Post by mslewis on May 3, 2012 15:17:32 GMT
Author shall remain nameless unless she/he wants to identify themselves!
The Play ‘The Crucible’ by written by Arthur Miller is a play in which the dramatist explores the theme of integrity. Throughout the play we see the character of John Proctor develop from being a corrupt man into a noble man with a high level of integrity. At the outset of the play we see John is corrupt through his affair with Abigail Williams, however as the play progresses we see john face his demons and redeem his integrity as he confesses to lechery and redeems his relationship with his wife Elizabeth.
In the early stages of the play we are made aware of John’s affair with Abigail when Abigail says: “I know you clutched my back and sweated like a stallion”. This shows the relationship between John and Abigail and also identifies their relationship was purely sexual. However we see John forcing Abigail away as he wants to do the right thing. “I will cut off my hand before I reach for you again”. This shows that John is prepared to go to extreme lengths in order to resist Abigail and do the right thing both by himself and by his wife Elizabeth. Furthermore, we see john attempting to salvage his relationship with his wife Elizabeth as it is made clear the effects the affair has had on them. “It is winter in here yet.” This shows John describing their relationship to be like winter, and just as the connotations of winter are cold and bitter, so to John suggests that since the affair the relationship between him and Elizabeth has been somewhat miserable and cold. We see john and some seasoning to the rabbit which Elizabeth cooks in order to give her a complement and encourage their relationship; however, this also shows a lack of trust between John and Elizabeth as we see John do this behind her back. Although John does this behind her back this shows he is trying to be honest and make up for his mistakes in an attempt to redeem his integrity.
As the play progresses through its early stages, John continues to force Abigail away and it is at this point in the play which Miller begins to create the hysteria which helps to convey the key concerns of the novel. As Abigail begins to get jealous of the relationship between John and Elizabeth, we see her purposely setting out for revenge and causing hysteria through accusations of witchcraft. First of all we see her accuse the minor characters of the play and it is at this point in which we see Elizabeth telling john he must go to the court and confess in order to end this nonsense, as only then will the court know that Abigail’s accusations are false. However, John feels he cannot go to the court as admitting to such a sin like adultery will ruin his good reputation among the people of the town. However, it is only when we see Abigail accuse Elizabeth in order to get her revenge that John Finally goes to the court with a strong legal argument to defend his wife.
In Act 3 of the play we see john attend the court along side Mary Warren who is willing to testify against Abigail’s accusations. Together they attempt to fight on Elizabeth’s behalf, however, through the tension and hysteria created by Miller in this scene Mary Warren’s argument collapses as she is manipulated by Abigail and the other girls. At this point in the play John has no hope left and no possible argument which would prove Abigail is lying so instead we see John confess to his sins in an act of integrity in order to save his wife. “I have known her.” John confesses to the court of his affair with Abigail and this is the first time we see John as a honest and loyal character in the play, this shows that deep down he is a good man who cannot forgive himself for his own sins and it is this which conveys John as finally beginning to redeem himself for what he has done. However, the tension in the court room increases as when Elizabeth is asked to confirm that John did actually have an affair, she chooses to lie in order to save her husband, not knowing he had already confessed it. From this point on in the play Elizabeth is taken back to jail and we see John become accused of witchcraft by the court due to when john says: “God is dead!” This shows john has lost all faith as he feels if god were real then this hysteria and nonsense would not be allowed to take place. However, the court sees this as an act of witchcraft and John now becomes wrongly accused.
Throughout Act 4 of the play we see the relationship between John and Elizabeth intensifies as Elizabeth try’s to convince John to confess in order to save his life. Elizabeth is successful and John confesses in order to save his life. However, John later rips up the confession and exclaims: “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! And because I am not worth the dust on the feet of those you hang!” this clearly shows John feels he cannot betray his friends who are prepared to die for what is right and it is at this point in the play which we see John finally redeem himself. At this stage in the play he has forgiveness from Elizabeth and from himself and he now feels in order to do the right thing he must die an honest man believing in what is right. This is a crucial part in the play as this more than any other in the play conveys John’s integrity. We see him prepared to give up his life in order to do what is right and to finally find redemption for all that he has done. As John approaches his fate Elizabeth says: “He has his goodness now, I dare not take that from him.” This shows Elizabeth has also forgiven John and understands he must do what is right.
In conclusion there can be no doubt that ‘The Crucible’ by Arthur Miller is a play in which that dramatist explores the integrity of the protagonist John Proctor and throughout the play conveys how his character develops in order to become a noble and honest man, dieing for what he believes is right and redeeming not only his relationship with his wife but also his own forgiveness for his sins, and his integrity which, in the end, allows John to have the courage to do what is right.
