play,
with its focus on the courtroom and the private homes of
the characters, reinforces these themes and contributes to
the play's powerful exploration of human nature and
society.
MEANING
EXIT WEST
THE CRUCIBLE
Themes/Author’s message about those topics/ideas.
Violence difference
Violence similarity
Fear difference
Fear similarity
Power and authority
Subvert and
challenge readers’
expectations
Destructions and
construction
Trapped
Private and public
spaces
Violence brings Nadia and Saeed closer together
Violence forces characters to do whatever it takes to escape
Fear
Fear leads to ignorance and
Violence tears relationships apart
"Exit West" by Mohsin Hamid is a novel that explores the
themes of migration, identity, and love in a world where
magical doors transport people from one place to another.
The distinction between public and private spaces is crucial
to the novel's themes, as it explores how the characters
navigate the spaces they inhabit and how these spaces
shape their identities and relationships.
In the novel, public spaces are associated with power,
control, and surveillance. In the unnamed city, where the
In Arthur Miller's play, "The Crucible," the distinction
between public and private spaces plays a significant
role in the development of the characters and the
unfolding of the plot. The play takes place in the small,
Puritan town of Salem, Massachusetts, in the 1690s,
during a time of great social and political upheaval. The
strict moral code of the Puritan community means that
public and private spaces are closely intertwined, and
the play explores the consequences of this blurring of
IBDP English Language and Literature
Part 3: Texts and Contexts
Examination review
novel is set, is a place where the government exerts tight
control over people's lives. The city is divided into zones,
each with its own checkpoints and surveillance systems. The
characters are constantly monitored, and their movements
are restricted. The city is a place of violence and conflict,
with the government and the militants fighting for control.
Private spaces, on the other hand, are associated with
intimacy, vulnerability, and connection. The characters in
the novel find refuge in private spaces, whether it is their
own homes or the homes of strangers who offer them
shelter. These private spaces become a sanctuary where
they can be themselves and form connections with others.
For example, Nadia and Saeed, the novel's protagonists,
meet in a public space, but their relationship develops in
private spaces, such as their apartments and the homes of
others who offer them shelter.
The magical doors in the novel blur the boundaries between
public and private spaces, creating new spaces that are both
public and private. The doors are a public space in that they
are available to anyone who knows where they are and how
to use them. However, they are also a private space in that
they are used by individuals and groups to escape from the
violence and oppression of their home countries. The doors
become a space of transition, where people leave behind
their old lives and start anew in a new place.
The novel shows how the characters' relationships with
public and private spaces change as they migrate from one
place to another. The characters' identities are shaped by
the spaces they inhabit, and they struggle to find a sense of
belonging in the new places they go. For example, Saeed
finds it difficult to adapt to life in London, a place where the
public spaces are different from what he is used to in
Sādābād. He feels lost and alienated in a place where he
does not understand the social codes and norms.
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boundaries.
In the play, public spaces are associated with authority,
judgment, and power. The courtroom is the most
significant public space in the play, and it is where the
accused are brought to trial and the judges pass
sentence. The courtroom is a space of confrontation,
where the accusers and the accused come face to face
and where the truth is supposed to be revealed.
However, the courtroom is also a place where truth is
distorted, and justice is perverted. The judges are more
concerned with maintaining their power and authority
than with seeking the truth, and the accused are forced
to confess to crimes they did not commit to save their
lives.
The church is another public space in the play, and it is
closely linked to the courtroom. The church is a place of
worship and a symbol of the community's faith, but it is
also a place where people go to confess their sins and
seek absolution. The church is a space of surveillance,
where people are expected to conform to the
community's moral code and where deviance is
punished severely. The church and the courtroom are
interconnected, and both spaces are used to enforce
the community's moral code and maintain social order.
Private spaces, on the other hand, are associated with
intimacy, secrecy, and desire. The homes of the
characters are the most significant private spaces in the
play, and they are where the characters reveal their
innermost thoughts and feelings. However, even the
private spaces are not entirely private in Salem. The
strict moral code of the community means that people's
private lives are closely scrutinized, and any deviation
from the norm is seen as a threat to the community.
