Witchcraft

Accompanying and following the Renaissance “rebirth” during the fourteenth through sixteenth centuries and supplementing the Protestant and Catholic Reformations, the persecution of individuals as witches in Europe reached its zenith during the sixteenth century. Countless people, women and men alike, were accused of witchcraft, although this scale was tipped significantly toward poor, old women whose husbands’ had low wage work. The notion of witchcraft appealed to and was possible at the time to the general public because such occurrences as “mysterious disappearances” or “Satanic luck” necessitated explanations.

These events were thus attributed to “servants of the Devil,” or witches, who were supposedly possessed to bend to Satan’s will as stated my Luther. Luther’s bias was towards the bible because he was a religious leader; therefor he believed what it said, which was that witches existed. Many accused witches were tortured until they either admitted, like Walpurga Hausmannin, or were killed from torture. Hausmannin’s bias was towards women because she was one, and she was very skeptical towards all the women being killed.

No one was safe, as even mayors councilors and associate judges were persecuted. The witch-hunting excitement of the period resulted from religious, individual, societal, and sociological fears and interests prevalent during the time frame. First, highly influential religious individuals like Luther, Calvin, and the pope form a group of people who played a major role in promoting the belief of witchcraft among the people. Pope Innocent VIII, for example, willingly accepted the concept of witchcraft and even fully supported the persecution of witches.

His bias was also towards the Bible. As a religious leader, the Pope wholeheartedly believed that individuals “give themselves over to devils” and, as a servant of God, was obliged to purge the world of them. The notable Protestant leaders Martin Luther and John Calvin shared this identical perspective. Luther stresses that the “Devil’s whores” exist to cause chaos and disruption in God’s world. As he strictly upheld the status quo, Luther would have used the convenient explanation that the poor laborers were more likened to turn to witchcraft.

Calvin, on the other hand, compares the problem of witchcraft to that of waging “war against an infinite number of enemies”. Calvin, as an advocate of an organization adjoining religion and state, naturally views the campaign against witches as war. Clergy, influenced by these religious leaders, recorded any slightly suspicious activity as supernatural and Satanic. Since the majority of Europe was Catholic or some form of Protestant during the time, the people looked up to their respective leaders for “truth. As popes, Luther, and Calvin professed the existence of witchcraft, the people did as well. However, other individuals persecuted witches for purely individual or societal interests. The witch-hunting movement was promoted and effectively advertised by those who would gain from the persecution, namely the “notaries, copyists, and innkeepers…executioner”. According to the account, anyone could be put to trial or torture with the slightest provocation. As a result, the individuals who gained some form of wealth from the persecution supported it.

Judges gained support from the people for charging individuals with witchcraft. The demographic aspects of accused witches show that women were much more likely to be persecuted as a consequence of gender biases toward the “impurity” and “imperfection” of the feminine sex in the group. The authors of are Dominican monks attempting to clarify the reasons for which women are witches. Although John Wier is skeptical towards the idea of witchcraft, his views sustain the fact that old women’s physical state led to their increased chance of persecution.

The most important reason why numerous individuals were branded and persecuted as witches during the late fifteenth through seventeenth centuries was probably as a convenient sociological reason for unexplained occurrences. Any unusual event would cause mass hysteria (Doc B5), and as the people could not directly punish the devils for it, they would be satisfied to reprimand the devils’ servants, the witches, since there could be no other reasonable rationalization.

The composition of poems regarding witchcraft shows that it played a prominent role in the life of an ordinary person. It also subtly encourages readers not to fall under possession by resisting Satan’s attempts to control them. John Weir also indicates that the public, including some scientists, passionately favors witch persecution. In late seventeenth-century America, several girls’ witch accusations in Salem, Massachusetts caused two years of witch fear illustrating the common fear of spiritual evils.

In the opening of the play how does Miller seek to create an atmosphere of hysteria and tension? Do you find the opening effective? The Crucible is a play by Arthur Miller written in the 1950’s. It was set in the 1690’s in Massachusetts. The play is about the witch trials and how something like a group of girls in the woods could lead to about 200 people being hanged and accused of witchcraft. The people of Salem were new to Massachusetts as they were puritans who went off to America to set up a new religious colony .

