Arthur Miller captures this piece of history, portraying both the hysteria and the resilience of those directly involved. Despite the harsh circumstances, two characters in the play, John Proctor and Rebecca Nurse, reject adversity and remain strong, as opposed to the characters Tituba and Sarah Good who succumb to adversity. Through this portrayal, Miller presents the notion that human resilience merely depends on a person’s position in society, influences, and what he or she personally have at stake. John Proctor, one of the wellrespected members in Salem society, encounters great adversity; however, he does not break. This character maintains good morals and characteristics; an honest, honorable, and blunt spoken man, yet he commits a grave mistake of Adultery with a teenager named Abigail Williams. The sin committed by John Proctor can be described as an…
This story was written by Arthur Miller in 1953. He wrote this story to show his society what was going to happen to them if they didn't get straighten their heads and to show them how foolish they were for acting like they were in the 1600's. They were going through a time called the Cold War. People were being arrested for saying things like a communist. This is kind of what was happening during the Salem Witchcraft. This is the way the society was going in Millers time.…
John Proctor compromised the reputation of his name, and values that he cherishes by having an affair with Abigail Williams. This flaw will forever haunt him. Arthur Miller uses symbolism and irony to support the central idea that Proctor can either die honorably or live a lie.…
The setting of Arthur Miller’s, The Crucible, conveys a powerful structure of jealousy to the reader’s understanding that Abigail Williams’ decision in concealing her affair with John Proctor will prevent charges of witchcraft on John Proctor’s wife, Elizabeth Proctor. In addition, Abigail William is marked as the lowest in the social pyramid in Salem. Witchcraft gave her instant recognition within Salem which fed her power from within, which led to the circulation of innocent people being indicted with false accusations.…
The Crucible is a play of the Salem witchcraft trials that took place in Salem Massachusetts. The villagers suspect witchcraft after finding out about a girl who is not responding to anything, she seems to be ill. Abigail Williams had an affair with John Proctor. Abigail soon wishes Elizabeth Proctor were dead. Abigail turns on the rest of the village to cover up her lies. To better understand the similarities and differences of Abigail Williams and Elizabeth Proctor in the play, The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller. One must think of the elements of love, personalities of persons, and the maturity of females as displayed by the characters.…
In 1692, Salem was populated by Puritans who believed in black-and-white lines between good and evil. The powers of darkness were real forces to them, which could wreak havoc and destruction on society if unleashed. The system of government was that God was the true leader of society, and he expressed his will through the actions of men and women. In the Old Testament, we hear stories of how God led directly through Moses; Salem, likewise, was led through men who were supposed to be directly connected to God.…
The characters, just as Miller intends, alienate the audience because of their self-interest and quickness to allow fear to overwhelm any genuine desire to find out the truth. The audience grieves for the suffering of the truly good characters – Rebecca Nurse, Giles Corey and Elizabeth Proctor. John Proctor, the flawed hero of the play, may have succumbed to the temptations of the flesh with Abigail Williams, but he redeems himself in the end, realizing that saving himself through lying will not resolve the conflict overwhelming his small town of Salem. He goes to his death knowing that there is ‘some shred of goodness in John Proctor’, exposing Abigail Williams and putting a stop to the conflict within Salem.…
The Crucible by Arthur Miller is a play that takes place in 1692 in the small Massachusetts village of Salem. Salem is a Puritan community; they are a very restrictive society with strong beliefs. They believe in hard work and prayer, therefore they consider material and sexual desires unnatural and evil. Abigail Williams, the main character is the reason for the witch trials that begin in Salem. She is dishonest, manipulative and her seductive ways is what makes her the antagonist of this play.…
The Crucible is a good portrayal of the events that happened. The vulgar acts of the townspeople to these ladies is profusely obscene. This would not happen today, people may get immensely worked up over things but they would never kill people like that. In today's society we still have radicals, but law enforcement would never let this happen. The peril of what happened back then is an abomination; it is a blemish on our country.…
If you don't believe in witch hunts, that's fine. But the idea of them is very real. The Crucible is a story that takes place in Salem, Massachusetts. This small community is full of superstition and the towns people let their beliefs destroy friendships, and lives. Arthur Miller uses many repeating themes in the play The Crucible. There are many good, and bad themes that come up throughout the play. Some of the common themes of this story are lust, fear, and courage.…
Miller uses diction, all through The Crucible, to show that the story being told is taking place in the past and to make the story have a biblical effect to it. In Act three, John Proctor begs for his name to not be blotted out and says, “Tell them I confessed myself; say proctor broke his knees and wept like a woman”. Through, using the word woman instead of baby, which most of people would use in this time period, he uses the word woman, which gives the reader a feeling of being in the past, because in that time woman were looked upon as second class citizens. When Proctor and Abigail speak with each other in Act one, Abigail explains to Proctor that Elizabeth is talking bad about her and that she is ruining her name in the community. She explains this to him by saying, “She is blackening my name in the village”. From, the diction that Miller uses by using the word blackening, it puts an old feeling to the story and it also puts a biblical feel to the story, which enhances the story by making you feel like you are in the 1690’s. Another great example of Miller using diction to make the story feel old and biblical is in Act two when, Elizabeth explains to Proctor that it is not her that judges him, but he judges…
The Church/Court House- All the trials happen in Salem and where the people of the town that are accused of being a witch and a follower of the devil are charged.…
There are many riveting characters in The Crucible by Arthur Miller; Abigail Williams being one of them. Abigail is a fast, lying, and a cunning girl. She is promiscuous as in fast because she has been seeking John Proctor's love and expressing her love for him since they had a one night affair. She says "Give me a word John a soft word" (Miller, 1953, p.1219). John seems to not feel the same way towards her as she feels toward him, so he pulls away. Despite John's feelings she continues to pursue him. Most if not all Abigail's actions have revolved around her love for John Proctor. Everything she has done was to not let their secret affair get out and for her and John to be together. Abigail's skill of being a liar is shown in the beginning of the play. Uncle Reverend Parris caught Abigail doing witchcraft in the woods, but instead she lies about it. She says, "We did dance, uncle, and when you leaped out of the bush so suddenly, Betty was frightened and then she fainted. And there's the whole of it" (Miller, 1953, p. 1219). Wanting to avoid getting in trouble and wanting to make other people responsible for what she has done, Abigail lies. Likewise she is a cunning person when it comes to Elizabeth Proctor. Elizabeth is John Proctors wife, who Abigail sees as the wall in between John and her. So she decided to do something about it…
things within his play. Firstly the images transport the audience to the world which these…
In William Shakespeare's Othello, the use of imagery and metaphors is significant in conveying meaning as it helps to establish the dramatic atmosphere of the play and reinforce the main themes. Through this, the audience is able to grasp a better understanding of the play.…