(Hale, Act 4, p. 122). By Act 4, many of the power structures that were firmly in place earlier in the play have disintegrated. Abigail insists that she did nothing to deserve it and tries to put all the blame on Elizabeth Proctor. This is a lesson in how fear can twist perceptions of reality even for those who consider themselves reasonable under normal circumstances. Dont have an account? The Crucible's themes have lent the play artistic longevity because they're more or less universal to the human experience across time. They are extremely biased towards believing they have made the correct sentencing decisions in court thus far, so they are reluctant to accept new evidence that may prove them wrong. The thematic significance of hysteria builds quickly as accusations of witchcraft proliferate throughout Salem. "There is a faction that is sworn to drive me from my pulpit" Rev. When the petition testifying to the good character of the accused women is presented, the reaction from Danforth, Hathorne, and Parris is to arrest the people who signed it rather than considering that this might indicate that the women are innocent. Tituba is forced to accept her role as a pawn for those with greater authority and a stepping stone for Abigails ascent to power. Below are a few Crucible quotes that relate to this theme. Abigail hates Salem, and in the course of The Crucible, she The College Entrance Examination BoardTM does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content of this site. This is especially true with the reputation and hysteria themes. Quotes By Arthur Miller. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. The Crucible is four acts of tight dialogue and economical action. Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now: hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(360031, 'f20994d3-fd87-4c1e-988d-22ad8d920c1a', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); This final section is devoted to The Crucible quotes that don't relate to one of the themes listed above, but still mark an important moment in the play. You'll also receive an email with the link. The way to have power is to capture it. But you must understand, sir, that a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it, there be no road between. A+ Student Essay: The Role of Sex & Sexual Repression in the Play, Arthur Miller and The Crucible Background. The town slips further and further into chaos and paranoia until it reaches a point of total devastation. Mary Warren feels entitled to, asks for, and (to some extent) receives respect because she is now in a greater position of power. Proctor, gently pressing her from him, with great sympathy but firmly: Child. First, there is her jealousy of Elizabeth Proctor and her fantasy that if she could only dispose of Elizabeth, John would be hers. John and Rebeccas solid reputations lead to pushback against their executions even though people were too scared to stand up for them in the midst of the trials. At the end this act, John Proctor delivers a short monologue anticipating the imminent loss of the disguises of propriety worn by himself and other members of the Salem community. I'm a good girl! What ACT target score should you be aiming for? It is a providence, and no great change; we are only what we always were, but naked now. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! Concern for reputation is a theme that looms large over most of the events in The Crucible. One of the main elements that eventually build up to the main plot in the play is power. Suppose you are a historian at some future time studying this famous bird attack. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. This attitude comes from a man who has shown no remorse for condemning people to death throughout the play. Danforth has extensive pride in his intelligence and perceptiveness. For example, Abigail went from being powerless to using the witch trials to become empowered. In a way,John welcomes the loss of his reputation because he feels so guilty about the disconnect between howhe is perceived by others and the sins he has committed. Giles Corey provided evidence against his wife, Martha (reading book), on accident; but he got kicked out. Here are a couple of other quotes that demonstrate fear/hysteria. Abigail accuses Tituba first because Tituba is the one person below her on the ladder of power, so she makes an easy scapegoat. But I'll plead no more! The madness begins in earnest with Abigails claim that Tituba and Ruth were conjuring spirits in the woods. How may I live without my name? It is not just." In his case, it's more hysteria than fear he doesn't particularly fear that he may be accused as a witch, but he has been persuaded by the "frightful proofs" he's seen and this has blinded him to any other possible reasons that the witchcraft accusations might be being made. Abigail also shows concern for her reputation. (Elizabeth, Act 4, p. 134). Parris begs Danforth to postpone their hangings because he fears for his life if the executions proceed as planned. Her jealousy of Elizabeth Proctors position as Johns wife has led her to attempted murder, first by the charm in the woods and now by accusing Elizabeth of witchcraft. Though Danforth is the most powerful official figure in court, Abigail manipulates him easily with her performance as a victim of witchcraft. Have I not?" It is a providence, and no great change; we are only what we always were, but naked now.. Set in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692, The Crucible centers on a small, Puritan community. They so fear the devilish consequences of challenging the accusers that theyre willing to take them at their word and ignore any defenses the accused have to offer. Choose a single character and discuss how this person embodies one of the themes. In the Puritan theocracy of Massachusetts, a government run by religious authorities, the dominant . To discover the top quotes from the Crucible you'll want to remember, keep reading! Though Rebecca Nurse's involvement has already been corroborated by other confessors, Danforth demands to hear it from John to confirm that John is fully committed to renouncing his supposed ties to Satan. Tituba is pressured to confess and name the names of other witches to avoid execution, which leads to Abigail and Bettys accusations, now validated by a coerced confession. Learn about the story by reviewing quotes from Reverend Parris, one of the book's main characters. The irony in Danforth's statement is that it wasn't "just" to hang any of the accused witches in the first place, and so continuing to hang people just because it's already been done before is a terrible idea. (pg. The court refuses to challenge anyone who claims to have been afflicted. For Proctor, we quickly realize, The whole purpose of a trial is to hear both sides of the story before a verdict is reached. In a case like this, you'd be writing directly about a specific theme in connection to one of the characters. on 50-99 accounts. The girls are essentially given permission by authority figures to continue their act because they are made to feel special and important for their participation. I hope you will be one of those." These people are the only ones who refuse to throw out false accusations or lie about involvement in witchcraft, so they find themselves condemned (this is the fate of Rebecca Nurse). What ACT target score should you be aiming for? Get the latest articles and test prep tips! ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score, How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League, Is the ACT easier than the SAT? John finally comes to the realization that Mary's truthful testimony cannot compete with the hysteria that has taken hold of the court. Renews May 8, 2023 (Danforth, Act 4, p. 119-120), "He have his goodness now. Abigails power skyrockets as the hysteria grows more severe. If you argued that John Proctor was the central tragic character, you could say that his flaws were an excessive concern for his reputation and overconfidence in the power of reason to overcome hysteria. Abigail distracts the judges from any rational investigation in this act by playing into this hysteria. The power of mass hysteria is further revealed when Mary is unable to faint outside of a charged courtroom environment. Rebecca Nurse, a woman whose character was previously thought to be unimpeachable, is accused and arrested. Some sentences may be correct. Were they born this morning as clean as God's fingers? Hale tries to combat his guilt by persuading the prisoners to confess, refusing to accept that the damage has already been done. The hysterical atmosphere and the dramatic performances of some of the accusers cause people to believe they have seen genuine proof of witchcraft. God forbid I take it from him! Armed with the false proof of these coerced confessions, the court officials aggressively persecute anyone who is accused. Danforth, Hathorne, and Parris become even more rigid in their views when they feel they are under attack. the peninsula chicago wedding; zachary knighton tattoo; road 96 security password stan and mitch; homes for rent in michigan with no . "We burn a hot fire here; it melts down all concealment." Be sure to tell why the murderous birds didn't succeed in wiping out the world. (Danforth, Act 3, p. 87), Danforth's belief in black-and-white morality exacerbates the situation in Salem. Why does Reverend Hale change his mind about the witch trials? If you can show that you understand the themes of a work of literature, you've clearly mastered the material on a deeper level. Why doesnt John immediately tell the court that he knows Abigail is faking? c_ re\hspace{1cm}_ _ ardianship \hspace{1cm}_ us _ _ _ _. Danforth continues to demonstrate the effects of hysteria in act 4 even after things have died down a bit in Salem and there have been rumblings of discontent about the courts actions. She has the power to utterly destroy peoples lives with a single accusation because she is seen as a victim and a savior. It is a marvellous sign, Mr Parris!" (pg.24) . Parris Act 1, Power, paranoia, hysteria, repression, self righteous society, "It's a bitter woman, a lying, cold, sniveling woman" Abigail about Elizabeth Act 1, "My name is goodI will not have it said my name is soiled" Abigail to Rev. 705 Words3 Pages. How is the theme of power shown in the crucible? While I speak Gods law, I will not crack its voice with whimpering (pg. Anns extreme conclusions are gradually accepted because rational people are too afraid to challenge the consensus and risk bringing accusations upon themselves. This vicious cycle continues to claim the lives of more and more people as the play progresses. (Danforth, Act 3, p. 83). Because I lie and sign myself to lies! By Act 4, many of the power structures that were firmly in place earlier in the play have disintegrated. Want to write the perfect college application essay? This vicious cycle continues to claim the lives of more and more people as the play progresses. Abigail yelling "don't lie" at another person is highly ironic, not only because Miller introduced her as a liar (she has "an endless capacity for dissembling"), but because Abigail had just told Proctor Betty's illness was nothing to do with witchcraft not 20 page previously. Since 1692 a great but superficial change has wiped out God's beard and the Devil's horns, but the world is still gripped between two diametrically opposed absolutes. But Ill cut off my hand before I ever reach for you again., You are pulling down heaven and raising up a whore, A child's spirit is like a child, you can never catch it by running after it; you must stand still, and, for love, it will soon itself come back., We are what we always were in Salem, but now the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance writes the law!, an everlasting funeral marches round your heart., Peace. This fact could destroy his credibility, so he is biased towards continuing to trust Abigail. By Act 2, there have been notable changes in the power structure in Salem as a result of the ongoing trials. Because I cannot have another in my life! 12) The first act of The Crucibleclearly establishes the fact that a bad reputation can damage a persons position in this society severely and irreparably. Elizabeth is a victim of cruel irony in this Act when she is summoned to testify on the reasons why she dismissed Abigail from her household. Abigail accuses Tituba first because Tituba is the one person below her on the ladder of power, so she makes an easy scapegoat. This is a lesson in how fear can twist perceptions of reality even for those who consider themselves reasonable under normal circumstances. . One calls up witnesses to prove his innocence. Parris begs Danforth to postpone their hangings because he fears for his life if the executions proceed as planned. John has already confessed that the affair was the reason for Abigails dismissal.
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