Question

Why did Miller include the story about Vinny Bolzano? What was he preparing the audience for?

a) To create a sense of suspense and mystery.
b) To highlight the theme of family loyalty.
c) To introduce a subplot that would later connect to the main story.
d) To illustrate the consequences of betraying one's own community.

Answer 1

Miller includes the story of Vinny Bolzano to emphasize family loyalty and outline the consequences of betraying one's community, setting up the tension for the protagonist's future decisions in the play.

Step-by-step explanation:

The story of Vinny Bolzano in Miller's play serves to highlight the theme of family loyalty and the consequences of betrayal within a tight-knit community. This anecdote is used by Miller to foreshadow the main conflict of the story — the strain between personal ethics and familial obligations. The tale of Vinny Bolzano acts as a cautionary example of what could happen when one goes against family and community expectations, thus setting the stage for the audience to understand the significant social and emotional stakes involved in the protagonist's decisions. In the context of the play, it emphasizes the potential repercussions of betraying one's own community and prepares the audience for the subsequent dilemmas the characters will face.