Evaluate the ways that the nature of political power is represented
and critiqued in your prescribed text and ONE other text of your own
choosing.
Politics is a complex human construct, often manipulated and redefined by individuals in the
process of pursuing power and self preservation. Influential composers often critique and
explore the fractured nature of politics - such as Arthur Miller and Eugene Delacroix through
The Crucible and Liberty Leading the People respectively. Arthur Miller’s allegorical play, is
a dramatisation of the late 1600’s Salem Witch Trials in colonial Massachusetts, underpinning
the values of McCarthyism in 1950’s America. Through his tragic four act play, Miller critiques
the nature of exploitation of power through institutionalisation and the motivations behind
pursuing political power at the expense of the greater good. Playwright Arthur Miller conveys
that this notion of political ideologies is exploited through the character Abigail Williams and
subverted by John Proctor. On the other hand, Delacroix’s painting represents the political
motivations and actions behind the revolt through the representation of Liberty as a symbol
for freedom and unity. Therefore, through the effective manipulation of characterisation,
composers are able to promote the facade of political agendas and expose the ….
Composers demonstrate how the actions of individuals parallel to the morally corrupt and
misconstrued political objections of the upper class. Through the foundation of Miller’s four
act tragedy, he exposes how the misuse of power ultimately leads to a politically fractured
society. The motif of darkness through the characterisation of Abigail encapsulates how The
Crucible similar to the McCarthy tribunals, portrays the concept of repression, prejudicial
intimidation and dominance of strict social hierarchies. Abigail’s eagerness for power is
demonstrated through “I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and bring a
pointy reckoning...I have seen some reddish work done at night”, the dead imagery alludes to
how Abigail manipulates fear for political gain, this foreshadows her dedication to further her
self-preservation in the latter acts. Miller characterises Abigail as destructive, trying to go
against Puritan values through the biblical allusion “if she walks the crowd will part like the
sea of Israel”, leads to form a juxtaposition of Christian values alluding Moses. Thus, it is
evident that through the construction of a four act tragedy and manipulation of
characterisation, Miller is able to explore the motivation and action of those who strives for
political power and how it affects their personal character and society.
Similarly, Delacroix’s chosen medium of artwork as a vehicle to critique the political act
allows him to visually depict the nature of political motivations and actions of the French
during the July Revolution. Through Delacroix’s construction o...