The people were new to their surroundings had the Native Americans as enemies because they took their land. Although the Crucible is about the witch trials, it is thought to be a metaphor for the McCarthy Communist trials that was happening during the 1950’s. It was very similar to witchcraft and many people in the Hollywood were accused. You could be dismissed from the accusations of being communists after naming other people who you think were communists. Many innocent died because of both of these events. It was a way to get rid of your hatred and anger against others.

The very opening of the play portrays a worrying and fearful scene, when we see Betty in bed not moving and Reverend Parris knelt down and praying. A child unconscious in bed creates tension because we don’t what is wrong and grabs the attention of the audience as the audience would be keen to know what is wrong with the child. More hysteria is caused when Tituba comes in through the door, which makes Parris angry and shouts at her “Out of here! ” This sharp and imperative sentence allows Miller to show that even the minister of Salem sees a black “negro slave” as an animal.

This would gain sympathy from the audience who is tensed from all the mysteriousness that is taking place. It would also make the audience jump and be frightened and this gives Parris an authoritative figure. It also shows that Parris is tensed because he is even shouting at people who says that his child is going to better. Also the entrance of Abigail causes further tension between her and Parris because he asks about them dancing g in the wood and Abigail gets very defensive. This then leads on to the conversation of whether Abigail name in the village is pure or not.

When Parris question about why no one has asked her to work for the last seven months after working with the Proctors. Abigail gets very rude and blames Goody Proctor for no one offering a job “Goody Proctor is a gossiping liar” From this we learn that Abigail is a selfish and arrogant because she knows that she is hated but yet refuses to confess her faults because she doesn’t want her reputation to be besmirched because then she would be thrown out of her house and the church and out of the whole community which would do her any good so she is blaming others to keep her reputation.

This causes hysteria and tension because Abigail is getting angry and the whole conversation is getting more serious away from the main problem of Betty being sick. Parris is more worried about what his daughter and niece were doing rather than about Betty because like Abigail he doesn’t want his reputation besmirched because no one would value him as a priest and he would lose his job, house and income. Abigail is also very manipulative because she makes Parris feel guilty. “Do you begrudge my bed, uncle? This makes Parris feel guilty for accusing her and this conveys that she can play well with her words to make herself seem naive. As more people come under one roof, in one room the hysteria and tension increases because everyone has different opinions and people are shouting over each other to make their point. This causes tension and hysteria because there is a lot of talking and shouting and people are not able to make their point because someone interrupts while another person is speaking and everything gets so confusing and out of order.

In addition to that, people like Mr Putnam and Mrs Putnam jumps into the conclusion of witchcraft before they even know what is actually happening. “How high did she fly? ” This shows the narrow minded nature of the people in Salem because they don’t even think about the natural causes; they just assume it has to do with witches. That was a quote from Mrs Putnam. I think the fact that she has lost 7 babies makes her think it is work of the devil trying to punish the “good”.

Once everyone believed it was the work of the devil, they blamed Tituba who is only low class person in the household and her being a black slave makes it easy for everyone to blame her because as she doesn’t have any power or authority she won’t react and her coming from a completely different culture to than the people in Salem makes the believe that she is affected by the witch and devil.

Miller sets the whole of Act 1 in one room this conveys hysteria because they are all in one room and everyone is shouting each other. Also it will be quiet dark and crowded as the windows are all narrow so only little light comes through. I also think it is a metaphor for the narrow minded nature of the people in Salem. The fact that only a little comes through conveys that they have little knowledge of the outside world.

The language used is very different and address woman as Goody and men as Mister. This contributes to the difference in society and the time. In conclusion, I think is very effective because it grabbed my attention because of the tension and hysteria used as it made me eager to know what was happening. Miller uses language and setting effectively convey the tension and hysteria because it makes the audience be worried and tensed of the mystery of the child lying unconsciously in bed.

