Incident at Vichy is a one-act drama set in a detention room in Nazi-occupied Vichy, France. The play opens to a stark stage where six men and a young boy sit, tense and silent, awaiting interrogation by a Nazi captain. Throughout the play, the characters grapple with their impending fate, each fearing the moment they will be called to verify their papers, which could mark them for death.

Fear and Desperation

The detainees, caught in a limbo of fear and suspense, discuss their disbelief at being detained by their own countrymen. They waver between a desire to escape and the paralyzing fear of the consequences should they try. Through these conversations, their distinct moral frameworks become evident. Marchand embodies a business-like pragmatism, while Prince Von Berg represents someone who fled Austria to stand against Nazi tyranny.

The Price of Freedom

Marchand secures his release through the same mercenary principles he lived by, his white pass symbolizing freedom bought at a price. As he departs, only Von Berg is left with the means to escape the grim fate awaiting the others. In stark contrast, Von Berg's freedom comes not from self-preservation but from a noble act of self-sacrifice, giving his pass to the psychiatrist Leduc to save him from the Nazis.

Guilt and Accountability

Von Berg, though not Jewish, grapples with guilt and moral duty, spurred by Leduc's insistence that silence is complicity. Leduc challenges everyone to accept responsibility for the atrocities committed by humanity. This moral confrontation culminates in Von Berg's decision to use his freedom to save another, illustrating the shared culpability and the potential for nobility even in dire circumstances.

The Cycle of Victimization

The play examines humanity's tendency to overlook evil and shirk responsibility, embodied in the detainees' varied rationalizations of their plight. From Marchand’s pragmatic detachment to Von Berg’s idealism, the characters reveal facets of moral evasion. This avoidance perpetuates a cycle whereby victims become victimizers, seen in the treatment of the Gypsy and the Old Jew by fellow detainees, and the Major’s own entrapment by the Nazi regime.

The Limits of Reason

Attempting to rationalize their circumstances leads the characters to a dead end. Lebeau, a painter, and Leduc, a psychiatrist, underscore the limitations of logic and the importance of intuition. They argue that suffering and evil often defy rational explanation, urging others to recognize the inherent danger through emotional insight rather than cold analysis.

Noble Sacrifice

In a powerful act of idealism, Von Berg sacrifices himself for Leduc, demonstrating that nobility persists even amidst overwhelming despair. His declaration of belief in ideals, even as he faces interrogation, highlights the existence of people willing to uphold their integrity at any cost. This poignant gesture, however, does little to break the cycle of victimization, leaving the audience with a complex blend of hope and despair.

Symbolic Morality

Miller’s play functions as a modern morality tale, with characters personifying abstract virtues and vices. Dr. Leduc’s recognition of the detainees as "symbols" reflects their role in illustrating moral dilemmas. The play's conclusion, with good and evil represented by Von Berg and a Nazi soldier, encapsulates the eternal struggle between these forces within humankind.

Objects of Value

Symbolism extends to objects, such as the possessions clung to by the Gypsy and the Old Jew, representing cherished values amid chaos. Their attempts to hold onto these items amidst interrogation underscore their futile resistance against dehumanizing forces. The destruction of these objects by the Nazis further illustrates the pervasive power of oppression and the fragility of human dignity.

Arthur Miller's Artistic Vision

Miller's work in Incident at Vichy reflects his broader thematic preoccupations found in earlier plays like Death of a Salesman, exploring individual guilt within a modern tragic context. He sought to redefine tragedy for contemporary audiences, emphasizing personal responsibility in an era devoid of classical heroes.

A Legacy of Moral Exploration

While not his most prominent tragic work, Incident at Vichy exemplifies Miller’s dedication to probing the moral crises of his time. His essays and plays consistently highlight the ethical challenges faced by society, urging audiences to confront the complexities and responsibilities of modern civilization through the lens of drama.