Anns extreme conclusions are gradually accepted because rational people are too afraid to challenge the consensus and risk bringing accusations upon themselves. This is ironic becausesearching for "the Devil's marks" as the potential cause of an ailment is inherently superstitious. Explain who you believe is the central tragic character in the play. In steadfastly refusing to confess, Rebecca Nurse holds onto a great deal of power. 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. First off, what is irony? Fear that spread among a group of people in Salem during the Salem Witch Trials, that event in history is a prime example of Mass Hysteria. The turmoil in Salem is propelled forward by desires for revenge and power that have been simmering beneath the town's placid exterior. The hysterical atmosphere and the dramatic performances of some of the accusers cause people to believe they have seen genuine proof of witchcraft. The Salem villagers exhibit failings, including greed, vengeance, and fear, which eventually lead to the downfall of their town. He claims that they must not jump to conclusions based on superstition in their investigation of Bettys affliction. The second major theme in The Crucible (and one that teachers often ask about) is fear and hysteria. There are numerous connections between the flaws of individual characters and the overarching themes of the play that could be brought into this discussion. As John gives his confession, Danforth says to Rebecca Nurse Now, woman, you surely see it profit nothin to keep this conspiracy any further. Concern for reputation is a theme that looms large over most of the events in The Crucible. Elizabeth doesnt realize that John is willing to sacrifice his reputation to save her life. Upon arriving in the court Mary Warren says, I cannot lie no more. Hypocrisy is "the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform". Both Hale and Proctor don't want to live with the consequences of their mistakes, so they try to ignore or undo their past actions. Abigail William is hypocritical because she does not follow the rules of the Salem trials. The Devil is really a superstition hiding the townspeople, who are ''precise'' in their accusations because they want land from others. 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. This leads to Marys hysterical accusation of Proctor after she finds herself targeted by the other girls and about to be consumed by the hysteria herself if she doesnt contribute to it. The depths of the hysteria that has gripped Salem are revealed in Act 3 when John finally confronts the court. 68 lessons She puts on a fake front to get what she wants, ultimately creating a persona thats even worse than that of the hypocrites she criticizes. This is ironic because, Once the accusations begin, Parris initiates an ironic thought process that persists throughout. As Abigail begins to be accused she is pressured to deter from the truth. Recall that hypocrisy is when someone's actions don't match up with the professed values. Miller portrays Danforths characterization as stubborn, highly religious, and arrogant in order to to provide a clearer understanding. In telling people they must confess to their crimes or be hanged, the officials show that they have already decided the person is guilty no matter what evidence is provided in their defense. The power of collective hysteria ultimately becomes insurmountable because it grows larger than the influence of the few rational voices in the community. How does this philosophy perpetuate hysteria? A real example of irony would be if two married guests got into a fight about going to your wedding that ended in their divorce. PPTX The Crucible by Arthur Miller - Dr. Coffman's English Classes Hypocrisy in The Crucible - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com Ann Putnam jumps at any opportunity to blame supernatural forces for the deaths of her children. He shows the hypocrisy of the Puritans by showing their belief system and how they have not acted in accordance with those beliefs. This is a lesson in how fear can twist perceptions of reality even for those who consider themselves reasonable under normal circumstances. Being in contact with someone else means mediating between ourselves and the other. 50). By the end of class, you should be able to: Identify basic elements of McCarthyism, including the following terms: Abigail, in particular, has quickly risen from a nobody to one of the most influential people in Salem. . 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. The only power they have left is in refusing to confess and preserving their integrity. The town, already primed with rumors of black magic, is quickly willing to accept that the first few women who are accused are involved in black magic because theyre beggars and slaves. Parris begs Danforth to postpone their hangings because he fears for his life if the executions proceed as planned. These types of statements made by Hale earlier in the play become even more ironic in Act 4 when he realizes he made a horrible mistake by trusting the evidence that was presented to him. The only power they have left is in refusing to confess and preserving their integrity. How does the central tragic character change throughout the play, and how does this relate to the play's title? Logic has no power to combat paranoia and superstition even when the claims of the girls are clearly fraudulent. She is clearly outspoken and dominant, but her initial position in society is one of very little influence and authority. John has already confessed that the affair was the reason for Abigails dismissal. What are some of the factors that feed the panic and suspicion in Salem, and why are. 