This immaculate proof that has led him to sign numerous death warrants is nothing but the fabrications of teenage girls and other townspeople seeking petty revenge. Reverend Parris' concerns about his reputation are immediately evident in Act 1. John Proctor surrenders his agency at the end of Act 3 in despair at the determination of the court to pursue the accusations of witchcraft and ignore all evidence of their falsehood. Where before she was just an orphaned teenager, now, in the midst of the trials, she becomes the main witness to the inner workings of a Satanic plot. First off, what is irony? Danforth, Hathorne, and Parris become even more rigid in their views when they feel they are under attack. In Act 1 he jumped on board with the hysteria to preserve his power, but he ended up losing what little authority he had in the first place (and, according to Miller's afterward, was voted out of office soon after the end of the play). This is irony of the same type that I discussed in the overview of this theme. Samantha is also passionate about art and graduated with honors from Dartmouth College as a Studio Art major in 2014. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you Once there have been enough convictions, the reputations of the judges also become factors. As we discussed in this lesson, we see hypocrisy everywhere, and its depiction in art is no exception. This means that much of the population that remains is comprised of the power-hungry, the selfish, and the cowardly. What is the difference between dissent and disloyalty? The fact that he forgets only this commandment shows that he is trying extremely hard to repress his guilt. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Throughout the play, Miller uses the Salem Witch trials as a catalyst for Proctor's crucial development. Some will be very direct. As he says, How may I live without my name? Through Abigail Williams, Miller was trying to state the injustice in Salem because she targeted the innocent people, leading to their death. They so fear the devilish consequences of challenging the accusers that theyre willing to take them at their word and ignore any defenses the accused have to offer. Though a character can have significant moral flaws, they can be wise enough to recognize their flaws and change their ways. The town suspected her of lewd dealings, so she was put to death for it. 91). An example of hypocrisy is when Mary defends Elizabeth in court, but then gives her a poppet which lands Elizabeth in jail for owning a tool of witchcraft. South Plantation High School, one of the only schools to offer a program for the deaf, cast tradition aside to create a rendition of The Crucible that is truly one of a kind. She is cast as a villain. It caused many people, in Salem during this event to think fast, rash and jump to conclusions. While it does provide an entertaining experience at face value, the true literary genius behind the work is Miller's . Her goal is to help students adopt a less stressful view of standardized testing and other academic challenges through her articles. 67). She attended church regularly and was the embodiment of how a Puritan woman should behave. One flaw that can always be found in society and the Crucible is hypocrisy. Combining this notion with the one he declared earlier displays the hypocritical nature of Danforth when put in this hysterical. Why is Giles Cory expelled from court? How does Reverend Hale make Tituba feel important? For example, Bridget Bishop dressed in red, a color that was abhorrent in the Puritan eyes. This makes him particularly averse to accepting that he's been fooled by a teenage girl. The madness begins in earnest with Abigails claim that Tituba and Ruth were conjuring spirits in the woods. 119). Proctors good reputation is almost a burden for him at this point because he knows that he doesnt deserve it. This is a decision with dire consequences in a town where reputation is so important, a fact that contributes to the misunderstanding that follows. The Crucible by Arthur Miller, is a play based upon events that occurred in Salem circa 1690s. Reverend Hale, Abigail Williams and Judge Danforth. Themes can be expressed in many different ways. People were put to death because their neighbors suspected them of committing a crime, but murder is a sin in the Puritan religion. The evolution of his character is due to vairous . Hale truly believes that the accused have been marked by the Devil. There are many characters in the Crucible who are guilty of taking innocent lives, but there are three major characters who, without a doubt, are the most at blame. The importance placed on reputation helps perpetuate hysteria because it leads to inaction, inflexibility, and, in many cases, active sabotage of the reputations of others for selfish purposes. The cause of the hysteria was caused by Reverend Hale, Abigail Williams and Judge Danforth. The ruthlessness with which the suspected witches are treated is aimed at purifying Salem, but it achieves the opposite outcome. John Proctor sabotages his own reputation in Act 3 after realizing it's the only way he can discredit Abigail. These types of statements made by Hale earlier in the play become even more ironic in Act 4 when he realizes he made a horrible mistake by trusting the evidence that was presented to him. He appears to have no governing system of morality. He is somewhat responsible for all of the witch trials; if he wouldn't of committed adultery with Abigail, she wouldn't have gone on her rampage of blaming people. Nowhere is there any consideration of ulterior motives. Tituba is pressured to confess and name the names of other witches to avoid execution, which leads to Abigail and Bettys accusations, now validated by a coerced confession. How does Parris pride prevent him from doing anything to stop the progression of events in the play? 