Compare and contrast three authority figures in this drama: Hale, Danforth, and Parris. 129). 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.'' These hypocritical actions take away from the authority of the person or people committing them. By examining the characters of the play, I believe that the three major characters who should be blamed the most for the witch trials are Abigail Williams. 118). As this hysteria begins to rise, other people such as Thomas Putnam, a rich landowner, start to also allege Salem villagers. This is especially true with the reputation and hysteria themes. 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. Sign language interpreters, though extremely helpful, do not allow deaf audience members to fully experience a show. He is known for making the right decisions and never going against them. 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). 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. These two institutions fuse together in The Crucible to actively encourage accusers and discourage rational explanations of events. 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. 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. There is a culture of keeping up appearances already in place, which makes it natural for people to lie about witnessing their neighbors partaking in Satanic rituals when the opportunity arises (especially if it means insulating themselves from similar accusations and even achieving personal gain). Reverend Hale, Abigail Williams and Judge Danforth. Revered Parris claims to be a godly minister, yet he is always clamoring for more: golden candlesticks, property rights, more money. The Devil is really a superstition hiding the townspeople, who are ''precise'' in their accusations because they want land from others. She has the power to utterly destroy peoples lives with a single accusation because she is seen as a victim and a savior. By Act 2, there have been notable changes in the power structure in Salem as a result of the ongoing trials. In the case of a play like The Crucible, themes are revealed mainly through the dialogue of the characters. The classic example of an incorrect use of irony is in Alanis Morisette's song "Ironic" when she says that "rain on your wedding day" is an example of irony. This new power is exciting and very dangerous because. This is a lesson in how fear can twist perceptions of reality even for those who consider themselves reasonable under normal circumstances. 91). Envy, Selfishness, and lust for money/power demonstrate the flaws of humanity through the actions of Abigail Williams, Reverend Parris, and Thomas Putnam. 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. Judge Danforth a well respected man in the society that has the supreme rule over the court. The accusers cannot present concrete evidences, and their wrongful convictions must be further scrutinized. When Hale asks him to recite his commandments, the only one he forgets is adultery. Abigail, in particular, has quickly risen from a nobody to one of the most influential people in Salem. 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. 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. Her jealousy of Elizabeth Proctors position as Johns wife has led her to attempted murder, first by the charm in the woods and now by accusing Elizabeth of witchcraft. 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. The overall message is that. -Hypocrisy is the state of falsely claiming to possess virtuous characteristics that one lacks. The whole purpose of a trial is to hear both sides of the story before a verdict is reached. Miller addresses a similar hysteria throughout his play. Themes tell us what the purpose of the work is. Shes not a traditionally accepted target like the others (except in her susceptibility as a woman to the misogyny that runs rampant in the play). The desire to preserve and gain power pervadesThe Crucible as the witch trials lead to dramatic changes in which characters hold the greatest control over the course of events. Just like generosity, honesty and kindness are natural in people with those tendencies. Being a person, from Latin persona ("mask", per and soneo - "resound") means precisely "being a mask . Many of the conflicts that occurred in the play were caused by Abigail Williams. Danforth also acts out of concern for his reputations here. Hale pg. An ad hominem means that it shifts the argument away from the issue to a personal attack on the person involved. 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. She says, "My name is good in the village! Always include specific details, including direct quotes, to support your argument about how the theme is expressed in the play. The Crucible is a tragedy play written by Arthur Miller. By Act 2, there are nearly 40 people in jail accused of witchcraft. Is reputation more important than truth? Why is Cheever both astonished and afraid when he finds the poppet with the needle in it? The fact that he forgets only this commandment shows that he is trying extremely hard to repress his guilt. As said in the documents I read, the theme is "the fundamental and often universal idea of a literary artwork". He believes there is a group of people in town determined to remove him from this position, and he will say and do whatever it takes to retain control. Goody Good, an old beggar woman, is one of the first to be named a witch. As we discussed in this lesson, we see hypocrisy everywhere, and its depiction in art is no exception. Abigails low status and perceived innocence under normal circumstances allow her to claim even greater power