...On The Crucible “The Crucible” is a play that provides a fictitious recollection of the Salem Witch Trials. It was written by Arthur Miller during early 50’s otherwise known as the Mccarthy Era. During this time it is important to address that they were going through many of the same cases as the witch trials. They experienced people being accused out of spite, they even killed people who were accused of being spies. In the play there are many lessons that could be learned, that could teach us even today. In the play you are introduced to many characters, as well as an array of fatal flaws with them. Even today there isn’t a perfect person, not everyone goes to church, knows the ten commandments, and makes the necessary contributions...
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...The Many Differences Between The Crucible and Almost, Maine After reading The Crucible, a play written by Arthur Miller, and watching Almost, Maine, a play written by John Cariani, performed by the Eisenhower Drama Club, I realized that there were countless differences between the two. To begin with, one difference is that they're two different sub-genres of drama. Secondly, both the plays take place in different settings. Lastly, another difference is that I saw The Crucible and Almost, Maine performed differently. Firstly, Both of the plays are from contrasting dramatic sub-genres. The Crucible is a satiric tragedy. In contrast, Almost, Maine is a romantic comedy. The Crucible is meant to criticize the effects of the Red Scare. Whereas, Almost, Maine is meant to be a funny play that should be taken lightly. The Crucible and Almost, Maine were written with different purposed in mind. This difference explains one reason why I was able to relate to Almost, Maine more than I could relate to The Crucible. Additionally, another difference between The Crucible and Almost, Maine is that they both take place in two different settings. The Crucible takes place in Salem, Massachusetts. However, Almost, Maine is set in the city of Almost, Maine. Also, both the plays take place in two different time periods. While The Crucible...
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...The play The Crucible By Arthur Miller is an example of false accusation by everyone being accused of something during their time of life. Arthur Miller connects himself with John Proctor through accusation and how all fingers are pointed to people from one In the little town Salem Massachusetts, 1692, the theme Witchcraft was brought upon a lot of people, from accusation. Everyone being framed of Witchcraft had either the choice to admit to it, or to be hanged, because Witchcraft was not allowed in Salem at the time. Witchcraft had turned many people against other and showed the true colors of them. Through John Proctor’s response to Witchcraft of Abigail, Arthur Miller conveys his beliefs about false accusation of his wife. Arthur Miller’s...
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...Setting is very important in The Crucible because at the time everything unknown was explained by religion. The people said it was witchcraft because they did not have the knowledge that making a deal with devil was not possible. If this were to happen today, everyone would laugh at the accuser because we know witchcraft is not a thing. It would not have the same effect as it did in Salem because religion is not a major part of life for everyone as it was for the people in Salem. In Salem, the “New England Way” meant all work, no play. Part of the reason the witch hunt went crazy is because the strange activity could not be explained because they were so used to work and not fooling around. When the people saw this they could only point to...
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...In the book, and play, The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, there is tragic elements such as a tragic hero.The tragic hero in this story is John Proctor. This is because John displays all the qualities of being a tragic hero, such as a tragic flaw. Tragic heroes are supposed to arouse pity and fear in the reader or audience. John Proctor shows all qualities which are: mighty figure, reversal of fortune, Uncommon suffering, recognizes the consequences of his actions, and his plight ennobles the reader. John Proctor is a mighty figure because he had helped to build the church. In the Book John had said “I nailed the roof upon the church, I hung the door,” (Miller 32). This shows how, in the theocracy the live in, which is a government run by religion, John would be a mighty figure. It also shows how it leads to his downfall, and his recognizing of his actions. This is because he is so full of pride that he thinks no one will suspect him, and he can get away with adultery. Also in the book John says “ How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name,” (Miller 62). This shows how John has recognized his mistakes, and is recognizing...
