english quotes - the crucible

Question 1

proctor:

‘Because it is my name! because….’

Stage direction – tears the paper

Answer 1

• individual experience - proctor says this as he refused to sign his name in the crucible, symbolising his desire to maintain his personal integrity and keep his good reputation amongst Salem
• repetition of because creates tone and emphasises the importance of him being remembered as someone respected
• the quote is paradoxal because proctor was initially portrayed as somebody with bad morals, for example his affair with Abigail. compared to the end of the play where he’s portrayed as somebody who has undergone a lot of self reflection, and trying to become a good person
• stage direction shows he’s tearing up his confession which symbolises his rejection of the power and authority of the court

Question 2

proctor:

“i will cut off my hand before i will ever reach again”

Answer 2

• metaphor symbolises his rejection to Abigail
• shows he wants to prove his loyalty and keep his good name with his wife and in Salem. claiming that given the choice he would rather have his hand chopped off than have another affair
• shows the theme of guilt as he feels guilty from his prior collective experience of an affair with abigail
• symbolises his efforts to become a good person by remaining loyal and regaining his wife’s trust

Question 3

Abigail:

“i saw Sarah good with the devil!… Goody Osborn”

Answer 3

• after being caught doing suspected witchcraft in the forest, Abigail tries to deflect her blame
• she uses manipulation to gain power and accuse other people in the town of witchcraft
• she claims to have seen other women in the forest with the devil, fuelling the town with hysteria, working to her advantage to gain power
• repetition creates drama and shifts the attention from herself to others allowing her to gain power and avoid punishment from her own actions
• the chant like tone reenforces her words making them more forceful and believable

Question 4

Abigail:

“… sweated like a stallion”

Answer 4

• shows Abigail’s desire for john proctor
• simile shows she tries to make john feel guilty by comparing their affair to a sweating stallion, which paints a picture of their lust and desire at that point of time
• giving Abigail power
• shows that she doesn’t feel guilty about the affair

Question 5

Abigail:

“i want the light of God”

Answer 5

• imagery and dramatic irony displays her being manipulative because she doesn’t want to be a good character, she just wants power over everyone else
• lies and manipulates to gain power

Question 6

Abigail:

“i will come to you in the black of some terrible night”

Answer 6

• imagery foreshadows what she does later in the play, where she will falsely accuse others of witchcraft to protect herself and gain power
• she will do anything to save herself and manipulate others and abuse her power until she gets her way