“He believed he was being persecuted wherever he went, despite his best efforts to win people and God to his side” Miller about Parris and how he doesn’t belong to the community but belongs to religion pg13 “To the European world the whole province was a barbaric frontier inhabited by a sect of fanatics” Belonging to a place – Miller says this about Salem 13 “Their creed forbade anything resembling a theatre or ‘vain enjoyment’. ” Miller says what belonging to a community/group can lead people to feel/do 14 A holiday from work meant only that they must concentrate even more upon prayer” Miller tells us about what THEOCRATIC society required 14 “This predilection for minding other people’s business was time-honoured among the people of Salem” Miller explains what it meant when people belonged to a community 14 “The edge of the wilderness was close by…and it was full of mystery for them. ” Miller states that belonging to such a wild place may be reason for the witch hunts 14 “…the Salem folk believed that the virgin forest was the Devil’s last preserve, his home base and the citadel of his final stand”.

This again shows that Miller believes that the location played a role in their beliefs. Highlights also their strong beliefs in religion and how theocracy ruled their society. 15 “…their church found it necessary to deny any other sect its freedom” Miller highlights that you either belonged with their church or didn’t belong at all. 15 “…the people of Salem developed a theocracy, a combine of state and religious power whose function was to keep the community together” Miller informs us, in the introduction, that Salem was theocratic and their intentions in it 16 …the people of Salem…[wanted] to prevent any kind of disunity that might open it to destruction by material or ideological enemies” This is, as Miller points out, the purpose of their theocratic society, but also gives reasons for what happened when people didn’t belong. 16 “when one rises above the individual villainy displayed, one can only pity them all, just as we shall be pitied one day” This is a clear link that Miller makes between the witch hunts of Salem and the communist witch hunts in mid century America 16 “a sense of confusion hangs about him”

Stage directions that paint Parris as someone who doesn’t belong, from the very beginning 17 “trouble in this house usually lands on her back” Stage directions of act one tell us that Tituba, a slave from Barbados, does not belong in this community because she is different. 17 “Go directly home and speak nothing of unnatural causes” Parris says this to Susanna, highlighting his fear of being accused of not protecting their community, thereby not belonging to the community. 18 “Uncle, the rumour of witchcraft is all about; I think you best go down and deny it yourself” Abigail pleads with Parris to make amends.

