The structure of a play is always the story of how the birds came home to roost.

In this quote, Arthur Miller, the renowned playwright, uses the metaphor of "how the birds came home to roost" to describe the structure of a play. He suggests that the unfolding of events within a play is often a reflection of how past actions, decisions, or events inevitably return to impact the present. Just as birds return to their nests, the consequences of a character's choices—whether good or bad—come back to them, shaping the narrative and leading to the resolution of the story. This implies that the events in a play are not isolated but are interconnected, with earlier actions and conflicts building up to a final, often inevitable, conclusion.

Miller’s quote highlights his understanding of dramatic structure and character development. The idea that a play's story revolves around the eventual return of consequences suggests that cause and effect are central themes in the structure of drama. Each choice and event serves as a piece of a larger puzzle, leading to a climax where the characters must confront the outcomes of their past decisions. This concept is evident in many of Miller's works, where characters often face the repercussions of their actions, such as in Death of a Salesman or The Crucible.

By framing the structure of a play in this way, Miller emphasizes the inevitability and justice that can arise in a well-constructed narrative. In many of his plays, characters are often trapped by their past mistakes or moral failings, and the resolution of the story brings those consequences into full view. The metaphor of the birds returning home suggests that the story arc is not just about external events but also about the internal reckoning of the characters.

The origin of this quote can be traced to Arthur Miller's extensive career in the theater, where his works often explored the complexities of human nature, morality, and the social consequences of personal actions. Miller's focus on psychological depth and social critique shaped his view that plays, at their core, are about the inevitable return of consequences. His approach to dramatic writing has influenced generations of playwrights who use this principle to craft compelling, thought-provoking stories.