Post by raynamcginty on Dec 15, 2014 22:20:54 GMT
The Crucible Essay - Rayna McGinty
"The Crucible" by Arthur Miller is a heart wrenching play set in Salem, Massachusetts in the year of 1692 during the time of witchery accusations. The action taken place is based on a series of true historical events and through this Miller creates his own genius interpretation of this. Miller proficiently develops a thoughtprovoking theme of integrity through his depictive description of the main character, John Proctor and the dramatic techniques characterisation, climax and dialogue. The Crucible successfully portrays the quality of integrity as staying true to yourself and undergoing selfless acts to protect you friends and family such as the kind John Proctor did.
With respect to this "The Crucible" tells the story of Abigail Williams who accuses many good and true women of Salem of witchcraft including Proctors wife, Elizabeth. Later on in the play the turning point is extremely climatic when Proctor is accused of witchery but refuses to sign away his name and confess, staying true to his integrity, which eventually results in his tragic death. Salem is a religious community of "covenated Christians" where integrity is important publicly and privately furthermore everything is carried out with respect to the bible. The witchcraft trials create a firery and intense "Crucible-like," environment, just as a crucible overwhelmingly boiling and severely unpleasant to be in so to the court room in the church was catastrophically climatic and upsetting to witness. This "Crucible-like" environment is home to where a colossal amount of harm is carried out in the name of God and moral deceny: "I cannot pardon these when twelve are already hanged for the same crime. It is not just." Danforth believes that he cannot excuse Proctor from excecution as he needs to stay true to the bible and it would not be 'fair' on the deceased. These men are meant to be covenated Christians and while they are disobeying one of the ten commandments, John Proctor is staying truthful to his integrity by not confessing.
Miller effectively uses characterisation and shocking imagery to depict John as a commited family man and hard worker in direct contrast with the integrity shown by the vengeful Abigail, the resentful Putnams and feeble Parris. Despite Johns affair with Abigail he realises his mistakes and wants to resolve the situation with his wife as he says in an intense conversation with Abigail: "But I will cut off my hand before I'll ever reach for you again." The horrifying imagery highlights how determined and serious John is not to fall back into Abigail's arms as well as how gravely he had suffered from his sins. This emphasises John's integrity when analysed side by side with Abigail and she is shown to be a profound and spiteful: "she hates me uncle ... a bitter woman, a lying, cold, snivelling woman." Contrasting the two is effective as this in itself is a lie as we know Elizabeth is a respected and honest member of the Salem community. Abigail is a constant liar where as John is trying to resolve his mistakes and patch things up with his wife showing his true integrity, furthermore carrying this central concern on throughout the play.
Continuing with this idea of Abigail, we know she plays an extremely important role in the influence of John's integrity. Abigail is fanatical and exceedingly motivated within the entire play to drive a wedge between the strong integrity of John and Elizabeth: "I saw your face when she put me out, and you loved me then and you do now." Abigail, through her manipulative mind games, tries to force John to reveal 'his love' for her as she is a duplicitous character. Miller conveys the theme of integrity and John understands that he has sinned but now wanted to rebuild and rectify his relationship and true love for his wife Elizabeth. Thus showing John to be a man of integrity as he resists Abigail, knowing what is best for his family.
In numerous ways, John is portrayed as a man of veracious integrity yet doubt is cast upon this and John is comdemned a witch under the eyes of the law during the first turning point in act three of the play. John's affair with Abigail is simultaneously his curse but also his savior as Abigail then has motive to kill and condemn Elizabeth as a witch: "[Trembling, his life collapsing about them] I have known her" Danforth (the court judge) considers John as a lecher, which leads to him then being accused of witchcraft as a lecherer is an untrustworthy thing to be. John has now admitted to breaking one of the ten commandments. Elizabeth denys John as a lecher as she thought she was protecting him, this is ironic as John was trying to save his wife's life but it was his integrity which then got him condemned.
John displays a true act of integrity during the optimum climax in act four when he makes a costly decision to rip up his confession. There are a variety of reasons as to why he done this, one of which is that John wanted to preserve his reputation and to be seen as a symbol of truth: "You would not, if the tongs of fire were singeing you would not!" John wants to die a man of integrity furthermore he does not want to let Elizabeth or his family down. In addition to this John wants to protect his children: "I have three children - how may I teach them to walk like men in this world, and I sold my friends?" John is completely against his children growing up in a world of lies therefore John's integrity evidently shines through.
Miller uses irony to contrast John's integrity with "the dogs" Danforth, Parris, Harthorne, Cheever and the girls. These men and accusers are supposed to be "covenated Christians" who follow the ten commandments, one of which is "thou shalt not kill" but they do it anyway in order to punish those who are condemned of witch craft, it is a paradox. In contrast to Johns ultimate integrity these men are dishonest, unfaithful and demeaning.
Miller is successful in conveying the theme of integrity throughout the play through the use of dramatic techniques including climax, dialogue and characterisation of the main protagonist John Proctor. John's integrity and selfless acts are empahsised when contrasted with Danforth, Cheever, Parris, Abigail and the bitter Putnams. The play casts a doubt on whether religion could aid or hinder development within society. The Crucible highlights the negative impact religion can have on a community.