This also shows that she has great power, or at least thinks she does. Parris, terrified of not being accepted in his relatively new community decides against it. 18 “And what shall I say to them? That my daughter and my niece I discovered dancing like heathen in the forest? ” Parris highlights his fear of not being accepted but also the fact that his own family are shunning accepted protocol, thereby not belonging. 19 “But if you trafficked with spirits in the forest I must know it, for surely my enemies will, and they will ruin be with it. ” Parris is once again worried about never being accepted. 9 “There is a faction that is sworn to drive me from my pulpit” Parris is clear that he feels an outsider in his own community. The community he should effectively be head of seeing as it is theocratic and he is a reverend. 19 “I saw Tituba waving her arms over the fire when I came on you. Why was she doing that? ” Parris questions the power Tituba has to change the girls because she isn’t trusted and is an outsider. 19 “She were swaying like a dumb beast over that fire! ” Parris exclaims that not only is Tituba an outsider, she is also now compared to being an animal. 20 She always sings her Barbados songs, and we dance. ” Abigail catches on quickly and realises that Tituba can easily be blamed for any indiscretions because she is already considered an outsider. Also shows that Abigail is manipulative and that she is the leader of the peer group of girls. 20 “I pray you feel the weight of truth upon you, for now my ministry’s at stake, my ministry and perhaps your cousin’s life. ” Parris appeals to religion, the only thing he belongs to truly, and then fears not only for his daughter’s life but also him losing face in the community. 20 I have fought here three long years to bend these stiff-necked people to me, and now, just now when some good respect is rising for me in the parish, you compromise my character. ” Parris is clear that the only thing that truly concerns him is reputation, name and being in charge. Not even his daughter’s life seems important. 20 “I would not be her slave…I will not black my face for any of them! ” The juxtapositioning of colour here highlights that Tituba is an outsider in this community. 20 “…the Devil’s touch is heavier than sick. It’s death, y’know, it’s death drivin’ into them, forked and hoofed. Mrs Putnam prays on people’s fears of the devil 21 “Thomas, I pray you, leap not to witchcraft. I know that you – you least of all, Thomas, would ever wish so disastrous a charge laid upon me. ” Parris, petrified that the Putnams, people with great influence, will ruin him. 22 “They will howl me out of Salem for such corruption in my house. ” Again, Parris is worried about being an outsider and losing face. 22 “Thomas Putnam felt that his own name and the honour of his family had been smirched by the village, and he meant to right matters however he could. Miller interjects in the drama and states that even Putnam worried about being an outsider 23 “So it is not surprising to find that many accusations against people are in the handwriting of Thomas Putnam…” Putnam, as Miller explains, decided to fight out first rather than have any suspicions land on him, against his name. 23 “Tituba knows how to speak to the dead, Mr Parris. ” Mrs Putnam, also along with Abigail, knows to put blame on the one true outsider – Tituba. 23 “Oh Abigail, what proper payment for my charity! Now I am undone. Parris, not worried solely about his daughter’s life/death but that his reputation is done. 24 “They will topple me with this! ” Again, Parris is worried about being finally cast out of the society/community 24 “I have no answer for that crowd. ” Use of exclusive language “that” separates Parris from the rest of the community 24 “Let you strike out against the Devil, and the village will bless you for it! They’re thirsty for your word, Mister! ” Putnam, using his influence, pleads with Parris to say something to the community. He is also astute enough to realise he should pray on Parris’ fear of exclusion. 4/25 “I’ll lead them in a psalm, but let you say nothing of witchcraft yet. I will not discuss it. ” Parris as head of the theocratic society. 25 “Listen, now; if they be questioning us, tell them we danced – I told him as much already. ” Abigail is now leading the peer group – calling the shots. 25 “What’ll we do? The village is out! The whole country’s talkin’ witchcraft! They’ll be callin’ us witches, Abby! ” Mary Warren shows that she is frightened of the consequences of going outside of the community’s main traditions/culture and that she is trying to go against Abigail, unsuccessfully 25 Abby we’ve got to tell…witchery’s a hangin’ error…you’ll only be whipped for dancin’” Mary Warren tries to use high modal language to make a stand against the head of the peer group, again highlighting her fear. 26 “Oh, you’re a great one for lookin’ aren’t you Mary Warren? What a great peeping courage you have! ” Conflict between Abigail and Mary Warren – putting her down and trying to cast her out of her peer group. Makes Mary Warren want to please her/win her over again, to stay with them. It’s safer that way. 26 “BETTY: You drank blood, Abby! You didn’t tell him that! ABIGAIL: Betty, you never say that again! You will never – BETTY: …you drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor. ” The conflict in the peer group 26 “Now look you. All of you. We danced. And Tituba conjured Ruth Putnam’s dead sisters. And that is all. And mark this. 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. ” The main threat that Abigail uses to stay in charge of the peer group and have people fear being an outsider. 26 I can make you wish you had never seen the sun go down! ” Again, Abigail threatens to achieve her purpose, and have people fear going against her. 27 “He need not have been a partisan of any faction in the town…he was the kind of man – powerful of body, even-tempered and not easily led…” Miller introduces Proctor as someone who was able to stay outside of the peer group and community and had the strength to remain true to his own convictions. 27 “Abby, I never give you hope to wait for me. ” Proctor softly tells Abigail that their relationship is done and that he hasn’t wanted any more. 8 “Or did I dream that? It’s she put me out, you cannot pretend it were you. I saw your face when she put me out, and you loved me then and you do now! ” Abigail pleads with Proctor showing what is driving her actions. Also highlights that Proctor has gone outside of his marriage. 29 “I have hardly stepped off my farm this seven-month”. Proctor makes it clear he is physically outside of his community and as a result can also be removed otherwise. 29 “She is blackening my name in the village! She is telling lies about me! She is a cold, snivelling woman, and you bend to her! Abigail’s tension/conflict with Goody Proctor. Worried about her name and reputation in the community. 30 “Francis had originally rented the land, and one theory has it that, as he gradually paid for it and raised his social status, there were those who resented his rise. ” Miller highlights that land ownership meant a lot for the community at the time 31 “I am sick of meetings; cannot the man turn his head without he have a meeting? ” Proctor is discontent with the community and the way they must belong 33 “This will set us all to arguin’ again in the society, and we thought to have peace this year. Rebecca, the voice of reason, tries to placate the community; to make them all belong. 33 “We vote by name in this society, not by acreage. ” Proctor, another voice of reason, says this about how they should belong in the community 33 “I never heard you worried so on this society, Mr Proctor. I do not think I saw you at Sabbath meeting since snow flew. ” Putnam accuses Proctor of being an outsider because he doesn’t participate in the religious aspect of their theocratic society. 33 “There are many others who stay away from church these days because you hardly ever mention God any more. Proctor claims that there is no purpose in church since Parris arrived. He makes it unhappy and all about hell 34 “I regard that six pound a year as part of my salary. I am paid little enough without I spend six pound on firewood. ” Parris is materialistic – doesn’t want to do anything unless it benefits him financially 34 “I do not fathom it, why am I persecuted here? I cannot offer one proposition but there be howling riot of argument. I have often wondered if the Devil be in it somewhere; I cannot understand you people otherwise. Parris using repeated personal pronoun to show that he feels persecuted in the society 34 “I do not wish to be put out like the cat whenever some majority feels the whim. ” Parris uses simile to prove how he feels a complete outsider and the power of the community when someone does not belong. 35 “There is either obedience or the church will burn like Hell is burning! ” Parris is clear in his mentality that you are either with the church or you are not 35 “…while there were no witches then, there are Communists and capitalists now…[who believe] that each side are at work undermining the other. Miller draws a direct parallel with the happenings in Salem and the communist fear in USA 39 “They must be; they are weighted with authority. ” Hale uses this metaphor early on to show that he has great authority and even though an outsider is granted respect almost immediately. 40 “How can it be the Devil? Why would he choose my house to strike? We have all manner of licentious people in the village! ” Parris wants to find himself a part of the community, particularly because he is the religious leader, but he does so by separating himself from the rest. 44 I never called him! Tituba, Tituba…” Abigail making the first of her allegations against Tituba and in doing so proving her strength in the peer group. People see what she is capable of. 45 “She made me do it! She made Betty do it! ” High modal accusation towards Tituba. 45 “You beg me to conjure! She beg me make charm…” Tituba tries to fight against the allegations but is already an outsider and hasn’t got the chance to win. 46 “Sometimes I wake and find myself standing in the open doorway and not a stitch on my body! I always hear her laughing in my sleep.

