‘Fascism, Confrontation and Appeasement in Three Flashbacks’ in Miss Lillian Hellman’s The Searching Wind

The Searching Wind shows rich Americans hopping all over Europe from the year 1922-1944, like Hemingway-type intellectuals in exile. Hellman is really attacking a way of life practiced by a minority who made their values-or lack of them-the keynote of their age. The play audits the conduct of an irresolute career diplomat, his retired liberal father-in-law, and his bored wife who broke bread with Fascist- minded bigwigs. Hellman reviews the rise of Fascism and the triumph of appeasement in three flashbacks. These three flashback scenes take place in 1922, 1923 and 1938 respectively. The flashback scenes also represent three personal crises in the   lives of the three major characters- Alexander Hazen, a career diplomat, his wealthy wife, Emily Hazen and the ‘other woman,' Cassie Bowman. Hellman presents the past as a series of double crisis confrontation.

The Searching Wind shows rich Americans hopping all over Europe from the year 1922-1944, like Hemingway-type intellectuals in exile. Hellman is really attacking a way of life practiced by a minority who made their values-or lack of them-the keynote of their age. The play audits the conduct of an irresolute career diplomat, his retired liberal father-in-law, and his bored wife who broke bread with Fascist- minded bigwigs. Hellman reviews the rise of Fascism and the triumph of appeasement in three flashbacks. These three flashback scenes take place in 1922, 1923 and 1938 respectively. The flashback scenes also represent three personal crises in the   lives of the three major characters- Alexander Hazen, a career diplomat, his wealthy wife, Emily Hazen and the ‘other woman,' Cassie Bowman. Hellman presents the past as a series of double crisis confrontation.