Word count: 1098
"The Crucible" by Arthur Miller is a heart wrenching play set in Salem, Massachusetts in the year of 1692 during the time of witchery accusations. The action taken place is based on a series of true historical events and through this Miller creates his own genius interpretation of this. Miller proficiently develops a thoughtprovoking theme of integrity through his depictive description of the main character, John Proctor and the dramatic techniques characterisation, climax and dialogue. The Crucible successfully portrays the quality of integrity as staying true to yourself and undergoing selfless acts to protect you friends and family such as the kind John Proctor did.
With respect to this "The Crucible" tells the story of Abigail Williams who accuses many good and true women of Salem of witchcraft including Proctors wife, Elizabeth. Later on in the play the turning point is extremely climatic when Proctor is accused of witchery but refuses to sign away his name and confess, staying true to his integrity, which eventually results in his tragic death. Salem is a religious community of "covenated Christians" where integrity is important publicly and privately furthermore everything is carried out with respect to the bible. The witchcraft trials create a firery and intense "Crucible-like," environment, just as a crucible overwhelmingly boiling and severely unpleasant to be in so to the court room in the church was catastrophically climatic and upsetting to witness. This "Crucible-like" environment is home to where a colossal amount of harm is carried out in the name of God and moral deceny: "I cannot pardon these when twelve are already hanged for the same crime. It is not just." Danforth believes that he cannot excuse Proctor from excecution as he needs to stay true to the bible and it would not be 'fair' on the deceased. These men are meant to be covenated Christians and while they are disobeying one of the ten commandments, John Proctor is staying truthful to his integrity by not confessing.
Miller effectively uses characterisation and shocking imagery to depict John as a commited family man and hard worker in direct contrast with the integrity shown by the vengeful Abigail, the resentful Putnams and feeble Parris. Despite Johns affair with Abigail he realises his mistakes and wants to resolve the situation with his wife as he says in an intense conversation with Abigail: "But I will cut off my hand before I'll ever reach for you again." The horrifying imagery highlights how determined and serious John is not to fall back into Abigail's arms as well as how gravely he had suffered from his sins. This emphasises John's integrity when analysed side by side with Abigail and she is shown to be a profound and spiteful: "she hates me uncle ... a bitter woman, a lying, cold, snivelling woman." Contrasting the two is effective as this in itself is a lie as we know Elizabeth is a respected and honest member of the Salem community. Abigail is a constant liar where as John is trying to resolve his mistakes and patch things up with his wife showing his true integrity, furthermore carrying this central concern on throughout the play.
Continuing with this idea of Abigail, we know she plays an extremely important role in the influence of John's integrity. Abigail is fanatical and exceedingly motivated within the entire play to drive a wedge between the strong integrity of John and Elizabeth: "I saw your face when she put me out, and you loved me then and you do now." Abigail, through her manipulative mind games, tries to force John to reveal 'his love' for her as she is a duplicitous character. Miller conveys the theme of integrity and John understands that he has sinned but now wanted to rebuild and rectify his relationship and true love for his wife Elizabeth. Thus showing John to be a man of integrity as he resists Abigail, knowing what is best for his family.
In numerous ways, John is portrayed as a man of veracious integrity yet doubt is cast upon this and John is comdemned a witch under the eyes of the law during the first turning point in act three of the play. John's affair with Abigail is simultaneously his curse but also his savior as Abigail then has motive to kill and condemn Elizabeth as a witch: "[Trembling, his life collapsing about them] I have known her" Danforth (the court judge) considers John as a lecher, which leads to him then being accused of witchcraft as a lecherer is an untrustworthy thing to be. John has now admitted to breaking one of the ten commandments. Elizabeth denys John as a lecher as she thought she was protecting him, this is ironic as John was trying to save his wife's life but it was his integrity which then got him condemned.
John displays a true act of integrity during the optimum climax in act four when he makes a costly decision to rip up his confession. There are a variety of reasons as to why he done this, one of which is that John wanted to preserve his reputation and to be seen as a symbol of truth: "You would not, if the tongs of fire were singeing you would not!" John wants to die a man of integrity furthermore he does not want to let Elizabeth or his family down. In addition to this John wants to protect his children: "I have three children - how may I teach them to walk like men in this world, and I sold my friends?" John is completely against his children growing up in a world of lies therefore John's integrity evidently shines through.
Miller uses irony to contrast John's integrity with "the dogs" Danforth, Parris, Harthorne, Cheever and the girls. These men and accusers are supposed to be "covenated Christians" who follow the ten commandments, one of which is "thou shalt not kill" but they do it anyway in order to punish those who are condemned of witch craft, it is a paradox. In contrast to Johns ultimate integrity these men are dishonest, unfaithful and demeaning.
Miller is successful in conveying the theme of integrity throughout the play through the use of dramatic techniques including climax, dialogue and characterisation of the main protagonist John Proctor. John's integrity and selfless acts are empahsised when contrasted with Danforth, Cheever, Parris, Abigail and the bitter Putnams. The play casts a doubt on whether religion could aid or hinder development within society. The Crucible highlights the negative impact religion can have on a community.
Word count: 1098