Vicky's blog post: Discussion of Shift and An Indiscretion

Beginning, Middle and End:

I believe Aristotle's definition of a beginning was when the plot begins, or rather the point at which the story must flow forward naturally from that point. In shifts, I believe this point is the top of the first page where Dane says "I don't want you to go" and Kelly says "Good. Now you know how I feel." For me, this is the beginning because it is the point when we start to see the conflict between the two characters. Once those lines are uttered, we know that something will stem from it--WHY Kelly now knows how she feels. Some could argue that the beginning is when we are first introduced with the shifting of the city, however, the story of the characters has a beginning, middle, and end--Dane leaves, thus drawing the story to a close. The shifting of the city has no middle or end--at the end of the story, the city is shifting as always. I think it's harder to judge the beginning, middle, and end of An Indiscretion because the play is only a conversation between two people. At the end of the play, we don't even know if the conversation is over--no one leaves the room or states the end of the discussion. I think the underlying beginning, middle, and end of An Indiscretion lies with the wife--only at the end of the story does she reveal her true feelings and point of view of the situation. I think the beginning of the play is when the wife says that she would theoretically be biased in his favor because that is the first instance we see a glimpse of her point of view.