THE CRUCIBLE - annotated Flashcards
“His breast heaving, his eyes staring,
Proctor tears the paper and
crumples it, and he is weeping in
fury, but erect.”
This quote, from The Crucible by Arthur Miller, describes John Proctor’s internal conflict and final defiance. He signs a confession to save his life, but then, overwhelmed with emotion and pride, he tears it up, embracing his death rather than living a lie.
- “His breast heaving, his eyes staring”:
This conveys Proctor’s emotional turmoil. His chest rises and falls rapidly, and his gaze is intense, revealing the conflict within him. - “Proctor tears the paper and crumpled it”:
This action symbolizes Proctor’s rejection of the confession and his decision to stand by his own truth, even if it means facing death. - “weeping in fury”:
This highlights the conflicting emotions Proctor is experiencing. He is both angry and grief-stricken, demonstrating his rage at the injustice he faces. - “but erect”:
Despite his weeping, Proctor maintains a posture of defiance and strength, highlighting his resilience in the face of adversity.
“He is a sinner, a sinner not only
against the moral fashion of time,
but against his own vision of decent
conduct.”
The quote appears in a description of Proctor, highlighting the tension and conflict he embodies within the play.
Significance:
It emphasizes that Proctor’s sin is not merely a transgression against societal norms but also a violation of his own personal moral compass.
Internal Conflict:
The phrase “sinner” encapsulates Proctor’s internal struggles with guilt, remorse, and the consequences of his past mistakes, particularly his affair with Abigail.
Moral Judgment:
It suggests that Proctor is subject to a higher level of scrutiny and moral judgment, both by himself and by others in the play.
Impact on Reputation:
The label of “sinner” impacts Proctor’s reputation within the community and further complicates his attempts to defend himself against the accusations of witchcraft.
“She thinks to dance with me on my
wife’s grave! And well she might, for
I thought of her softly. God help me,
I lusted and there is a promise in
such sweat. But it is whore’s
vengeance, and you must see it.”
he quote appears in Act III of The Crucible, during a courtroom scene where Proctor is trying to discredit Abigail’s accusations against Elizabeth.
Proctor’s Accusation:
Proctor is essentially saying that Abigail is motivated by jealousy and a desire to be with him and is using the witch trials to get rid of Elizabeth.
Irony:
The phrase “dance with me on my wife’s grave” highlights the cruel irony of Abigail’s actions, which are intended to cause Proctor pain and suffering.
Motivation:
Proctor’s outburst reveals his own guilt and shame over his affair, as he is now facing the consequences of his actions.
Significance:
The quote is a pivotal moment in the play, as it exposes the hypocrisy and corruption within the Salem court and reveals the true nature of the witch trials.
“[with a cry of his soul] “Because it is
my name! Because I cannot have
another in my life! Because I lie and
sign myself to lies! Because I am not
worth the dust on the feet of them
that hang! How may I live without my
name? I have given you my soul;
leave me my name!”
In The Crucible, John Proctor’s final cry, “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” reveals his profound belief in the importance of his reputation and integrity. He struggles with the idea of confessing to witchcraft and signing a false confession, prioritizing his good name over physical survival and the perceived societal pressure to confess.
Annotation:
“Because it is my name!”:
This line highlights Proctor’s deep-seated attachment to his reputation and the pride he associates with it. He sees his name as an integral part of who he is and cannot bear to have it tarnished by a lie.
“Because I cannot have another in my life!”:
This reinforces the idea that his name is inseparable from his identity. He’s not just talking about a legal name; he’s talking about the person he is, and the person he wants to be.
“Because I lie and sign myself to lies!”:
Proctor is morally conflicted. He understands that lying and signing a confession would compromise his integrity and lead to a life built on falsehood.
“Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang!”:
This expresses a sense of personal shame and worthlessness if he were to falsely confess and be seen as a coward.
“How may I live without my name?”:
This is a rhetorical question that emphasizes the existential weight he places on his good name. He questions whether he can continue to live a life worthy of his self-respect if he abandons his integrity.
“I have given you my soul; leave me my name!”:
This final plea to the court is a plea for mercy and a plea for recognition of his worth. He is willing to die for his name, having already given up his soul to the authorities.
“[his eyes full of tears] I can. And
there’s your first marvel, that I can.
You have made your magic now, for
now I do think I see some shred of
goodness in John Proctor.”
The quote “[his eyes full of tears] I can. And there’s your first marvel, that I can.” is from John Proctor in Arthur Miller’s play, “The Crucible.” In this moment, Proctor is making the decision to confess to witchcraft and save his life, but he ultimately chooses to maintain his integrity and be hanged instead. The quote highlights his newfound ability to confess and the decision to keep his name, even at the cost of his life.
Elaboration:
Context:
The quote comes from Act 4 of “The Crucible,” when Proctor is confronted with the choice of confessing to witchcraft and being spared death or remaining silent and facing execution.
Meaning:
“I can” refers to Proctor’s ability to confess to the accusations, a confession that would save him from execution. However, he uses the phrase “And there’s your first marvel, that I can,” suggesting that he finds it a marvel that he can even contemplate such a lie.
Significance:
This quote is a pivotal moment in Proctor’s character development and in the play’s overall themes of integrity, morality, and the corrupting influence of power. It shows Proctor’s internal struggle between his desire to live and his commitment to his values.
The “marvel”:
The “marvel” is not simply Proctor’s ability to confess, but the fact that he is even contemplating it. It highlights his deep-seated sense of integrity and his struggle to compromise his beliefs.
“He have his goodness now. God
forbid I take it from him!”
The quote, “He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!” is spoken by Elizabeth Proctor in Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, as she is trying to reconcile with her husband, John Proctor, before his execution. It’s a powerful statement about John’s newfound self-respect and moral integrity, which Elizabeth respects and chooses not to undermine even at the cost of his life.
Here’s a more detailed breakdown:
Context:
The quote is spoken by Elizabeth Proctor in Act IV of The Crucible. She’s speaking to Reverend Hale, who is trying to convince her to urge John to confess to witchcraft to save his life.
Meaning:
“He have his goodness now” signifies that John Proctor has finally found his moral strength and integrity after facing his past sins, particularly his affair with Abigail Williams. He’s decided to die rather than falsely confess and dishonor himself and his fellow prisoners.
Elizabeth’s Love and Respect:
By saying “God forbid I take it from him!”, Elizabeth demonstrates her love for John and her respect for his moral decision. She understands that forcing him to confess would be a betrayal of his newly found goodness and self-respect.
Theme of Goodness vs. Truth:
The quote highlights the theme of goodness versus truth, which is central to the play. Elizabeth recognizes that John has chosen to die for his integrity, even though it means sacrificing his life.
Elizabeth’s Personal Growth:
The line also reveals Elizabeth’s own growth and development throughout the play. She’s matured from a cold and distant wife to a woman who loves and respects John’s moral strength.
“[trembling, his life collapsing before
him]: I have known her, sir. I have
known her. […] I have made a bell of
my honour! I have rung the doom of
my good name – you will believe me,
Mr Danforth! My wife is innocent,
except she knew a whore when she
saw one!”
This is Proctor’s confession to the court – he admits
to lechery in order to highlight the deceitfulness of
the witch trials. He is trying to make it clear that his
affair with Abigail is the reason for the accusation of
witchcraft against Abigail. Proctor believes this
should be clear as he is sacrificing his reputation
here, which he would never do unless this was
absolutely true.