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. Miller's portrayal of women in The Crucible is a much-discussed topic. How is Millers underlying message revealed in one of these themes and through the character?". Abigail distracts the judges from any rational investigation in this act by playing into this hysteria. These connections will bolster your responses by positioning them in relation to the most important concepts discussed throughout the play. Thomas Putnam claims to be a holy, church-going man, yet his priority in life is to acquire land. Giles Cory was expelled from court because he would not list people who signed the document about Putnam wanting to take land. Flaws in Human Reasoning Create a Tragic Figure One tragedy is a result of numerous conflicts and wrongdoings. As John gives his confession, Danforth says to Rebecca Nurse Now, woman, you surely see it profit nothin to keep this conspiracy any further. Thus demonstrating how mob mentality can impact an individual and ultimately drive the action of the play. These types of statements made by Hale earlier in the play become even more ironic in Act 4 when he realizes he made a horrible mistake by trusting the evidence that was presented to him. 67). The power of collective hysteria ultimately becomes insurmountable because it grows larger than the influence of the few rational voices in the community. The fact that he forgets only this commandment shows that he is trying extremely hard to repress his guilt. What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For? When Abigail accuses Elizabeth, a respected farmers wife, it shows that she is willing to take big risks to remove Elizabeth from the picture. Armed with the false proof of these coerced confessions, the court officials aggressively persecute anyone who is accused. Fear plays an immense role in the way people make their decisions, such as when the characters of Danforth and Mary Warren . What Are The Human Flaws In The Crucible | ipl.org Tituba attempts to tell the truth about Abigail when she says, You beg me to conjure! 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. Proctors strengths consist of, honesty and pride. Arthur Millers portrayal of a town in the midst of a downfall The Crucible, tells the story of how mob mentality and hysteria can significantly influence not only individuals but the whole town. In Act 3, Abigails power in the courthouse is on display. Can a work of art bring about change in the world? Because, the people of Salem will find out about the affair, this would weaken his reputation. Judge Danforth a well respected man in the society that has the supreme rule over the court. The thematic significance of hysteria builds quickly as accusations of witchcraft proliferate throughout Salem. She openly threatens Danforth for even entertaining Mary and John's accusations of fraud against her. 6). One single example is ; Corporate and political greed and desire for power is the reason for most of the suffering as claimed by many. references the many sentencing decisions he has already made in the trials of the accused. They're also revealed though events in the plot. Courage, Weakness, And Truth In Arthur Miller's The Crucible The first is that she is looking to escape . Once there have been enough convictions, the reputations of the judges also become factors. Lying- Explain why the girls are more willing to lie . 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. By Act 2, there have been notable changes in the power structure in Salem as a result of the ongoing trials. Like a struck beast, he says, and screamed a scream that a bull would weep to hear. Ann Putnam jumps at any opportunity to blame supernatural forces for the deaths of her children. The faces that people present to the public are designed to garner respect in the community, but the witch trials have thrown this system into disarray. He questions Abigail aggressively because hes worried his enemies will learn the full story of what happened in the woods first and use it to discredit him. By Act 2, there are nearly 40 people in jail accused of witchcraft. When she cant get John to abandon Elizabeth for her, she decides to take matters into her own hands and gain control through manipulating the fears of others. Choose a single character and discuss how this person embodies one of the themes. The main pillars of traditional power are represented by the law and the church. Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here: PrepScholar 2013-2018. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. This causes problems down the line as Parris allows his paranoia about losing his position to translate into enthusiasm for the witch hunt. Diehard fan of The Wire. Support me by becoming a Medium member: https://bit.ly/39Cybb8. In a case like this, you'd be writing directly about a specific theme in connection to one of the characters. She attended church regularly and was the embodiment of how a Puritan woman should behave. The play takes place in the city of Salem, a city filled with people that would do anything to keep their reputation clean. Where before she was just an orphaned teenager, now, in the midst of the trials, she becomes the main witness to the inner workings of a Satanic plot. This is interesting because the children are the ones that the rest of the village relies upon to condemn people to death. John Proctor sabotages his own reputation in Act 3 after realizing it's the only way he can discredit Abigail. This new power is exciting and very dangerous because it encourages the girls to make additional accusations in order to preserve their value in the eyes of the court. By Act 2, there are nearly 40 people in jail