in her current situation. People who were accused of witchcraft are wrongfully indicted, and those transgressions must be justified. Reverend Parris has fallen from his position of authority as a result of the outcomes of the trials. First off, what is irony? An example would be something like: "How are themes like hysteria, hunger for power, reputation, or any of a number of others functional in the drama? I highly recommend you use this site! One theory of the cause of the trials is that people used the trials as a way to gain land. Choose a single character and discuss how this person embodies one of the themes. The accused people of Salem are all innocent and have nothing to do with neither witchcraft nor convening with the devil. She is clearly outspoken and dominant, but her initial position in society is one of very little influence and authority. Revenge in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Theme, Examples & Analysis, Allusion in the Crucible by Arthur Miller | Examples & Overview, Thomas Putnam in The Crucible | Character Traits, Quotes & Personality, Irony in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Overview & Examples, Abigail Williams in The Crucible | Quotes, Traits & Descriptions, The Crucible by Arthur Miller: Act 1 | Quotes, Overview & Analysis, Judge John Hathorne in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Analysis & Quotes, John Proctor in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Quotes, Analysis & Development, Reverend John Hale in the Crucible by Arthur Miller | Traits, Quotes & Analysis, Reverend Parris in The Crucible | Character Traits & Quotes, Hysteria in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Theme, Quotes & Examples, Fear in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Quotes, Examples & Analysis, Judge Danforth in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Character & Quotes, Giles Corey Character Analysis & Quotes | The Crucible by Arthur Miller, Ruth Putnam in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Character & Analysis, Symbols in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Examples & Analysis, NYSTCE English Language Arts (003): Practice and Study Guide, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Study Guide, English 103: Analyzing and Interpreting Literature, EPT: CSU English Language Arts Placement Exam, ILTS English Language Arts (207): Test Practice and Study Guide, Common Core ELA Grade 8 - Language: Standards, College English Composition: Help and Review, Create an account to start this course today. I am with God, I, Danforth expresses his opinions on lying when Mary Warren enter his court to confess herself and he begins the conversation by saying, How were you instructed in your life? 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. Ironically, though she is normally honest to a fault, in this situation Elizabeth decides to lie to preserve Johns reputation, not knowing he has already confessed. Danforth is convinced that there is a moving plot to topple Christ in the country! and anyone who doubts the decisions of the court is potentially involved. The evidence used in the Salem Witch Trials further demonstrates the hypocrisy in the Puritan times. The College Entrance Examination BoardTM does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content of this site. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. Danforth, Hathorne, and Parris become even more rigid in their views when they feel they are under attack. Posted at 02:28h in motion to dismiss child support arrears by how does shakespeare present lady macbeth as ambitious. How do the actions of authority figures encourage the girls to continue their accusations and even genuinely believe the lies theyre telling? 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. If Tituba was permitted to explain what really happened, the ensuing tragedy might have been prevented. Why does John decide to ruin his reputation in Act 3 by confessing to the affair? All rights reserved. Why is hypocrisy so common in repressive communities like Salem? Danforth continues to demonstrate the effects of hysteria in act 4 even after things have died down a bit in Salem and there have been rumblings of discontent about the courts actions. Even before Abigail makes accusations, rumors of witchcraft have morphed into accepted truths in the minds of the more superstitious members of the community. This is ironic because, Once the accusations begin, Parris initiates an ironic thought process that persists throughout. Abigail also shows concern for her reputation. People were put to death because their neighbors suspected them of committing a crime, but murder is a sin in the Puritan religion. 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. He chooses to die instead of providing a false confession because he doesnt think life will be worth living after he is so disgraced. Based on the background knowledge of the time, slaves were not considered part of the class system, so she was not valued as a community member. In reality. Danforth is the governor of Massachusetts who thinks of himself as a fair man. John finally comes to the realization that Mary's truthful testimony cannot compete with the hysteria that has taken hold of the court. Abigail William is hypocritical because she does not follow the rules of the Salem trials. Act 4 is Danforths turn to shine in the irony department. Reverend Parris is in a position of power as the town's spiritual leader, but he is insecure about his authority. Deception is a major driving force inThe Crucible. He questions Abigail aggressively because hes worried his enemies will learn the full story of what happened in the woods first and use it to discredit him. He claims that they must not jump to conclusions based on superstition in their investigation of Bettys affliction. 