Research/Science. 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 importance placed on reputation helps perpetuate hysteria because it leads to inaction, inflexibility, and, in many cases, active sabotage of the reputations of others for selfish purposes. There are several ironies in Act 1 that center around Abigail Williams. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you. Proctor, gently pressing her from him, with great sympathy but firmly: Child. He claims that they must not jump to conclusions based on superstition in their investigation of Bettys affliction. No one considers that the accusers are lying, partially because theyre seen as innocent children and partially because many witches confess to avoid the death penalty. 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. The Crucible Power Analysis. This fact could destroy his credibility, so he is biased towards continuing to trust Abigail. What motivates their attitudes and responses toward the witch trials? 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 vicious cycle continues to claim the lives of more and more people as the play progresses. Danforth also acts out of concern for his reputations here. Danforth's arrival in Act 3 raises the stakes for the residents of Salem. How does Reverend Hale make Tituba feel important? (Abigail, Act 3, p.107), "PROCTOR: I falter nothing, but I may wonder if my story will be credited in such a court. 73), meaning the girls are testing out the extent of the chaos they can create with their newfound power. Free trial is available to new customers only. "I have given you my soul; leave my name" (Miller 143). Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! Nowhere is there any consideration of ulterior motives. Essay prompts will ask about these themes in a variety of different ways. Wed love to have you back! Get the latest articles and test prep tips! The authorities ignore any inconvenient logical objections to the proceedings because they, too, are swept up in the madness. Elizabeth is defined by her relationship to John, and Mary is pushed around by other characters (mostly men) throughout the play. The final major theme is that of the power of society and authority in Puritan Salem. Power in Salem flourished in 1962 at the beginning of the Salem Witch Trials. Tituba is forced to accept her role as a pawn for those with greater authority and a stepping stone for Abigails ascent to power. The Danger of Ideology Theme in The Crucible | LitCharts (Act 2, p. 65), "It were only sport in the beginning, sir, but then the whole world cried spirits, spirits" (Mary Warren, Act 3, p. 100), "There be no blush about my name." The Crucible Power Quotes - 721 Words | Bartleby Welcome back. When she is brought in for questioning and claims to see Marys familiar spirit, she says Envy is a deadly sin, Mary.Abigail herself has acted out of envy for the entire play. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? The other two main female characters, Elizabeth and Mary Warren, are somewhat bland. 10+ Important Abigail Williams Quotes And Meanings From The Crucible The Crucible quotes (theme: power and authority) Flashcards Parris asks Danforth to postpone Proctor and Rebecca's executions in Act IV after Abigail and Mercy run away, which casts doubt on the entire trial. He has sentenced people to death based on lies about their dealings in black magic, and he has accepted other false confessions from those who would rather lie than be executed. Most Important Themes in The Crucible, Analyzed. The Crucible presents a view of women that essentially reduces them to caricatures of human beings that are defined by their roles as mothers, wives, and servants to men. Hales involvement is taken to mean that there must be a supernatural element to Bettys illness. Abigails power skyrockets as the hysteria grows more severe. All rights reserved. Why doesnt John Proctor attend church often? Though hysteria overpowered the reputations of the accused in the past two acts, in act 4 the sticking power of their original reputations becomes apparent. "It is a mouse no more.she raises up her chin like the daughter of a prince and lays to me" "There are orphans "There are orphans wandering from house to house, abandoned cattle bellow on highroads, the stink of rotting crops hangs everywhere" Never fear! Did the girls really see the Devil or witches? He walks as though toward a great horror, facing the open sky. A crucible is used to melt down metals and separate out the base metals - or in the case of those questioned about witchcraft, it separates out lies and hypocrisy. The prisoners have lost all faith in earthly authority figures and look towards the judgment of God. He is there to convene trials of the accused, so when he tells John and the others he'll "burn a hot fire,", he means it. If Tituba was permitted to explain what really happened, the ensuing tragedy might have been prevented. She has the power to utterly destroy peoples lives with a single accusation because she is seen as a victim and a savior. Danforth, who has the most authority, is also the most sold on her act, and it only takes a few screams to persuade him that hes in the presence of witchcraft. (Proctor, Act 2, p. 76). 61). And you know I can do it; I saw Indians smash my dear parents' heads on the pillow next to mine, and I have seen some reddish work done at night, and I can make you wish you had never seen the sun go down! John finally comes to the realization that Mary's truthful testimony cannot compete with the hysteria that has taken hold of the court. In her conversation with John, Abigail claims that he helped her realize all the lies she was told by two-faced people in Salem who only publicly adhere to the conventions of respectable society (pg. In her conversation with John, Abigail claims that he helped her realize all the lies she was told by two-faced people in Salem who only publicly adhere to the conventions of respectable society (pg. For clarity, the quotes are grouped into four themes: irony, fear and hysteria, pride and reputation, and power and authority. (Hale, Act 1, p. 44). PDF The Crucible He counters, the only evidence is the witch and victim's words. Though actions are often motivated by fear and desires for power and revenge, they are also propped up by underlying worries about how a loss of reputation will negatively affect characters' lives. Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here: PrepScholar 2013-2018. In The Crucible, Miller gradually reveals Reverend Parris's persona as the play goes on. 91). First off, what is irony? The Crucible by Arthur Miller: Act 1 | Quotes, Overview & Analysis But these themes aren't always easy to explain or dissect in the context of the play, and they can be even harder to develop into essays. Crucible Abuse of power quotes Flashcards | Quizlet on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% Hysteria blinds the people of Salem to reason as they become convinced that there is a grand Satanic plot brewing in town, and they must not hesitate to condemn anyone who could be involved. As John gives his confession, Danforth says to Rebecca Nurse Now, woman, you surely see it profit nothin to keep this conspiracy any further. How is Millers underlying message revealed in one of these themes and through the character?". 1. The power of mass hysteria is further revealed when Mary is unable to faint outside of a charged courtroom environment. Her goal is to help students adopt a less stressful view of standardized testing and other academic challenges through her articles. I'll go over the most important quotes from The Crucible, explaining both their literal meaning and why they're important. (Act 3, p. 100). This is especially true with the reputation and hysteria themes. She is enraged when Parris questions her suspicious dismissal from the Proctor household. Explore a character analysis of John Proctor, the plot summary, and important quotes. Du Maurier tells us that the birds are trying to destroy human life, but we never know what is making them do it. Refresh and try again. And he goes to save her, and, stuck two inches in the flesh of her belly, he draw a needle out." Hale also contends with his guilt in act 4 for his role in condemning the accused witches, who he now believes are innocent. Is the accuser always holy now? If Danforth accepts Marys testimony, it would mean that he wrongly convicted numerous people already. (Proctor, Act 4, p. 133). This attitude comes from a man who has shown no remorse for condemning people to death throughout the play. "In an ordinary crime, how does one defend the accused? She is able to use threats of physical violence to cow other girls into doing her bidding, but that's about as far as her influence extends. Continue to start your free trial. 60 The Crucible Quotes With Page Numbers | Ageless Investing Its easy for more respectable citizens to accept that shes in league with the Devil because she is an "other" in Salem, just like Tituba. The Crucible remains a staple of high school English because it is rich in themes that are consistently relevant to human beings regardless of time period. If retaliation is your fear, know thisI should hang ten thousand that dared to rise against the law, and an ocean of salt tears could not melt the resolution of the statute." Quotation Who said it to whom Act Thematic and Character Analysis "It is a mouse no more. Reverend Parris has a false notion of reputation. Abigail's version of events is held to be true even after John confesses to their affair in a final effort to discredit her. 123). Reverend Parris' concerns about his reputation are immediately evident in Act 1. Mr. Nurse is now trying to prove the girls as frauds. The power of collective hysteria ultimately becomes insurmountable because it grows larger than the influence of the few rational voices in the community. They're also revealed though events in the plot. One of the main elements that eventually build up to the main plot in the play is power. The attitudes towards women in the 1950s, when the play was written, are evident in the roles they're given. 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. Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com, allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. "ABIGAIL, in an open threat: Let you beware, Mr. Danforth. View ZgZx-the-crucible-quotes.docx from ENGL 122 at San Jose State University. Nurse?" . Rational explanations are ground up by the drama of the rumor mill, and people see only what they want to see (whatever keeps them in the good graces of society andmakes them feel the best about themselves) in situations that don't appear to have easy explanations. No, I cannot, I cannot stop my mouth; it's God's work I do." Now that you've seen a few ironic quotes analyzed and explained, it's your turn! In Act 2, John Proctors guilt over his affair with Abigail is demonstrated through an ironic exchange with Reverend Hale. The real "powers of dark" affecting Salem are suspicion and fear, not anything demonic. With John Proctor, on the other hand, we find that his true inner self is strong enough stand up for truth. The petition he presents to Danforth is used as a weapon against the signers rather than a proof of the innocence of Elizabeth, Martha, and Rebecca. I beg you, woman, prevail upon your husband to confess. Get the latest articles and test prep tips! The power of mass hysteria is further revealed when Mary is unable to faint outside of a charged courtroom environment. By Act 2, there are nearly 40 people in jail accused of witchcraft. Our blog has complete analyses and discussion of all The Crucible themes as well as of McCarthyism in The Crucible.
