Ask the Expert Tutor: Death and the Maiden
As part of our ‘Ask the Expert Tutor’ series, we will be discussing Ariel Dorfman’s play, Death and the Maiden. This text is frequently studied at IBDP.
Context and Death and the Maiden
A commonly studied text for those taking IB English Literature is Ariel Dorfman’s play, Death and the Maiden. For IB candidates wishing to reach the higher end of the mark band it is important that they have an understanding of the context surrounding Death and the Maiden.
In September 1973, after an extended period of social unrest and political tension between the opposition-controlled Congress of Chile and the socialist President Salvador Allende, a group of military officers led by General Augusto Pinochet and Admiral José Merino seized power in a coup d'etat. The military deposed Allende's Popular Unity government and later established a junta that suspended all political activity in Chile and violently repressed left-wing movements.
Dorfman, a Chilean himself, lived through this period. It was this event that served as an inspiration for Death and the Maiden, with Paulina’s traumatic past heavily suggested to have been a result of this coup and resulting junta. Although the play does indeed relate to political upheaval in Chile, Dorfman has made it clear Death and the Maiden could be about any country that has recently been the subject of brutal dictatorship.
Understanding purpose
For IB students of English Literature it is essential to understand a text’s purpose. By recognising this, IB English Literature candidates can more thoroughly respond to an examination question and link their response to the effect the play has on an audience. In some cases, such as with Death and the Maiden, an author may pursue a number of distinct purposes. For example, with his play, Dorfman seeks to provoke the audience to reflect on the most just and fair way to recover from a traumatic period of history, and whether or not it is appropriate for victims to pursue revenge. Moreover, IB students should be aware of Dorfman’s interest in exploring the impacts of casual sexism and sexual abuse.
Death and the Maiden and Greek tragedy
No text exists in a vacuum. Thus, it is necessary for IB candidates to read widely so as to gain an understanding of the relatedness between what they are studying within their IB English Literature course and other works or genres. In doing so, IB English Literature candidates will come to see that, while breaking with tradition, Death and the Maiden shares some similarities with the Greek tragedy.
The central themes of Death and the Maiden, revenge, justice, and the effects of trauma, can be found in the works of the Ancient Greek tragedians. Moreover, the search for catharsis is present in both Death and the Maiden and the Greek tragedies. Dorfman expressed that his play “aims to help purge ourselves of pity and terror” while in Greek society the catharsis of tragedy was thought to help to unify people.
By understanding the ways in which a work fits into the wider world of literature or links to works from the past, those studying IB English Literature can formulate higher quality responses.
Getting help with IB English Literature
At BartyED, we recognise the challenges inherent in the IB programme. With homework, coursework, and exam revision, students can easily become overwhelmed. Our expert team of tutors are here to help with any and all aspects of the IB Diploma Programme. Not limited to Death and the Maiden, our tutors have guided countless IB candidates through in-depth analyses of IB-level texts. Similarly, we have assisted with IB coursework and exam preparation. If you think that you or your child could benefit from the guidance of an experienced IB tutor, reach out to us today via email at enquiries@bartyed.com, or via phone (+852 2882 1017).