Ariel Dorfman's play Death and the Maiden and Roman Polanski's movie of the same name lead the audience to believe that Paulina's accusations. Dorfman's use of sound directions and spare set directions create an atmosphere where the audience must use their imaginations, a technique that Polanski also follows. In this moody and isolated world, the audience comes to accept the man as Paulina's accuser. While Dorfman and Polanski create some doubt about the validity of Paulina's claims, this is cleared up relatively early. Ultimately, Death and the Maiden has a lot to teach us about the ability to forgive while still holding onto important lessons from the past.

Dorfman's play and Roman Polanski's movie share a common plot. They are set in a South American country as a democratic regime takes over from a brutal dictatorship. Paulina is a woman who was repeatedly raped and tortured during the regime, who...
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