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. Abigail insists that she did nothing to deserve it and tries to put all the blame on Elizabeth Proctor. No one thinks a teenage orphan girl is capable of such extensive deception (or delusion), so she is consistently trusted. The Salem villagers exhibit failings, including greed, vengeance, and fear, which eventually lead to the downfall of their town. 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. Hypocrisy is shown between the characters: Abigail Williams, Reverend Parris, and Hale. Abigail, on the other hand, faces an uphill battle towards more power over her situation. For example, proctor waits till the very last minute to reveal Abigail is lying. Miller's portrayal of women in The Crucible is a much-discussed topic. 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). We hear a lot about hypocrisy, or when someone's actions don't match up with the professed values. (Cheever pg. builds quickly as accusations of witchcraft proliferate throughout Salem. 42). If you hope to write an awesome essay onThe Crucible, you should have extensive knowledge of its themes. Danforth explains that witchcraft is an invisible crime and that only the victims are reliable. Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com, allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. 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. Upon arriving in the court Mary Warren says, I cannot lie no more. She openly threatens Danforth for even entertaining Mary and John's accusations of fraud against her. By the end of class, you should be able to: Identify basic elements of McCarthyism, including the following terms: In this environment, whoever yells the loudest seems to get the most credibility. 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). In Salem the reason why so many women were killed was because of Mass Hysteria. 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. He is completely oblivious to the fact that the victims might be lying. Nowhere is there any consideration of ulterior motives. Interestingly, she was the first woman put to death in the trials. It caused many people, in Salem during this event to think fast, rash and jump to conclusions. In Act 2, John Proctors guilt over his affair with Abigail is demonstrated through an ironic exchange with Reverend Hale. (pg. To Danforth, anything that doesnt confirm that he was right all along is a lie. Jennifer has taught high school English for eight years and has a master's degree in curriculum and assessment. In her conversation with John, Abigail claims that he helped her realize all the lies she was told by two-faced people in Salem who only publicly adhere to the conventions of respectable society (pg. Arthur Miller used this notion of hypocrisy when he wrote The Crucible to show us the theme, or underlying message, that a hypocritical society can be dangerous. The Crucible is not only a dramatization of . 123). In Act 3, Hale continues to make ironic statements about the existence of concrete proof for the accusations of witchcraft. Thomas Putnam tells him to Wait for no one to charge you - declare it yourself.Parris must rush to be the first accuser so he can place himself beyond reproach. And he goes to save her, and, stuck two inches in the flesh of her belly, he draw a needle out." Being in contact with someone else means mediating between ourselves and the other. The only power they have left is in refusing to confess and preserving their integrity. This leads to Marys hysterical accusation of Proctor after she finds herself targeted by the other girls and about to be consumed by the hysteria herself if she doesnt contribute to it. Why wont Danforth hear his evidence? Do you not know that God damns all liars? (Miller 101). Samantha is also passionate about art and graduated with honors from Dartmouth College as a Studio Art major in 2014. Miller includes some commentary on Hale: ''One cannot help noting that one of his lines has never yet raised a laugh in any audience that has seen this play; it is his assurance that, 'We cannot look to superstition in this. In a way,John welcomes the loss of his reputation because he feels so guilty about the disconnect between howhe is perceived by others and the sins he has committed. Miller accomplishes this through almost, if not every character in the story. What are some of the factors that feed the panic and suspicion in Salem, and why are. Believer, Baltimore City IEP Chair, and 2:39 marathon runner. It's here that we see the hypocrisy of the situation. 22). Salem is under attack from the hysteria that is encouraged by the same people who seek to keep imaginary supernatural demons at bay. The power of collective hysteria ultimately becomes insurmountable because it grows larger than the influence of the few rational voices in the community. This lie essentially condemns both of them. The Devil has returned putting children under his control is what many people believed in Salem village in 1962. 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. What is the difference between dissent and disloyalty? One path to higher standing and greater control would be in becoming John Proctors wife. 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. Hypocrisy is "the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform". Danforths image is extremely valuable to him, and he refuses to allow Parris concerns to disrupt his belief in the validity of his decisions. The town slips further and further into chaos and paranoia until it reaches a point of total devastation. 