The opening stage directions describe the location which instantly bring to mind the idea of loneliness. the 'secluded atmosphere' suggests that emotions and actions will be trapped in this location, attracting our attention. Our eyes will be fixed on this location and whatever happens, weather this be tragic or not. When Joe Keller is introduced, he is said to be an 'uneducated man' which, based on his dialogue, I would agree with. the aspect of tragedy connected with this is his relationship with others, especially his son, Chris. When they speak, it is as if the idea of the farther-son dyanmic (the son being educated by the farther) is the other way around; the son educates the farther, no matter what the complexity of the topic is ("What is that, every week a new book come out?").
With this in mind, I have noticed that throughout the first act, it seems as if there are numerous cues for tragic irony to occur later in he story. I say this because so much dialogue strikes me as being interesting, in the sense that the writer hasn't placed it there for nothing. I am hoping that these patches of text have been placed there for a reason, my personal highlights including "That beautiful? Not a cloud. Every Sunday ought to be like this." and "When you marry, never - even in your mind - never count your husband's money." It gives the idea that these kind of sentence will be significantly relevant later in the story, that they will provoke tragedy and provke irony. Although, if this idea turn out to be true, it would arguably make the story predictable. Nevertheless, the author has managed to provoke this thinking pattern, and I applaud him for that. Despite these idea of negativity, Miller also includes a sense of optimism in the story, most notably in the form of Frank's idea of compiling a horoscope for the Miller's son, Larry, who went missing during war three years ago. "if November twenty-fifth was his favorable day, then it's completely possible that he's alive somewhere" says Frank, which provides the trapped, sealed-off space filled with misery mentioned earlier with a glimmer of hope. What is important to remember, though, is that this 'glimmer of hope' is literally just a glimmer. the optimism is strongly compromised in the form of Joe and Chris supplying illusion to the Mother Keller. They themselves believe that Larry is dead and has been for a while, but still they are "dishonest with her" as Larry puts it, furthering this bluntly with "You know Larry's not coming back and I know it" which is a method of strangling any form of optimism there is.
Miller is also able to include light-hearted banter within the act, most strongly and significantly in the from of Bert, a young child who is 'about eight'. It seems that Joe relies on him to keep watch over the neighborhood and report any wrong-doing, which he is incredibly keen on doing and his innocence cannot help but provoke a light-chuckle, especially when Joe 'in unbearable embarrassment steps back' after hearing a reported 'dirty word' on the street from Bert. Yet again, I can't help but ponder if this cute imagery poses an idea of what might happen later in the story ("the whole neighborhood is depending on you") - will there be a flash-forward in time, where Bert is a real police officer? As cut and humors as this action is, we are later greeted with the idea that nothing but tragic depression belong in the Keller's property. the Mother 'is shaken' after telling Bert to leave because "There's no jail here" as well as indicating that she is a much less playful character, this statement is ironic because of ho land was described at the start of the act, as being a 'secluded atmosphere'. Jail cells themselves are secluded, and in the Keller's secluded space is the tragedy, misery and dishonesty, all confound to this space. No other emotions are welcome, enforced strongly by the Mother.
Miller is able to provoke anticipation and desperation within the reader with the character of Annie. So much is mentioned of her before she appears on-stage and delivers any dialogue ("She's a beauty", for example). We are just waiting for her to appear, to she if she lives up to the comments. But there is a strong reason as to why she is coming - Chris, Larry's brother, is going to propose to her. Although joyous on paper, I can't help but sense incestuous corruption because of the fact Annie and Larry had a relationship before he went missing. Chris even admits that he thought there would "be blood on it, I didn't wanna take any of it. And I guess that included you" and although he is initially using this phrase to explain a story of the past, he makes it relavant to proposing to Annie. He would feel guilty, taking a girl who his brother was once with, and that is what I feel the fallen tree could represent, which is referenced to multiple times in the act. Larry marks his territory, although he is not physically present. With it, he brings tragedy, in the sense that the Keller family are "like at a railroad station waiting for a train that never comes in" they have put their lives on hold because of Larry's death, remaining in melancholy.
Despite the many opportunities for irony to occur later in the story, I have noticed that the Mother bears her own form of tragic irony. She has strong religious belief that Larry will one day return and, while the news stories of other soldiers returning support her optimism, it is her faith in God that causes her to be lonely. God and religion is meant to signify that troubled individuals are not alone, that they are supported, but it is only her who preys for his support. No one else thinks the same way as she does. "But there's God, so certain things can happen...Ann, you know I'm right!" this suggests that she has force optimism onto those around her, creating conflict, emotionally and mentally because no one is in the same state of mind about Larry that she is in. Everyone around her has given up on Larry's return, which is a possible explained as to why she turned to religious support. She creates conflict by emphasising that there is no conflict to be dealt with when she says "He's no dead, so there's no argument! Now come!". It is her that forces the Keller land to be a land of misery and secluded in depressing emotion, but with all the cues for irony to occur, I am desperate to learn what will happen later in the story.
