Comparing Durfman Use The Gun, Paulina's Claims And

How Does Dorfman Use the Gun, Gerardo, and Paulina's Claims and Actions to Ensure that the Audience in Unable to Come to a Unanimous Decision as to Whether doctor Roberto Miranda is Innocent or Guilty

The audience plays a massive role in Durfman's “death and the Maiden”. Durfman makes it clear not to state whether or not doctor Roberto Miranda is indeed guilty of the crime Paulina is accusing him of, leaving it up to the audience to do so themselves. However, even though there is no clear answer directly stated, the audience is able to come to an individualistic decision based on what they perceive as true in the play. Just as Durfman does not directly state wether Miranda is indeed innocent, he leaves no solid evidence that clearly expresses that Miranda is indeed guilty. With every possible piece of evidence that proves his guilt, there is
Actions exerted by the characters and also physical objects can encourage the reader into making a decision. The gun that Paulina uses against doctor Miranda is a crucial object that alters the audience's views and opinions on Paulina. Her possession of the gun gives her a sense of power and masculinity that she did not have before. This power makes her appear far less innocent and far more dangerous than she appeared to be before. By possessing the gun, Paulina is suddenly at a higher level of power than the other two men, resulting in an inverse in the usual chain of power (men have more power than women). This gun puts her above men, making her seem more dangerous to the audience, therefore making them more inclined to believing that she is crazy or sick. This weariness from the audience for Paulina's health drastically increases when she suddenly fires a shot out of the blue. The fact that she looked very surprised after the shot was made shows that Paulina does not really know what she is doing, and also gives her a sort of crazy