A good example of just how multi-layered events in The Crucible are can be found by breaking down why John Proctor is hanged for witchcraft. The Crucible | Quotes Share 1. Ask questions; get answers. Elizabeth doesnt realize that John is willing to sacrifice his reputation to save her life. There is a faction that is sworn to drive me from my pulpit. There's also foreshadowing in this quote because by the end of this act, Hale is full of qualms, and by the end of the play, Hale feels he has "blood on [his] head" (p. 121). There's a message here about the choices we have in dealing with guilt. He has sentenced people to death based on lies about their dealings in black magic, and he has accepted other false confessions from those who would rather lie than be executed. "PROCTOR, with a cry of his whole soul: Because it is my name! You'll also receive an email with the link. The people in charge are so eager to hold onto their power that if anyone disagrees with them in the way the trials are conducted, it is taken as a personal affront and challenge to their authority. The court refuses to challenge anyone who claims to have been afflicted. Its easy for more respectable citizens to accept that shes in league with the Devil because she is an "other" in Salem, just like Tituba. People in power continue to believe the accusers out of fear for their own safety, taking the hysteria to a point where no one is above condemnation. This makes him particularly averse to accepting that he's been fooled by a teenage girl. Anns extreme conclusions are gradually accepted because rational people are too afraid to challenge the consensus and risk bringing accusations upon themselves. As for the witches, none will deny that we are most eager for all their confessions. Why do you never wonder if Parris be innocent, or Abigail? And you know I can do it; I saw Indians smash my dear parents' heads on the pillow next to mine, and I have seen some reddish work done at night, and I can make you wish you had never seen the sun go down! Abigails presence is always rife with irony in. This is taken as evidence that things are really getting out of control ("if Rebecca Nurse be tainted, then nothing's left to stop the whole green world from burning." See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. 130). 22). The Crucible Quotes about Hysteria #1: There are wheels within wheels in this village, and fires within fires! Explain who you believe is the central tragic character in the play. I will not have it said my name is soiled! He appears to have no governing system of morality. The other two main female characters, Elizabeth and Mary Warren, are somewhat bland. I beg you, sir, I beg you - see her what she isShe thinks to dance with me on my wife's grave! Abigail's version of events is held to be true even after John confesses to their affair in a final effort to discredit her. 520 Words3 Pages. 50). Many of the characters in Arthur Miller's The Crucible have a strong desire for power. He believes that Postponement now speaks a floundering on my part; reprieve or pardon must cast doubt upon the guilt of them that died till now. The village is certainly under attack, but not necessarily in the way Hale thinks it is. Tituba is forced to accept her role as a pawn for those with greater authority and a stepping stone for Abigails ascent to power. This vicious cycle continues to claim the lives of more and more people as the play progresses. Abigails many deceptions are sometimes laughably ironic as she chastises others for lying even as she is spinning falsehoods. Danforth to Francis Nurse. (Act 1, p. 41). Parris is very quick to position himself on the side of the accusers as soon as Abigail throws the first punch, and he immediately threatens violence on Tituba if she doesn't confess (pg. Each new false confession is thrown onto the pile of evidence of a grand Satanic plot, and as the pile grows larger, the hysteria surrounding it is fed generously. 121). (Act 1, p. 40), "Proctor, I cannot think God be provoked so grandly by such a petty causethink on your village and what may have drawn from heaven such thundering wrath upon you all " (Hale, Act 2, p. 75), "PROCTOR: 'Do that which is good, and no harm shall come to you.'" Let you look sometimes for the goodness in me, and judge me not." ~Arthur Miller, The Crucible, John Proctor, Page 51 "Why do you never wonder if Parris be innocent, or Abigail? The faces that people present to the public are designed to garner respect in the community, but the witch trials have thrown this system into disarray. Nowhere is there any consideration of ulterior motives. By the second act, the repercussions of the trials are starting to reverberate out of the courtroom. How do outside forces contribute to the character's flaws and eventual downfall?". While I speak Gods law, I will not crack its voice with whimpering (pg. Abigails many deceptions are sometimes laughably ironic as she chastises others for lying even as she is spinning falsehoods. We see Abigail's art of manipulation, Danforth's black-and-white worldview, and Proctor losing his initial restraint and admitting to what he did. I'll go over the most important quotes from The Crucible, explaining both their literal meaning and why they're important. (Proctor, Act 4, p. 133). This act also sees the irony of Hale discussing the powers of the dark that are attacking Salem (pg. Abigail yelling "don't lie" at another person is highly ironic, not only because Miller introduced her as a liar (she has "an endless capacity for dissembling"), but because Abigail had just told Proctor Betty's illness was nothing to do with witchcraft not 20 page previously. Ironically, he is the first to demand a confession from Tituba based on Abigail's dramatic but false testimony. The Crucible argues that those most concerned with reputation, like Parris, are dangerous to society: to protect themselves, they're willing to let others be harmed and fuel hysteria in the process. They say he give them but two words. would be hers. How is Parris fate in act 4 ironic when considering his role in the events of the play? Here are a few questions related to this theme that you can use to test your grasp of irony and its significance as a theme in The Crucible: Hale wrongly assumes that his academic mindset will save him from jumping to the wrong conclusions in the witchcraft investigation. This is irony of the same type that I discussed in the overview of this theme. I have your back with this complete guide to The Crucible quotes. Compare and contrast three authority figures in this drama: Hale, Danforth, and Parris. He is completely oblivious to the fact that the victims might be lying. Danforth also becomes frustrated with Proctor when he wont name names in his confession: Mr. . Is reputation more important than truth? Sometimes it can end up there. (Cheever