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. 42). 71). 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. In fact, we've all seen hypocrisy in our daily lives. It is used to draw away from a person's counterargument through addressing something unrelated. Why wont Danforth hear his evidence? Salem is under attack from the hysteria that is encouraged by the same people who seek to keep imaginary supernatural demons at bay. How does reputation influence who is first accused of witchcraft? How is the arrest of Rebecca Nurse a sign that the hysteria in Salem has gotten out of control? He refers to Johns refusal to confess as a calamity, looking past his own involvement in the larger calamity of the conviction that led John to this point. He's already accepted her testimony as evidence, so he is happy for any excuse to believe her over John and Mary.John finally comes to the realization that Mary's truthful testimony cannot compete with the hysteria that has taken hold of the court. Sign language interpreters, though extremely helpful, do not allow deaf audience members to fully experience a show. 12) The first act of The Crucibleclearly establishes the fact that a bad reputation can damage a persons position in this society severely and irreparably. Great, character-driven stories often have deeply flawed characters at their heart. While Mary Warren gets pressured by Proctor to reveal the truth about Abigail, but the overwhelming pressure from the mob makes her turn from the truth. The Crucible by Arthur Miller. I highly recommend you use this site! This is also the commandment that he has violated most explicitly, so youd think it would be the first one to spring to mind. This vicious cycle continues to claim the lives of more and more people as the play progresses. While touting his holy credentials, he claims that he dare not take a life without there be a proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of my conscience may doubt it (pg. A 17-year-old girl named Abigail Williams had an affair with John Proctor, a wealthy, married man. . He is weak and vulnerable after Abigail's theft of his life's savings, and hes even facing death threats from the townspeople as a result of John and Rebecca's imminent executions. John and Rebeccas solid reputations lead to pushback against their executions even though people were too scared to stand up for them in the midst of the trials. Both flaws led him to delay telling the truth about Abigail's fraudulent claims and their previous relationship, thus dooming himself and many others to death or imprisonment. 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. In Act 2, John Proctors guilt over his affair with Abigail is demonstrated through an ironic exchange with Reverend Hale. In high school, she earned a 2400 on the SAT, 5's on all seven of her AP tests, and was named a National Merit Scholar. These hypocritical actions take away from the authority of the person or people committing them. I'll give a short summary of how each plays a role in the events of The Crucible. hbspt.cta.load(360031, '4efd5fbd-40d7-4b12-8674-6c4f312edd05', {}); Have any questions about this article or other topics? The girls are essentially given permission by authority figures to continue their act because they are made to feel special and important for their participation. Act 4 is Danforths turn to shine in the irony department. In Act 2, the value of reputation in Salem starts to butt heads with the power of hysteria and fear to sway peoples opinions (and vengeance to dictate their actions). 61). John attempts to crush his guilt instead of facing it, which only ends up making it an even more destructive factor in his life. Essay prompts will ask about these themes in a variety of different ways. Parris is extremely dismayed by this revelation because of the damage it will do to his reputation. In fact, we've all seen hypocrisy in our daily lives. If you argued that John Proctor was the central tragic character, you could say that his flaws were an excessive concern for his reputation and overconfidence in the power of reason to overcome hysteria. The overall message is that. Miller writes: ''As for Rebecca herself, the general opinion of her character was so high that to explain how anyone dared cry her out for a witchwe must look to the fields and boundaries of that time.'' 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. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 88,000 Is hypocrisy a natural human flaw? Here are a few questions about hysteria to consider now that you've read a summary of how this theme was expressed throughout the plot of the play: Even though there is significant reason to believe Abigail is lying about Elizabeth's familiar spirit stabbing her, the frenzied investigators ignore testimony that challenges their chosen witchy narrative. One path to higher standing and greater control would be in becoming John Proctors wife. The depths of the hysteria that has gripped Salem are revealed in Act 3 when John finally confronts the court. In the next few sections,I'll take a look at a group of broad themes inThe Crucible, including irony, hysteria, reputation, and power. When Hale asks him to recite his commandments, the only one he forgets is adultery. John finally comes to the realization that Mary's truthful testimony cannot compete with the hysteria that has taken hold of the court. 41). In this act, she yells Dont lie! at Tituba immediately before she tells some of the most damning lies of the play accusing Tituba of witchcraft (She comes to me while I sleep; shes always making me dream corruptions! pg. 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. His only goal is to get on the good side of the community as a whole, even in the midst of this bout of collective hysteria. references the many sentencing decisions he has already made in the trials of the accused. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Once the accusations begin, Parris initiates an ironic thought process that persists throughout The Crucible: You will confess yourself or I will take you out and whip you to your death, Tituba! (pg. These types of statements made by Hale earlier in the play become even more ironic in Act 4 when he realizes he made a horrible mistake by trusting the evidence that was presented to him. The town slips further and further into chaos and paranoia until it reaches a point of total devastation. The Devil is really a superstition hiding the townspeople, who are ''precise'' in their accusations because they want land from others. Proctor is infuriated. Will you confess yourself with him? (pg. In the final events of Act 4, John Proctor has a tough choice to make between losing his dignity and losing his life. Proctors strengths consist of, honesty and pride. Arthur Miller's "The Crucible" is a fictional account of the real life Salem witch trials, but the play has far deeper meanings than just a dramatic interpretation of the event. The power of collective hysteria ultimately becomes insurmountable because it grows larger than the influence of the few rational voices in the community. . 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. What are some of the factors that feed the panic and suspicion in Salem, and why are. 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. Believer, Baltimore City IEP Chair, and 2:39 marathon runner. John has already confessed that the affair was the reason for Abigails dismissal. When Abigail accuses Elizabeth, a respected farmers wife, it shows that she is willing to take big risks to remove Elizabeth from the picture. 42). 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. 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. In addition to grubbing for a few extra pounds every year, Parris makes a show out of needing golden candlesticks for the altar to replace the pewter ones that have served the church since it was built. No one will listen to Tituba until she agrees to confirm the version of events that the people in traditional positions of authority have already decided is true, a pattern which continues throughout the play. Miller explains this further: ''long-held hatreds of neighbors could now be openly expressed, and vengeance taken, despite the Bible's charitable injunctions.'' If Tituba was permitted to explain what really happened, the ensuing tragedy might have been prevented. He appears to have no governing system of morality. Abigail, the one character who breaks from this mold slightly, is portrayed extremely unsympathetically despite the fact that the power dynamic between her and John makes him far more culpable in their illicit relationship. Anns extreme conclusions are gradually accepted because rational people are too afraid to challenge the consensus and risk bringing accusations upon themselves. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? Parris begs Danforth to postpone their hangings because he fears for his life if the executions proceed as planned. Diehard fan of The Wire. Support me by becoming a Medium member: https://bit.ly/39Cybb8. In Arthur Miller's play, The Crucible, the events that occurred during the Salem witch trials are dramatized, and the truth of judgement and vengeance is examined in a web of lies amongst the townspeople. The Crucible by Arthur Miller is a play about the Salem witch trials. 129)He is still convinced that all the prisoners are guilty and is determined to force them to admit their guilt. Parris initially insists that there are no unnatural causes for Bettys illness because he fears that he will lose favor with the townspeople if witchcraft is discovered under his roof. Okay, let's take a moment to review. Tituba is forced to accept her role as a pawn for those with greater authority and a stepping stone for Abigails ascent to power. Many of the conflicts that occurred in the play were caused by Abigail Williams. Throughout the play, Miller is introducing multiple characters that experience changes in their decisions and negatively influence more people eventually leading up to the witch trials. Get unlimited access to over 88,000 lessons. Other essay questions may not ask you directly about the themes listed in this article, but that doesn't mean that the themes are irrelevant to your writing. The play, The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller demonstrates the implications of a society in complete chaos over an irrational fear of witchcraft in the town of Salem, Massachusetts. Abigails presence is always rife with irony in The Crucible, as she constantly chastises others for sins she herself has committed. Giles got arrested for contempt. I chose . In this act, we learn more details about the accused that paint a clearer picture of the influence of reputation and social standing on the patterns of accusations. In Act 3, Hale continues to make ironic statements about the existence of concrete proof for the accusations of witchcraft. Goody Good, an old beggar woman, is one of the first to be named a witch. Compare and contrast three authority figures in this drama: Hale, Danforth, and Parris. Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here: PrepScholar 2013-2018. SAT is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination BoardTM. Abigail, in particular, has quickly risen from a nobody to one of the most influential people in Salem. This is especially true with the reputation and hysteria themes. Hypocrisy involves the deception of others and is thus a kind of lie. This act also sees the irony of Hale discussing the powers of the dark that are attacking Salem (pg. He is known for making the right decisions and never going against them. Even with prompts that ask you to discuss a specific character or plot point, you can find ways to connect your answer to major themes. Once there have been enough convictions, the reputations of the judges also become factors. In this case, you're asked to discuss the concept of a tragic character, explaining who fits that mold in The Crucible and why. Revered Parris claims to be a godly minister, yet he is always clamoring for more: golden candlesticks, property rights, more money. The irony is that, in the face of Johns rejection, Abigail turns around and creates her own lies soon after that give her increased control over the society she resents. 