I hear her singing her Barbados songs and tempting me with…” Abigail again reinforces her position and shows how strong she is in terms of leading the peer group; sways the community against Tituba. 46 “You will confess yourself or I will take you out and whip you to your death, Tituba! ” Parris gives Tituba a fairly unfair ultimatum and shows again that being an outsider is bad. He also implies that you need to be a strong person to stand by your own name and convictions in this community. 46 “No, no, don’t hang Tituba! I tell him I don’t desire to work for him, sir. Tituba realises she must go against the truth and convictions to stay alive. She goes along with Abigail’s stories and makes it seem as though she wants to stop. 46 HALE: You have confessed yourself to witchcraft, and that speaks a wish to come to Heaven’s side. TITUBA: Oh, God bless you, Mr Hale! HALE: …You are God’s instrument put in our hands to…cleanse our village. Hale uses the metaphor to prove that people within the community believe Abigail, but also that Tituba has the opportunity to belong for the first time. 48 “I want the light of God, I want the sweet love of Jesus!… I saw Sarah Good with the Devil!

I saw Goody Osburn with the Devil! I saw Bridget Bishop with the Devil! ” The calling out – Abigail starts accusing and setting people as outsiders for nothing. 49 “A fireplace is at the left, and behind it a stairway leading upstairs…he swings a pot out of the fire and smells it. ” Miller paints a domestic picture and then juxtaposes it with the frosty portrayal of marriage 51 “It’s as warm as blood beneath the clods. ” An interesting description of the unseasonably warm ground Proctor provides his wife. 52 PROCTOR: If the crop is good I’ll buy George Jacob’s heifer. How would that please you?

