The melting pot (1908)

Read the play and write an essay discussing the issues of immigration, assimilation, fusion, pluralism, prejudice and discrimination you discover in it. These are the topics to be discussed: Character Details: What are the character details in the script? Where does each character come from? What does each character want? Do they get it? What changes happen to the characters? What do they sound like? What’s their background? The main character: What is this individual thinking about? What experiences has he endured? Helpful information about our main character: What is a modern term for someone damaged by war and terrorism and someone who witnessed the murder of his whole family, someone with flashbacks that make it difficult for him to carry on with a normal life? That diagnosis wasn’t around in 1909, but we recognize it today. Story Details: What are the main plot points? Are there moments in the play mentioned but not dramatized? The Structure: What does the structure say about the play? For example: repeating dialogue, out-of-the-ordinary word usage, change in tenses. Is the structure trying to make a point? Does the structure of the play (events, things in a certain order) reflect a certain genre or time period or location? Are there words that might be mispronounced or misunderstood? The Conflict: What is the main conflict? How does each character react to the conflict? Themes: Are they obvious? Subtle? More than one? Defining the themes will help you shape your vision for the play. Is there a recurring symbol?