Act Three: The Crucible Flashcards
“Private vengeance is working through this testimony!” Hale cries to the members of the court on page . Theme: Vengeance
In almost every statement that is said by anyone within the court there is an ulterior motive due to the lack of witches in real life. Only a handful of people including Hale seem to understand this which points to the concept that witchery is just an excuse.
“I think not, or you should surely know that Cain were an upright man, and yet he did kill Abel” says Parris to Proctor about his reading the bible on page . Theme: Manipulation
Religion is so important in their daily life and yet it can be twisted and manipulated to suit the occasion. Quotes are taken out of context to condemn even by those whose duty is to uphold the true meaning although at some point that once true meaning becomes lost and changed.
“Then there is a prodigious guilt in the country… there is fear in the country because there is a moving plot to topple Christ in the country” proclaims Danforth to the court on page . Theme: Guilt
His attempt in bringing order back to the lives of all people involved is to try and make them understand that what they are doing is promoting the work of the Devil. He sees things through black and white goggles but seems to have become lost in the gray area of the matter.
“A fire, a fire is burning! I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face! And it is my face and yours, Danforth! For them that quail to bring man out of ignorance, as I have quailed and you quail now when you know in all your black hearts that this be fraud- God damns our kind especially, and we will burn, we will burn together!” proclaims Proctor on page . Theme: Manipulation
This exclamation does not come unprecedented as all of the anger and tension builds up in Proctor about unjustices. This last ditch effort to make others understand that he does not believe in witchery is very convincing and well worded to the sense that it conveys a strong message.
“Do you know, Mr. Proctor, that the entire contention of the state in these trials is the voice of Heaven speaking through these children?” Danforth asks Proctor on page . Theme: Secretism
Danforth appears to see things as black and white but the underlying aggression in his tone suggests that he is not a fan of Proctor whatsoever. He secretly supports what is going on.