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...Crucible essay An admirable person is to have a high opinion of respect and esteem for someone. In the Crucible, by Arthur Miller, a witch trial in 1692 that occurred in salem left people in the town filled with all types of emotions and thoughts. A character named john proctor actions left the character in shock. John proctor is a very admirable character. John proctor, a character in the crucible, was very well known. He was a farmer man in his mid-thirties. He was a married man to a charter that is named elizabeth proctor. It is said he was known for being a very nice man. It was also known that he was a very helpful man. Proctor is his nickname or so many people call him. He is also very well respected throughout the whole community of...
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...Many of the characters in the play, The Crucible, all have a lot of pride. Most of them are considered good citizens who would all like to keep and maintain their good name. Reverend Parris is known for living by the bible and its teachings. Judge Danforth is known as a persistent judge who always make the right decisions. When put between the option of life or death, all of these characters chose to keep their reputations by doing the right thing and saving their lives. The importance of having a good name is a very important theme in The Crucible as shown by these characters. John Proctor was a very courageous man. He was the town’s model citizen and the person that everyone looked up to as a leader. For many reasons it is hard for Proctor to give up his good name. One being because he has a lot of respect for it and everyone sees him as the good guy. When Proctor had an affair with Abigail Williams he tries to show that she is guilty although he is hesitant...
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...After reading the historical aspect of the Crucible allows the reader to distinguish the different representation of the main characters. The characters in the Crucible each of a different meaning and Abigail Williams best displays a connection to Senator McCarthy. Senator McCarthy and Abigail both deemed an antagonistic approach to the events. Senator McCarthy was the one who accused "205 card-carrying members of the Communist Party who worked for the United States..." (History.com). And Abigail who announced a string of names in Act 1 of the Crucible when her cousin Betty was ill (Miller pp. 189). The connections establish a direct relationship to the character, both McCarthy and Abigail is deemed to be antagonists who accuse a list of people...
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...The Crucible Essay “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller is based on witch trials in Salem 1692. “The Crucible” was written because of McCarthyism which started in 1950 and ended in 1954. Senator Joe and his campaign accused US government and other organizations of communist. Many people lost their job because of McCarthyism. McCarthyism and witch trials in Salem of 1692 are both similar events. Many people had their reputation damaged because of false accusation. In “The Crucible” we see John Proctor character go from being bad to an heroic character. He is introduced to us as a adulterous man, but in the end of the play he is represented as a heroic man. Abigail and her friends start to accuse people of witchcraft. The who village goes crazy about witchcraft. John Proctor decides to go to Salem and talks to Abigail by himself to see what all this mischief is about. Abigail tells John Proctor they are just acting silly and it all sport. Abigail and John talk back and forth and this is when we find out what...
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...The Crucible and The Scarlet Letter are two books that are similar, but also different. Both books are set in early America and the main religion is Puritan. They also have characters who are “rebels” and do something against society’s standards. There are also differences in the books such as, the characters who rebel against society changing their ways and becoming better people vs. characters who don’t change their ways. There is also a difference in how the towns treat the people who sin. The two books have similarities and differences, which I will discuss in this paper. The Crucible and The Scarlet Letter are both set in a Puritan community in early America. “...the people of Salem developed a theocracy, a combine of state and religious power whose function was to keep the community together…” (Miller). “...at a later period in the history of New england, the grim rigidity that petrified the bearded physiognomies of these good people...” (Hawthorne). The Puritan standards are very rigid. They believe that if you commit any sin you should be put in jail or killed. Both books contain characters who are accused of a sin that wouldn’t be as big of a deal now - and punishments that would be considered cruel and unusual punishment now - such as public shame and hanging. Abigail in The Crucible and Hester Prynne in The Scarlet Letter both commit similar sins. Abigail is intimate with a married man and Hester is intimate with someone who isn’t her husband. “I look for John Proctor...
