the crucible Flashcards
english advanced: common module
Societal pressures
- “I saw Goody Hawkins with the Devil! I saw Goody Bibber with the Devil! I saw Goody Booth with the Devil!”
- Abigail & the girls
- Exclamations, anaphora
- Promotes fear within the whole society and illustrates how individuals in Salem were motivated by the mob psychology of the collective, leading to destructive behaviours.
Societal pressures
- “It were only sport in the beginning sir, but then the whole world cried spirit”
- Mary Warren
- Wailing tone
Mary Warren implies that the uncontrollable spread of rumours throughout the community has provoked her hysterical and destructive behaviours.
Her wailing tone suggests that she only considered the consequences of her actions when they impacted her entire community.
Through this allegory, Miller is criticising the behaviours of individuals during the McCarthy era, and provides a warning of how self-preservation and greed due to the influence of society can spiral out of control and lead to great loss.
Societal pressures
- “Theology is a fortress”
- Reverend Hale
- Metaphor
Illustrates the rigidity and narrow-minded worldview of the Puritan ideology.
Any opposition or resistance towards the government was viewed as an attempt to disobey God, regardless of the extent of damage or moral implications of the government’s actions.
Societal pressures
- “The world is still gripped between two diametrically opposing absolutes”
- Arthur Miller
- Authorial intrusion
Capitalises on the dramatic form to demonstrate the dichotomous nature of Salem due to the deviation of those who disobey authority, demonstrating why many citizens of Salem blindly agreed with the government’s opinions. Their fear of disobeying God or Puritan ideals is what led to chaos and mass hysteria.
Human behaviours & motivations
- “Abby we must tell. We must tell the truth Abby!”
- Mary Warren
- Exclamation, empathetic & desperate tone, juxtaposition (with next quote)
Mary Warren responds to the societal changes with fear, and is driven by the necessity to ensure her own safety
She changes her testimony and accuses John Proctor of witchcraft, due to her fear of Abigail and the wider Puritan society.
Human behaviours & motivations
“He’s the Devil’s man!” (pointing at Proctor)
- Mary Warren
- Juxtaposition (with previous quote), stage direction, exclamation
Mary’s prioritisation of her own safety and survival causes her to blindly follow others and abandon her moral integrity.
Miller uses her inconsistency in the play to mirror changing behaviours of individuals during the McCarthy era, allowing responders to understand how the shift in human emotions during periods of upheaval and uncertainty can stifle the truth, illuminating the complexity of morality and its ability to be transformed by one’s environment.
Human behaviours & motivations
“being called… to ascertain witchcraft” was “a beloved errand for him”
“steeped in sorrow, exhausted and more direct than he ever was”
- Reverend Hale
- Juxtaposition
Miller explores society’s effect on individual behaviours and motivations through the character of Hale.
His passions and beliefs were corrupted by the Puritan court’s abuse of his knowledge
Allows Miller to convey the toll that repressive societies can have even on authority figures, and the sombre tone encourages his 1950s audience to empathise with Hale’s character.
Identity/individuality
“Leave me my name! I have given you my soul; leave me my name!”
- John Proctor
- Symbolism
The idea of ‘name’ throughout the play is symbolic of identity and reputation, and Proctor refuses to surrender his personal morals and values by lying and accusing others of witchcraft
He has reached self-acceptance and has realised the value of his own identity, which he cannot give up to be dishonest.
Identity/individuality
“Vengeance is walking Salem”
- John Proctor
- Personification
Proctor challenges the authority of the Puritan court and raises questions about their susceptibility to manipulation by young women, like Abigail, whose motives were driven by personal vengeance.
Proctor’s defiance mimicks Miller’s defiance and anomalous nature during the Red Scare, presenting defiance in times of widespread acceptance as being heroic, and encouraging audiences during the McCarthy era to reflect on their own behaviours and consider if their actions are being dictated by the opinions of society or authoritative figures.
Identity/individuality
“I will not give you no name. I have given you my wife’s name and I will burn in hell long enough for that”
- Giles Corey
- Symbolism
Similar to John Proctor, Giles Corey also values the reputation of himself and his family. Miller skillfully utilises the symbol of ‘name’ as a representation of reputation and personal identity.
Unlike the other citizens of Salem who conformed to the Puritan court’s beliefs, Corey was not intimidated by their power and chose to preserve his honesty and integrity. In doing so, he replicated Miller’s defiance against the collective in the McCarthy era, highlighting the importance of standing up for one’s beliefs, even in the face of adversity.
