Plot Analysis
Before jumping in to analyze a plot, it is important to take a step back and look at the components of plot structure. Amy's View is a linear play, which follows the common format of the Freytag Pyramid. The play begins in a state of equilibrium, experiences an inciting incident, causes the viewer to produce a major dramatic question, continues with rising action, climaxes, and then resolves itself to a new state of equilibrium. Here is an outline of these steps for Amy's View:
- State of Equilibrium: Amy and Dominic appear to be a happy couple, Dominic readily meeting Amy's mother. Dominic's career is just beginning to emerge, and Esme's career is on the downshift. We have not yet met Frank, but we know Evelyn is coherent and healthy.
- Inciting incident: After Amy reveals to her mother that she is pregnant, Esme blurts it out to Dominic before consulting Amy on the matter.
- Major Dramatic Question: Will Amy and Dominic's relationship survive? What about Amy's relationship with her mother?
- Rising Action: Dominic and Esme continue to butt heads over the idea of the theater versus new media and popular culture; Esme and Frank's relationship evolves; Evelyn ages and becomes burdensome; Dominic leaves Amy for a young actress; Esme loses her savings in an insurance debacle.
- Climax: Amy and Esme come to a great conflict, where Amy admits that she distanced herself because she could not handle her mother being right about Dominic in some respects, but is still infuriated by the fact that her own mother – who loves her daughter unconditionally – could not understand Amy's unconditional love for Dominic.
- Resolution: Dominic comes to Esme after Amy's death to reconcile their differences – because it is the only thing Amy ever wanted, for the two of them to get along.
- New State of Equilibrium: Amy and Dominic are separated, and Amy has died. Dominic's career has taken off, and he is now the successful filmmaker he had always hoped to be. Esme has accepted her daughter's choices and come to peace with Dominic, and after experiencing a low in her career, has found a new hit play and is on the upswing once again. Evelyn's health worsened during the course of the play, and she eventually died, while Frank stayed rather consistent throughout.
Aside from the general format of the plot, there are a few important contextual elements that become clearer in character analysis.
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