Power and authority | The danger of absolutism (Absolutism: the idea that a system or idea is fundamentally and exclusively right and beyond question)

Question 1

What does Miller reveal about this big idea?

Answer 1

Defying the court/church leads to hysteria among the community

Question 2

What is absolutism?

Answer 2

the idea that a system or idea is fundamentally and exclusively right and beyond question

Question 3

‘I falter nothing, but I may wonder if my story will be credited, in such a court’

Answer 3

• Proctor

- Act 2

Question 4

‘there are wheels within wheels in this village, and fires within fires”

Answer 4

• Ann Putnam

- Act 1

Question 5

I came into this village like a bridegroom to his beloved, bearing gifts of high religion; the very crowns of holy law I brought, and what I touched with my bright confidence, it died; and where I turned the eye of my great faith, blood flowed up’

Answer 5

• Hale
• Act 4
• Extended Simile
• Hyperbole
• Hale reveals that he initially came to Salem with confidence, as a person of high authority (an expert), but now sees that his judgement was clouded. He feels personally responsible for the accused/deaths.

Question 6

Man remember until an hour before the Devil fell, God thought him beautiful in Heaven

Answer 6

• Hale

- Act 3

Question 7

‘There is fear in the country because there is a moving plot to topple Christ in the country!’

Answer 7

• Danforth

- Act 3

Question 8

But witchcraft is ipso facto, on its face and by its nature, an invisible crime, is it not?’

Answer 8

• Danforth

- Act 3

Question 9

‘I should hang ten thousand that dared to rise against the law’

Answer 9

• Danforth
• Act 3
• Hyperbole

Question 10

The little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom and common vengeance writes the law’

Answer 10

• Proctor
• Act 2
• Metaphor

Question 11

Postponement speaks floundering on my part… While I speak God’s law, I will not crack its voice with whimpering

Answer 11

• Danforth
• Act 4
• This demonstrates Danforth’s power over the court, and that no matter the truth, he will not give up

Question 12

‘…you must understand, sir, that a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it, there be no road in between.’

Answer 12

• Danforth
• Act 3
• The power of the court is absolute.