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. By Act 4, many of the power structures that were firmly in place earlier in the play have disintegrated. Hereferences the many sentencing decisions he has already made in the trials of the accused. Will you confess yourself with him? (pg. mariana enriquez biography is hypocrisy a natural human flaw the crucible. In saying this he admits that a person can only avoid a hanging by confessing to witchcraft even if their statement contains no truth. Arthur Miller speaks of Reverend Parris, stating: ''until this strange crisis he, like the rest of Salem, never conceived that the children were anything but thankful for being permitted to walk straight, eyes slightly lowered, arms at the sides, and mouths shut until bidden to speak.''. Rebecca Nurse, a woman whose character was previously thought to be unimpeachable, is accused and arrested. In her conversation with John, Abigail claims that he helped her realize all the lies she was told by two-faced people in Salem who only publicly adhere to the conventions of respectable society (pg. Is there any character besides John Proctor that represents the voice of common sense amidst the madness? Armed with the false proof of these coerced confessions, the court officials aggressively persecute anyone who is accused. 61). The Crucible by Arthur Miller. 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. Why is everyone so quick to believe Abigails story? A professor tells us that he has a strict rule about cell phones in the classroom, then he answers it midway through his own lecture. 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. 67). She is enraged when Parris questions her suspicious dismissal from the Proctor household. 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. 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. This entry was posted in offline website builder software for windows 10 on June 30, 2022 by .offline website builder software for windows 10 on June 30, 2022 by . . In Act 2, John Proctors guilt over his affair with Abigail is demonstrated through an ironic exchange with Reverend Hale. There are several ironies in Act 1 that center around Abigail Williams. 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. Abigail possesses a two- pronged approach in her motivation. Abigails power skyrockets as the hysteria grows more severe. The madness begins in earnest with Abigails claim that Tituba and Ruth were conjuring spirits in the woods. Abigail's version of events is held to be true even after John confesses to their affair in a final effort to discredit her. What Are The Human Flaws In The Crucible 1560 Words | 7 Pages. To illustrate this, he simultaneously shows the Puritan belief system while describing characters that do not obey that system, yet pretend to in their daily lives. 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. 118). Furthermore, this is destructive influence because by telling Elizabeth to tell Proctor to lie, this adds upon his sins. 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. Abigail is told by John to move on but instead, Abigail starts accusing the townspeople of witchcraft, including John Proctors wife Elizabeth. 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. Act 4 is Danforths turn to shine in the irony department. 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. 130). But these themes aren't always easy to explain or dissect in the context of the play, and they can be even harder to develop into essays. 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. Miller himself was blacklisted for refusing to testify in front of the HUAC, a committee that was created to investigate any person who might be a communist. Themes can be expressed in many different ways. I have given you my soul; leave me my name! (pg. John has already confessed that the affair was the reason for Abigails dismissal. This is ironic becausesearching for "the Devil's marks" as the potential cause of an ailment is inherently superstitious. In fact, we've all seen hypocrisy in our daily lives. 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.". John Proctor sabotages his own reputation in Act 3 after realizing it's the only way he can discredit Abigail. This is irony of the same type that I discussed in the overview of this theme. In Act 3, Hale continues to make ironic statements about the existence of concrete proof for the accusations of witchcraft. She is enraged when Parris questions her suspicious dismissal from the Proctor household. 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. Thomas Putnam who has grudges against the people of Salem, and Abigail is a shameless liar who leads the accusations against the people of Salem. flashcard sets. In each paragraph these traits will be further explained . Choose a single character and discuss how this person embodies one of the themes. 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. 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. Mary Warren exemplifies hypocrisy extraordinarily well in the scene when she and Proctor travel to the courthouse so she can confess that the girls have pretended everything and they never actually saw spirits. In Arthur Miller's stunning play, The Crucible, a primary character named John Proctor has an affair with a young woman named Abigail Williams. He wrote the play as an allegory of McCarthyism, when the US government discriminated communists.