Analysis_of_the_Crucible_by_Arthur_Miller

Lauren Mora Ms. Hattabaugh IB English HL 1 Period 3 November 4, 2009 The Crucible Drama Analysis 10.Title- The Crucible Arthur Miller decided the title his play, The Crucible, because the play can relate to all the definitions of the word, crucible. The first definition of a crucible is a severe test, such as a trial. This obviously relates to The Crucible of all the trials and accusations which took place throughout the play. Along with the trials, the citizens of Salem had to endure severe tests of their beliefs. Another definition of a crucible is a vessel in which substances are heated to high temperatures. The town of Salem turns into a crucible. It becomes a terrible place where people, such as Abigail Williams, are trying to burn other people. 11.Biographical Sketch Arthur Miller was born on October 17, 1915, in New York City. Only after graduating from high school in 1932 he attended City College in New York for two weeks, and then worked for his father to earn money to attend the University of Michigan. He enrolled there two years later to study drama. He graduated in 1938, having won several awards for his playwriting. Miller returned to New York City and wrote for the Federal Theater Project before any of his work could be produced. In 1944, the Broadway production of his play The Man Who Had All the Luck opened but closed after four performances. During the 1950’s Miller’s work was greatly influenced by the communist red scare. The Crucible, written in 1952, shows how similar the Salem witch trials were to Senator Joseph McCarthy's investigations of anti-American activities. Miller was even called before the House Committee on Un-American Activities in June 1956 and was asked to give the names of guilty parties. After the Crucible, Miller wrote short pieces and plays. After the mid-1960s Miller had no major successes. However he still remained an important figure in American drama. His achievements include a Pulitzer Prize in 1949, a Theatre Guild National Prize, 2 Tony awards and an Emmy award. He died on February 10, 2005. Source: http://www.notablebiographies.com/Ma-Mo/Miller-Arthur.html 12.Theme A major theme which Miller shows in his play is that sins have severe consequences. Miller uses the witch hunt as an opportunity for the citizens of Salem to publicly confess both their own sins and the sins of other characters. These sins cause some of the characters to be filled with guilt, which affects their behaviors. For example, Proctor is haunted by the guilt of his affair. Reverend Hale is also affect by the guilt of his sins because he works to weaken the court that he helped create. The ultimate example of this is Abigail Williams. She sinned through her affair with proctor as well as lying to the citizen by accusing people of witchcraft. This has a severe consequence because the result of this was the trials in Salem becoming a huge deal and ultimately the death of several people. Another theme Miller expresses in play is that what may seem good to some, turns out to have negative effects on everyone else, in particular, the decision to persecute women for witchcraft. The investigators and accusers in the play act similar to Senator McCarthy, during the 1950’s. With their actions and their decisions to persecute fellow citizens end up destroying a way of life for many of the people in Salem. In the same way, McCarthy’s trials destroyed many American communities, for a reason he felt was good. 13.Stage Directions 14.Characters Reverend Parris – The function of reverend Parris is to bring out the hatred and anger in the citizens of Salem.  He is uncaring and villainous because he cares more about his reputation than truth. He is Abigail’s uncle and Betty’s father. John Proctor - Proctor is the main character and he develops a lot throughout the course of the play.  His function in the play is to be a tragic hero. Proctor is kind, strong, and intelligent. His wife is Elizabeth and they have two sons. He also had an affair with Abigail Williams. Abigail Williams - She is a very beautiful girl.  She is an orphan and she lives with her uncle, Reverend Parris.  Abigail serves as the antagonist of the play. She is the one who gets the story really going when she makes the first accusations of witch craft. Reverend Hale- Elizabeth Proctor- Giles Corey- Francis Nurse- Judge Hathorne- Danforth- 15.Symbols 1. The Poppet- The poppet, which Mary Warren gives Elizabeth in Act II, representsthe actual act of witchcraft and the supertition behind it. The poppet is suppose to be like a voodoo doll, because a needle was found in it's stomach the night Abigail stabbed herself in the stomach. 16.Giles Corey's death- The stones, which were used to kill Giles Corey represent the heaviness and seriousness of the sins of the people of Salem. Giles says to press harder when he is getting killed. This shows that the sins of the Salem citizens are just going to get heavier and heavier. 17.Elizabeth's Pregnency- 18.Setting The overall setting of The Crucible is Salem, Massachusetts. This is important because it ties into the actual history of the Salem witch trials in the late 1600’s.The more specific settings are important to this play because they symbolize progression of the accusations and trials. Act I starts off in the household of Reverend Parris. Act II takes place in the house of the Proctor’s. This shows that the conflict with witch craft and accusations is spreading across different households of Salem. Act III takes place in the anteroom of the courthouse. This symbolizes the witchcraft accusati0ons becoming such a huge deal that all the authority figures are now dealing with it. Act IV takes places in the jailhouse, which symbolizes the consequences of all the trials and accusations. The different acts take place in different parts of the year as well. Acts I and II take places in spring. Act III takes place in summer and Act IV takes place in the fall. 19.Plot 20.Quotations 21.Elizabeth: I do not judge you. The magistrate sits in your heart that judges you. I never thought you but a good man…(52) This quote shows that Elizabeth is no longer judging her husband about his affair. Instead he is judging himself, and she’s trying to tell him that he needs to forgive himself for the affair. 22.John: You are pulling down heaven and raising up a whore (111) 23.Reverend Hale: There is blood on my head! Can you not see the blood on my head!! (121) 24.Abigail: 5. John: 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! 25.Final Comments