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...” (Miller 1962) is a common theme throughout the works of the famous playwright, Arthur Miller. Respect and reputation is a widely dispersed theme throughout The Crucible. Its many different occurrences that are displayed from start to finish of this play, make this specific theme one of the most important. In The Crucible, the idea of one’s reputation and their social standings swayed the thoughts and actions of many individuals. When the witchcraft accusation was brought about in Salem, “it was the ideas of reputation that determined whether or not the accused individuals were actually guilty of the crime.” (Shoop Editorial Team). One of the occasions that the theme of reputation took place was in the very beginning of the play. In act 1, when Reverend Parris caught his daughter Betty and his niece Abigail dancing in the woods, he was worried about what the other people in the town were going to think. He was anxious to discover what the people of Salem were going to say about him when they discovered that his daughter and niece might have possibly been performing acts of witchcraft. This is proven when he said, “Now look you, child, your punishment will come in its time. But if you trafficked with spirits in the forest I must know it now, for surely my enemies will, and they will ruin me with it.”(The Crucible. Act 1. Scene 1.) Parris was also worried that the people who already disliked him were going to ruin his name further. His thoughts of action were to control the...
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...constant theme of “The Crucible” is the importance of reputation. Danforth, Proctor and Giles all have the motive to keep their reputation, even if it kills them. Judge Danforth makes a point how important his reputation is with his power in court. John Proctor refuses to confess his adultery and sentence innocent people under his name to death. Giles Corey ends up dying because he speaks up for his wife who is innocent. Every single one of these characters keeps their importance of reputation until their death or the end of “The Crucible”. Judge Danforth is the regular judge of the court in Salem. He accuses Giles wife of witchcraft and many others. If he doesn’t execute them, that will prove that he is wrong which will ruin his reputation. So he has to get rid of anyone else that may question his motives and why he does what he does. “Danforth: In that case, I have no choice but to arrest you for contempt of this court, do you know that? Giles: This is a hearing; you cannot clap me for contempt of a hearing. Danforth: Oh, it is a proper lawyer! Do you wish me to declare the court in full session here? Or will you give me good reply?”(Act...
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...In Arthur Miller's The Crucible, Self-Preservation is very common in the town of Salem. Self-Preservation is when a person protects themselves or someone else, whether it be by telling the truth or a lie. In the town of Salem many people use Self-Preservation to protect themselves from the consequences of performing witchcraft. However, others may use Self-Preservation to protect their reputation or image in society, such as Reverend Parris. He himself started, what is called a chain of self-preservation when he reported Abigail Williams and the girls performing witchcraft. This led to Abigail having to use self-preservation to protect herself from the consequences of witchcraft which later on led Elizabeth Proctor to protect herself and her...
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...Thematic Questions 1. What is a crucible and how is it used? Justify Miller’s choice of title for his play. A crucible is a ceramic container that can withstand very high temperature and is used for metal, glass and pigment production as well as a number of modern laboratory processes. Miller’s choice of the title “The Crucible” is due to the same reason as the courtroom being referred to as a crucible: using the heat of questioning and scrutiny, they burned away all the impurities, i.e. lies and half-truths, to get the purified product the “truth”. 2. How do Hale’s preconceptions influence his interpretation of events? How does his interpretation change? What are the implications of his conversion? Hale’s preconceptions has influenced his interpretation of events in that he initially thought that he had the authority over the town due to his extensive knowledge of witchcraft. He expected to find witches, however his interpretation changes throughout the play as he realises that innocent townspeople are being falsely accused, such as John Proctor. The implications of his conversion are when he encourages the accused to confess, i.e. the good people to lie, even though he believes that he is doing the “Devil’s work”. 3. Proctor calls Hale “Pontius Pilate.” Explain the allusion. Do you agree or disagree? The allusion is that Pontius Pilate was the ruler in Bethlehem who ordered the crucifixion of Jesus Christ at the order of the Jewish leadership, despite the...
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...The crucible is still revealing today because it’s a multi-layered book with events, characters and themes comparable. It is common for us to fear change and what is unknown, in this instance in The Crucible were dealing with witchcraft and the devil. Most recently this was comparable to McCarthyism. The themes that are presented within the Crucible are as important to people in this time period as Salem in 1692. A central theme that was found throughout the Crucible and relates back to us in society is the maintaining of reputation. Even today, we do not want to be associated with the doing of something bad, we want to be known for great things like making Ab honor roll, being polite, or being the one who is best at speaking. Not being associated...
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