ELIZABETH: Aye, it would. PROCTOR: [with a grin] I mean to please you, Elizabeth. ELIZABETH: [it is hard to say] I know it, John. Highlights both Proctor’s need to belong in the marriage and Elizabeth’s difficulty 52 Her back is turned to him. He turns to her and watches her. A sense of their separation rises. The stage directions highlights the distance between Proctor and his wife. 52 “She frightened all my strength away…it is a mouse no more… she says to me ‘I must go to Salem…I am an official of the court! ’” Elizabeth talks about how Mary Warren has changed as a result of her being a part of the group 53 Aye, it is a proper court they have now…there be fourteen people in jail now…and they’ll be tried, and the court have power to hang them too, she says. ” Elizabeth recounts what Mary Warren has told her about the court and the exclusion of women from society 53 “The town’s gone wild, I think. She speak of Abigail, and I thought she were a saint, to hear her. Abigail brings the other girls into the court, and where she walks the crowd will part…” Repetition of Abigail’s name in Elizabeth’s recount of Mary’s story highlights that the focus is all around her at the moment. 53 “Oh, it is a black mischief. Proctor uses this metaphor to describe what influence Abigail has on this society, and how others are flocking to “belong” 53 “John, if it were not Abigail that you must go to hurt, would you falter now? I think not. ” Elizabeth has not forgiven Proctor for his indiscretion and questions him about who and what he might belong to now. 55 “You will not judge me more, Elizabeth…you forget nothin’ and forgive nothin’. ” Proctor attempts to use high modal language to demand Elizabeth’s respect but again, he is honest in showing that he no longer truly feels as though he belongs in his marriage. 5 “I come into a court when I come into this house! ” Darkly comical metaphor used by Proctor to indicate he feels judged which limits his feelings of belonging in the marriage. 55 “Let you look sometimes for the goodness in me, and judge me not. ” Again, focussing on the judgement he feels rather than belonging. 55 “I do not judge you. The magistrate sits in your heart that judges you. I never thought you but a good man, John. ” Elizabeth tries to set Proctor right and uses the “heart” metaphor to imply he is the only one judging his actions and that he is limiting himself from belonging. 5 As though to compensate, Mary Warren goes to Elizabeth with a small rag doll. Miller makes it clear that the symbol used as Goody Proctor’s downfall is made known early on 56 “We must all love each other now, Goody Proctor. ” Mary Warren says this in reaction to the strange situations they are now faced with 56 “I never knew it before, I never knew anything before. When she come into the court I say to myself, I must not accuse this woman…but then…I feel a misty coldness climbin’ up my back…and all at once I remembered everything she done to me! Mary Warren highlights the feelings that can overtake them during the court 57 “But the proof, the proof! ” Proctor wants to be practical here. 58 “You must see it, sir, it’s God’s work we do. ” Hale, and Mary Warren both proclaim this, referring to religion and what this society is based on. 58 “The Devil’s loose in Salem, Mr Proctor; we must discover where he’s hiding! ” Hale, again referring to religion and the society 59 “There is a promise made in any bed – and she may dote on it now – I am sure she does – and thinks to kill me, then to take my place. Elizabeth points out to Proctor that his indiscretion led to a false sense of belonging for Abigail 60 “This is a strange time, Mister. No man may longer doubt the powers of the dark are gathered in monstrous attack upon this village. ” Hale makes it clear that there is some “powers of the dark” but doesn’t say Devil – maybe understanding Abigail’s power? 62 “I note that you are rarely in the church on Sabbath Day. ” A small detail noted by Hale ensures that Proctor is seen as an outsider because of his lack of conforming to religious norms. 62 …and it [the bible] tells me that a minister may pray to God without he have golden candlesticks upon the altar. ” Proctor complaining about Parris’ need to belong to objects/materialism 63 “I like it not that Mr Parris should lay his hand upon my baby. I see no light of God in that man. ” Even for Proctor, Parris is an outsider 63 “There be no mark of blame upon my life, Mr Hale. I am a covenanted Christian woman. ” Elizabeth states that she is trustworthy and honest because she is a good Christian woman – the basis of their society. 64 “Theology, sir, is a fortress; no crack in a fortress may be accounted small. Hale uses this metaphor to highlight the strength of religion; that you either belong to and with it or against it. But also implies in a way, that it is weak if compromised. 65 “And why not, if they must hang for denyin’ it? There are them that will swear to anything before they’ll hang; have you never thought of that? ” Proctor questions the very confessions the women keep making. 66 “My wife is the very brick and mortar of the church, Mr Hale. ” Giles Corey uses this metaphor to highlight the insanity of his wife’s arrest 67 “Man, remember, until an hour before the Devil fell, God thought him beautiful in heaven. Hale’s powerful statement about the fall of good into evil. The way that even those that belong can then become isolated or alienated. 68 “…the Williams girl, Abigail Williams, sir. She sat to dinner in Reverend Parris’s house tonight, and without a word nor warnin’; she falls to the floor. Like a stuck beast, he says…stuck two inches in the flesh of her belly, he draw a needle out. ” Cheever seemingly confused and alarmed by the discovery of the needle in the poppet. It highlights the lack of proof or manipulation of evidence. 70 “Why, she done it herself!