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.". When she cant get John to abandon Elizabeth for her, she decides to take matters into her own hands and gain control through manipulating the fears of others. Being in contact with someone else means mediating between ourselves and the other. Many people are under the impression that irony is just when something happens that you don't expect (or that you really hoped wouldn't happen). Though the Puritans believed that children were not to be taken seriously, they are later convinced by the court officials that the children are the authorities on witchcraft. Through this statement he clearly demonstrates his belief that lying will send a person to Hell. The price he has to pay in reputation to save his own life is ultimately too high. He insists,I am not empowered to trade your life for a lie (pg. Tituba, the slave of Reverend Parris, is the first to admit to dancing with the devil. This hysteria-based evidence of witchcraft includes the discovery of the poppet in the Proctor household with a needle in it. Take a look at this article for details on the history and thematic parallels behind this connection. Read this character flaw list (with examples) for inspiration and develop interesting character weaknesses: 1. No one even considers Mary's statement about sticking the needle in herself. In this environment, whoever yells the loudest seems to get the most credibility. At the end this act, John Proctor delivers a short monologue anticipating the imminent loss of the disguises of propriety worn by himself and other members of the Salem community. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. Parris begs Danforth to postpone their hangings because he fears for his life if the executions proceed as planned. Throughout "The Crucible", Abigail Williams commits the largest act of hypocrisy. Hypocrisy In Salem And The Crucible Proctor knows that unlike most of the other people who have gotten hanged, his is not completely innocent. At the end this act, John Proctor delivers a short monologue anticipating the imminent loss of the disguises of propriety worn by himself and other members of the Salem community. In this act, we learn more details about the accused that paint a clearer picture of the influence of reputation and social standing on the patterns of accusations. Why does Mary Warren warn John about testifying against Abigail? And he goes to save her, and, stuck two inches in the flesh of her belly, he draw a needle out." Essay questions that ask about themes in this straightforward way can be tricky because there's a temptation to speak in vague terms about the theme's significance. Reverend Parris is in a position of power as the town's spiritual leader, but he is insecure about his authority. The fact that he forgets only this commandment shows that he is trying extremely hard to repress his guilt. 121). The town, already primed with rumors of black magic, is quickly willing to accept that the first few women who are accused are involved in black magic because theyre beggars and slaves. The idea that a witch's familiar spirit is capable of stabbing people is too scary for the superstitious and now hysterical people of Salem to give Elizabeth the benefit of the doubt. People who were accused of witchcraft are wrongfully indicted, and those transgressions must be justified. Salem is under attack from the hysteria that is encouraged by the same people who seek to keep imaginary supernatural demons at bay. Though Rebecca Nurse's involvement has already been corroborated by other confessors, Danforth demands to hear it from John to confirm that John is fully committed to renouncing his supposed ties to Satan. She believed she had seen spirits earlier because she was caught up in the delusions of those around her. There are several ironies in Act 1 that center around Abigail Williams. By Act 4, many of the power structures that were firmly in place earlier in the play have disintegrated. 123). The whole purpose of a trial is to hear both sides of the story before a verdict is reached. Ironically, he is the first to demand a confession from Tituba based on Abigail's dramatic but false testimony. Miller fills us in on much of the history in breaks in the play where he offers commentary in his own voice. Concern for reputation is a theme that looms large over most of the events in The Crucible. The book is about witchcraft or what the town thinks is witchcraft. A character named Abigail lived with proctor and his wife and his two sons. Abigail distracts the judges from any rational investigation in this act by playing into this hysteria. She also ran the local tavern. Many of us in today's society do not believe in this; however, the Puritans really did believe that people could be vessels for the Devil. Then, on the other end of the spectrum, we have Rebecca Nurse. Parris is extremely dismayed by this revelation because of the damage it will do to his reputation. The madness begins in earnest with Abigails claim that Tituba and Ruth were conjuring spirits in the woods. Johns concern for his reputation is strong throughout the play, and his hesitation to reveal Abigails true nature is a product of his own fears of being labeled an adulterer.
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