pg. Essay prompts will ask about these themes in a variety of different ways. I have no tongue for it., Life, woman, life is God's most precious gift; no principle, however glorious, may justify the taking of it., It is rare for people to be asked the question which puts them squarely in front of themselves, I may think of you softly from time to time. Miller's portrayal of women in The Crucible is a much-discussed topic. Danforth has extensive pride in his intelligence and perceptiveness. And the wind, God's icy wind, will blow!" If Tituba was permitted to explain what really happened, the ensuing tragedy might have been prevented. This hysteria-based evidence of witchcraft includes the discovery of the poppet in the Proctor household with a needle in it. Reverend Samuel Parris plays an important role in . Like a struck beast, he says, and screamed a scream that a bull would weep to hear. The seeds are planted in Act 1, when Abigail is questioned about her activities in the woods and ends up accusing Tituba of witchcraft to avoid punishment. Du Maurier tells us that the birds are trying to destroy human life, but we never know what is making them do it. The Crucible presents a view of women that essentially reduces them to caricatures of human beings that are defined by their roles as mothers, wives, and servants to men. As mentioned in the overview, religion holds significant power over the people of Salem. Here are a few discussion questions to consider after you've read my summary of how the theme of reputation motivates characters and plot developments in The Crucible: If you're an old beggar woman who sometimes takes shelter in this creepy shack, you better believe these jerks are gonna turn on you as soon as anyone says the word "witch.". And well she might, for I thought of her softly. Never fear! Most Important Quotes From The Crucible, Analyzed, Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Score, Salem Massachusetts - Burying Point Cemetery, Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now, We profile Aleister Crowley and analyze some of his key quotes in this article, "ABIGAIL: I never sold myself! This attitude comes from a man who has shown no remorse for condemning people to death throughout the play. Abigail, with a flash of anger: How do you call me child! How does reputation influence who is first accused of witchcraft? Parris Act 1, Paranoia, jealousy, power, reputation, repression, "You cannot command Mr Parris, We vote by name in this society, not by acreage." The only power they have left is in refusing to confess and preserving their integrity. Rational explanations are ground up by the drama of the rumor mill, and people see only what they want to see (whatever keeps them in the good graces of society andmakes them feel the best about themselves) in situations that don't appear to have easy explanations. ." In Act 2, John Proctors guilt over his affair with Abigail is demonstrated through an ironic exchange with Reverend Hale. It is mistaken law that leads you to sacrifice. Danforth explains that witchcraft is an invisible crime and that only the victims are reliable. (Proctor, Act 2 p. 52), "PROCTOR: Because it speaks deceit, and I am honest! Parris is worried "they will howl [him] out of Salem for such corruption in [his] house" (14). No one thinks a teenage orphan girl is capable of such extensive deception (or delusion), so she is consistently trusted. John has already confessed that the affair was the reason for Abigails dismissal. The judges cannot force her to commit herself to a lie, and her martyrdom severely damages their legitimacy and favor amongst the townspeople. The court's attempts to preserve Puritan morality by arresting and executing accused witches ironically lead to the removal of the most virtuous people from society. Abigail's presence is always rife with irony in The Crucible, as she constantly chastises others for sins she herself has committed. (Act 2, p. 59). builds quickly as accusations of witchcraft proliferate throughout Salem. She is enraged when Parris questions her suspicious dismissal from the Proctor household. Act 1 Characters: Mrs. Putnam (Speaker), Parris, Proctor Techniques: Repetition, conduplicatio, symbolism #2: I'll tell you what's walking Salemvengeance is walking Salem. 10. Why does he decide to do so anyways? Proctor, gently pressing her from him, with great sympathy but firmly: Child. When the petition testifying to the good character of the accused women is presented, the reaction from Danforth, Hathorne, and Parris is to arrest the people who signed it rather than considering that this might indicate that the women are innocent. In the Arthur Miller play, The Crucible, one person abused their power; while the other person was elevated . Abigail distracts the judges from any rational investigation in this act by playing into this hysteria. It is as impossible for most men to conceive of a morality without sin as of an earth without 'sky'. Hysteria blinds the people of Salem to reason as they become convinced that there is a grand Satanic plot brewing in town, and they must not hesitate to condemn anyone who could be involved. The Crucible provides an example of how convenient lies can build on one another to create a universally accepted truth even in the absence of any real evidence. Wed love to have you back! He uses his reputation to assert his authority; he will not be told what to do. (Act 1, p. 12). Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! This new power is exciting and very dangerous because. The power of mass hysteria is further revealed when Mary is unable to faint outside of a charged courtroom environment. 133). I'll tell you what's walking Salemvengeance is walking Salem. The petition he presents to Danforth is used as a weapon against the signers rather than a proof of the innocence of Elizabeth, Martha, and Rebecca. The Devil is precise; the marks of his presence are definite as stone, and I must tell you all that I shall not proceed unless you are prepared to believe me if I should find no bruise of Hell upon her." John Proctor sabotages his own reputation in Act 3 after realizing it's the only way he can discredit Abigail. Even before the witch trials, the people of Salem are doing lots of little magic tricks to make all their unholy thoughts and actions disappear. She is enraged when Parris questions her suspicious dismissal from the Proctor household. The depths of the hysteria that has gripped Salem are revealed in Act 3 when John finally confronts the court. One calls up witnesses to prove his innocence. Later in Act 4, Danforth becomes angry at the implication that Johns confession may not be the truth. Parris begs Danforth to postpone their hangings because he fears for his life if the executions proceed as planned.

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