The private spaces in the play are also linked to the
Part 3: Texts and Contexts
Examination review
Symbols and motifs
In conclusion, the distinction between public and private
spaces in "Exit West" is significant to the novel's exploration
of identity, migration, and love. The novel shows how the
characters' relationships with these spaces change as they
migrate from one place to another and how they struggle to
find a sense of belonging in new places. The magical doors in
the novel blur the boundaries between public and private
spaces, creating new spaces that are both public and private.
The novel's exploration of public and private spaces reveals
the importance of these spaces to our sense of self and the
relationships we form with others.
supernatural. The woods, which are outside the town
and are associated with the devil, are a private space
where the girls go to dance and engage in forbidden
activities. The private space of the woods becomes a
public space when the accusations of witchcraft are
made, and the girls' private activities are exposed to the
community. The boundary between public and private
space is blurred, and the private desires of the
characters become a public spectacle.
In conclusion, the distinction between public and
private spaces in "The Crucible" is essential to the play's
themes and the development of the characters. The
blurring of boundaries between public and private
spaces in Salem reflects the community's rigid moral
code and the fear and suspicion that pervades the
town. The play shows that even in the supposedly
private spaces of people's homes, they are not free
from the judgment and surveillance of the community.
The play's exploration of the public and private spaces
reveals the dangers of conformity and the importance
of individual freedom and privacy.
Cellphones - symbolizes the complex and often
contradictory ways in which technology shapes our lives and
our relationships with others, highlighting both its potential
and its limitations
+ : They represent the power of technology and the ways in
which it has transformed our lives and our relationships with
others. In the novel, characters use cellphones to stay
connected with their families and friends, even as they are
separated by distance and borders.
The Crucible - A crucible is a container used for melting
substances at high temperatures. In the context of the
play, the crucible represents the intense heat of the
Salem witch trials, which bring out both the best and
the worst in people in the face of adversity
- : Cellphones also highlight the limitations of technology
and its inability to fully replace human connection
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The Witch Trials - The witch trials themselves are a
symbol of the dangers of mass hysteria and the
consequences of unchecked power. The trials also
represent the importance of individual conscience and
the struggle to maintain one's integrity in the face of
adversity
Part 3: Texts and Contexts
Examination review
Doors – highlights the complex and often fraught nature of
migration, as well as the potential for transformation and
renewal that can come with taking risks and stepping into
the unknown
+ : They represent the idea of migration and the uncertainty
and potential that comes with leaving one place for another.
Doors are a physical manifestation of the hope for a better
life and the willingness to take risks to achieve it.
Throughout the novel, characters enter doors that transport
them from one place to another, and the doors themselves
are often described as emitting a bright light that represents
the promise of a new beginning. The doors also serve as a
metaphor for the barriers and obstacles that must be
overcome in order to achieve one's goals, whether they be
physical, psychological, or social.
- : However, the doors in "Exit West" also symbolize the
danger and uncertainty of migration. As characters move
through the doors, they must confront the possibility of
being caught or detained, and the doors themselves can be
unpredictable and uncontrollable
The Poppet - The poppet, a doll that Abigail Williams
uses to accuse Elizabeth Proctor of witchcraft, is a
symbol of the power of deception and manipulation.
The doll also represents the power of suggestion and
the ease with which people can be led to believe
something that is not true
The forest - represents the unknown and the untamed,
a place where anything can happen. It is also a symbol
of freedom and escape from the constraints of Puritan
society
Fire - recurring motif in the play, representing both the
destructive power of hysteria and the purifying power
of truth. In the final scene of the play, John Proctor
chooses to die by hanging rather than confess to a lie,
saying "because it is my name! Because I cannot have
another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! I
have given you my soul; leave me my name!" His final
act of integrity is seen as a purifying fire that redeems
his soul
The Bible - symbol of religious authority and moral
guidance, but in the play, it is also used as a tool of
manipulation and control. Reverend Parris uses biblical
quotations to justify his actions and to intimidate his
opponents, while the girls use their knowledge of the
Bible to accuse innocent people of witchcraft
Major Characters
Protagonist
Foil
Round
Flat
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Part 3: Texts and Contexts
Examination review
Static
Dynamic
Tragic Hero
Direct/indirect
characterization
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