The Play ‘The Crucible’ by written by Arthur Miller is a play in which the dramatist explores the theme of integrity. Throughout the play we see the character of John Proctor develop from being a corrupt man into a noble man with a high level of integrity. At the outset of the play we see John is corrupt through his affair with Abigail Williams, however as the play progresses we see john face his demons and redeem his integrity as he confesses to lechery and redeems his relationship with his wife Elizabeth.
In the early stages of the play we are made aware of John’s affair with Abigail when Abigail says: “I know you clutched my back and sweated like a stallion”. This shows the relationship between John and Abigail and also identifies their relationship was purely sexual. However we see John forcing Abigail away as he wants to do the right thing. “I will cut off my hand before I reach for you again”. This shows that John is prepared to go to extreme lengths in order to resist Abigail and do the right thing both by himself and by his wife Elizabeth. Furthermore, we see john attempting to salvage his relationship with his wife Elizabeth as it is made clear the effects the affair has had on them. “It is winter in here yet.” This shows John describing their relationship to be like winter, and just as the connotations of winter are cold and bitter, so to John suggests that since the affair the relationship between him and Elizabeth has been somewhat miserable and cold. We see john and some seasoning to the rabbit which Elizabeth cooks in order to give her a complement and encourage their relationship; however, this also shows a lack of trust between John and Elizabeth as we see John do this behind her back. Although John does this behind her back this shows he is trying to be honest and make up for his mistakes in an attempt to redeem his integrity.
As the play progresses through its early stages, John continues to force Abigail away and it is at this point in the play which Miller begins to create the hysteria which helps to convey the key concerns of the novel. As Abigail begins to get jealous of the relationship between John and Elizabeth, we see her purposely setting out for revenge and causing hysteria through accusations of witchcraft. First of all we see her accuse the minor characters of the play and it is at this point in which we see Elizabeth telling john he must go to the court and confess in order to end this nonsense, as only then will the court know that Abigail’s accusations are false. However, John feels he cannot go to the court as admitting to such a sin like adultery will ruin his good reputation among the people of the town. However, it is only when we see Abigail accuse Elizabeth in order to get her revenge that John Finally goes to the court with a strong legal argument to defend his wife.
In Act 3 of the play we see john attend the court along side Mary Warren who is willing to testify against Abigail’s accusations. Together they attempt to fight on Elizabeth’s behalf, however, through the tension and hysteria created by Miller in this scene Mary Warren’s argument collapses as she is manipulated by Abigail and the other girls. At this point in the play John has no hope left and no possible argument which would prove Abigail is lying so instead we see John confess to his sins in an act of integrity in order to save his wife. “I have known her.” John confesses to the court of his affair with Abigail and this is the first time we see John as a honest and loyal character in the play, this shows that deep down he is a good man who cannot forgive himself for his own sins and it is this which conveys John as finally beginning to redeem himself for what he has done. However, the tension in the court room increases as when Elizabeth is asked to confirm that John did actually have an affair, she chooses to lie in order to save her husband, not knowing he had already confessed it. From this point on in the play Elizabeth is taken back to jail and we see John become accused of witchcraft by the court due to when john says: “God is dead!” This shows john has lost all faith as he feels if god were real then this hysteria and nonsense would not be allowed to take place. However, the court sees this as an act of witchcraft and John now becomes wrongly accused.
Throughout Act 4 of the play we see the relationship between John and Elizabeth intensifies as Elizabeth try’s to convince John to confess in order to save his life. Elizabeth is successful and John confesses in order to save his life. However, John later rips up the confession and exclaims: “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! And because I am not worth the dust on the feet of those you hang!” this clearly shows John feels he cannot betray his friends who are prepared to die for what is right and it is at this point in the play which we see John finally redeem himself. At this stage in the play he has forgiveness from Elizabeth and from himself and he now feels in order to do the right thing he must die an honest man believing in what is right. This is a crucial part in the play as this more than any other in the play conveys John’s integrity. We see him prepared to give up his life in order to do what is right and to finally find redemption for all that he has done. As John approaches his fate Elizabeth says: “He has his goodness now, I dare not take that from him.” This shows Elizabeth has also forgiven John and understands he must do what is right.
In conclusion there can be no doubt that ‘The Crucible’ by Arthur Miller is a play in which that dramatist explores the integrity of the protagonist John Proctor and throughout the play conveys how his character develops in order to become a noble and honest man, dieing for what he believes is right and redeeming not only his relationship with his wife but also his own forgiveness for his sins, and his integrity which, in the end, allows John to have the courage to do what is right.