University of Wisconsin Madison Death and the Maiden Play Discussion

Read sc. 2, pp. 42-49 of Death and the Maiden.

The questions:

1-finishing act I, sc 2, are we, the readers, to believe that Dr. Miranda is the man who tortured Paulina? Does Gerardo believe this? Provide evidence for or against.

2-what sets off Gerardo on the end of p. 47? He threatens to kill Miranda; why does he change? Quote any evidence in this short scene that may possibly trigger his anger towards Dr. Miranda.

3-how does Sc. 2 in some ways parallel what happened to Paulina (mentioned top of p. 30) after she was arrested, or for that matter, Lelia Pérez, in the Amnesty International handout? In what ways would Gerardo’s words and actions in this scene be an improper trial or as we might imagine, the opposite of what he wants to create with the Investigation Commission? Cite evidence.