accused of witchcraft. Fear plays an immense role in the way people make their decisions, such as when the characters of Danforth and Mary Warren resort to hypocrisy when no other options remain. Historical Context. Hale is convinced that a scientific inquiry based only on facts and reality can be conducted to detect a supernatural presence. Compare and contrast three authority figures in this drama: Hale, Danforth, and Parris. How to use hypocrisy in a sentence. In Act 1 he jumped on board with the hysteria to preserve his power, but he ended up losing what little authority he had in the first place (and, according to Miller's afterward, was voted out of office soon after the end of the play). Why does he decide to do so anyways? Miller wrote it as an allegory to the Red Scare, the promotion of fear of a potential rise of communism. The Judge forcing people to lie to save their lives he cant see the wrong hes doing. 44) but realizes that her word against Abigail will not stand. Lust and pride were John Proctors tragic flaws, lust is of course, one out of the seven sins. Both flaws led him to delay telling the truth about Abigail's fraudulent claims and their previous relationship, thus dooming himself and many others to death or imprisonment. Abigail accuses Tituba first because Tituba is the one person below her on the ladder of power, so she makes an easy scapegoat. 129). The hypocrisy in this statement is almost funny. Being a hypocrite is one of the worst things you can be called youre someone who criticizes others and yet does the same sin yourself. He chooses to die instead of providing a false confession because he doesnt think life will be worth living after he is so disgraced. He believes there is a group of people in town determined to remove him from this position, and. He chooses to die instead of providing a false confession because he doesnt think life will be worth living after he is so disgraced. SAT is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination BoardTM. The theme of guilt is one that is deeply relevant to John Proctor's character development throughout the play. This is a lesson in how fear can twist perceptions of reality even for those who consider themselves reasonable under normal circumstances. Later in the play, she is accused. To Danforth, anything that doesnt confirm that he was right all along is a lie. The Crucible is commonly viewed as an allegorical representation of the communist "witch hunts" conducted in the 1950s. Ask questions; get answers. He refers to Johns refusal to confess as a calamity, looking past his own involvement in the larger calamity of the conviction that led John to this point. They say not to use superstition when dealing with the Devil, who is in fact a superstition used to cover up the sinful dealings of the people. She has the power to utterly destroy peoples lives with a single accusation because she is seen as a victim and a savior. If Tituba was permitted to explain what really happened, the ensuing tragedy might have been prevented. Abigails many deceptions are sometimes laughably ironic as she chastises others for lying even as she is spinning falsehoods. There are two examples of Ad hominem from The Crucible in Act 2 and Act 3. Now that you've read about the most important themes in The Crucible, check out ourlist of every single character in the play, including brief analyses of their relationships and motivations. Read on for an overview of what a theme is, a list of important themes in The Crucible with specific act-by-act details, and a summary of how to use this information in your essays and other assignments. Hale also contends with his guilt in act 4 for his role in condemning the accused witches, who he now believes are innocent. Even before Abigail makes accusations, rumors of witchcraft have morphed into accepted truths in the minds of the more superstitious members of the community. Explore examples of hypocrisy in the play, including the hypocrisy in land disputes, sin, and the characters of Rebecca Nurse, Reverend Hale, and the children. This attitude comes from a man who has shown no remorse for condemning people to death throughout the play. Psychological Research & Experimental Design, All Teacher Certification Test Prep Courses, The Crucible: Author & Historical Context, The Crucible Introduction & Act Summaries, 12th Grade English Curriculum Resource & Lesson Plans, 11th Grade English Curriculum Resource & Lesson Plans, Study.com ACT® Reading Test Section: Prep & Practice, AP English Language: Homeschool Curriculum, College Composition for Teachers: Professional Development, CLEP Analyzing & Interpreting Literature: Study Guide & Test Prep, Humanities Survey for Teachers: Professional Development, Study.com ACT® English Test Section: Prep & Practice, Effective Summaries of a Paragraph or Passage, Chaucer's The Pardoner's Tale: Summary & Analysis, Palindromes in Music: Definition & Examples, Chamber Music: Definition, Instruments & Composers, Coloratura: Definition, Arias & Technique, Composer Gioachino Rossini: Biography, Music, Operas & Style, Working Scholars Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. However, this runs up against Danforths desire to preserve his reputation as a strong judge. Danforth has extensive pride in his intelligence and perceptiveness. This attitude comes from a man who has shown no remorse for condemning people to death throughout the play. Hypocrisy involves the deception of others and is thus a kind of lie. The Crucible by Arthur Miller is a play about the Salem witch trials. Examples Of Hypocrisy In The Crucible - Term Paper - TermPaper Warehouse

Characteristics Of A Sicilian Woman, Miller Analogies Test To Iq Conversion, Articles I