I hope you’re not takin’ this for proof, Mister! ” Proctor, again practical, and denying “proof” 70 “’Tis hard proof! ” Cheever exclaims this. Shows the craziness of the situation; the way the beliefs of the majority can cause hysteria. 70 “I’ll tell you what’s walking Salem – vengeance is walking Salem. ” 72 “I cannot charge murder on Abigail…she’ll kill me for sayin’ that! ” 74 “I cannot…they’ll turn on me…I cannot do it, I cannot! ” 74 As the curtain rises, the room is empty, but for the sunlight pouring through two high windows in the back wall. 77

”The Crucible,” is a 1952 play written by Arthur Miller as an allegory of Mcarthyism. The play follows a theocratic society in which the church and the state are one, and reputation plays an important role in Salem where private and public moralities are the same. In act one, the secret affair of John Proctor and Abigail Williams was revealed that led to conflict between John and his wife. Divorce was not permitted in the late 16th century, hence, the Proctors had to maintain their marriage causing discord within the Proctor household.

At the start of Act 2, Miller creates a tense atmosphere of animosity portrayed by in their lack of affection, awkwardness, appraisal and guilt leading to affliction. In the beginning of Act Two, Miller portrays the tension in the Proctors house by the awkward atmosphere between John and Elizabeth when John returns home late. John is desperately trying to maintain a light atmosphere in the house by complimenting Elizabeths cooking saying that ” It’s well seasoned,” although we know that in fact it is John who in attempt to conceal Elizabeths bland cooking, had seasoned it himself.

The author makes the audience feel the lack of natural affection between the Proctors by their forced attempts to please each other. Throughout their conversation, John tells Elizabeth that he is planning to buy George Jacobs heifer, saying ” I mean to please you Elizabeth,” as he tries to mend their relationship and seek her forgiveness. However, it is obviously hard for her to welcome his attempts as he have had an affair with Abby, and her actions towards him are detached.

It is clear that the atmosphere in the house is blank and tense, by Millers constant use of questions and short replies. In addition, the tension between John and Elizabeth Proctor is accentuated by Elizabeth’s distrust and suspicion towards John, based on her knowledge on the affair between John and Abby. Elizabeth questions John’s honesty when he told her he had been alone with Abigail saying ” why, then, it is not as you told me,” bearing down on him for lacking to mention this part altough the audience knows it was just a brief encounter.

Furthermore, Elizabeth constant judgements lead to John’s critisism of her where he cannot keep conceal his anger towards Elizabeth’s judgement. After Elizabeth confronted John about still having feelings towards her, John had warned her ” You will not judge me anymore Elizabeth. Let you look to your improvement nefore you go to judge your husband anymore. ” This shows that although John is trying desperately to please Elizabeth , he cannot do so when she is constantly judging him about his affair with Abigail.

Consequently, much of the conflict between John and Elizabeth, Miller portrays through John’s guilt over the affair. The audience feels that Elizabeth’s knowledge of the affair, makes John feel judged. Elizabeth questions John about his feeling for Abigail saying ”John, if it were not Abigail that you must go to hurt, would you falter now? ” Elizabeth’s judgement leads John to struggle to regain his dignity and trust before his wife.

After Elizabeth had suggested John had yet some feeling left for Abigail, John replies by saying ” I come into a court everytime I come into this house. ” We are shown that John feels judged by Elizabeth every time he comes home that leads to his struggle to acquire Elizabeth’s forgiveness, and retain his dignity before her. In act Two, John tells Elizabeth that ” I confessed. Confessed! Some dream I had must have mistaken you for God that day,” revealing that he had confessed to her about the affair and almost expects her to give him some recognition for that.

At the end of the scene, the astricted atmoshere remains within the couple when John pleads to Elizabeth, saying ” Let you look sometimes for the goodness in me, and judge me not,” to which she replies ” I do not judge you. The magistrate sits in your heart that judges you. ” By this we are displayed Elizabeth’s feeling towards John’s accusation towards which she reveals to John that it is not her that he is being judged by, but in fact his quilty conscience over the affair.

In Conclusion, the audince feels tension and conflict between John and Elizabeth in act two through Miller’s use of scenes of frigidity, lack of natural affection, constant use of questions and short replies,Elizabeth’s suspicion and distrust of John and their constant judgement of each other . This scene plays an important role to the events that were building up in Salem, as the conflict in their household can almost represent the hysteria that was building up in Salem at that time with constant suspicions, distrusts and judgement.

Coincidence and certainty —– comparison of the French Revolution and the Salem Witch Trials As we have learned on the class, these two distinguished historical events, the French Revolution and the Salem Witch Trials have obvious similarities and certain differences, we pay attention to them because these are two of the miserable man-made chaos in human history (although French Revolution has great positive importances to France and the whole world, there was unnegeletable chaos and massacres, that’s what I what to illustrate above).

In my point of view, after analysing different aspects of their backgrounds , we can say that besides the differences, there are also reasonable similarities between both of the events. To compare and contrast the French Revolution and the Salem Witch Trials, I would like to separate the topic into several parts associated with the events to illustrate my idea. Differences: 1, The Salem Witch Trials happened on 1692, while the French Revolution exploded on 1789, which means that these two events have a time gap of almost one hundred years. , Meanwhile, The Salem Witch Trials happened in Massachusetts, America, and the French Revolution at first bursted in Paris, France, and then spreaded around the whole country, the location is another difference. 3, Massachusetts, at that time was a colony of Great Britain, the overall social economy remained undeveloped as agricultural-based villages, no more to say the capitalization and modernization; while France in 1789 had already become one of the strongest country in Europe with a great economy development. , 1692 in Massachusetts, society was in the control of the colonists from Great Britain, villagers were kept in a primitive agricultural life, the main conflict in that region, in my opinion, was the gap between the rich and the poor among the villagers. 1789 in France, people were divided into three stages, first stage consisted of bishops and priests, second stage consisted of aristocrat and royalty, and the third one consisted of bourgeois and peasants, while Bourgeois had become the most effective and active status in France by their talents and hardworking, they didn’t enjoy any privileges and political rights; peasants ere under tough taxations and suffered from poverty. So the conflicts between the third stages and the first two stages were getting more and more serious. 5, 1692 in Massachusetts, most people were uneducated, thus inevitably had superstitious beliefs such as ghost and witch, effected by these kinds of beliefs, they were easily aroused and provoked, caused panic, then they could help going mad and doing crazy things. 789 in France, most people had been influenced by “the enlightement”, more and more people believed the thoughts of liberty, equality and fraternity, thus disappointed with the social fact. Similarity: 1, Among people who got involved into these two events, there were large amount of uneducated and poor persons: villagers in Massachusetts, and peasants in France. 2, I want to use the word “conformity” to explain the chaos and massacres of both events psycologically.

Why were there so many innocent people sentenced to death penalty at last? Why did persons who used to be kind become brutal and blinded accused the others? I believe that on one hand, people have a trend to believe something which is believed by the majority, which has driven people in Massachusetts to accuse others of witches without any reasonable evidence and made people in France believe that some people were guilty to be traiters.

On the other hand, when under a disordered situation, people lost their own sense of judgement and justice, in order to protect themselves from being accused guilty, they had to set up others to prove that they themselves were innocent. 3, Both of the events, fierce and terrible as they became, were finally terminated, with in my opinion, shows that human history has a strong ability of self-recovery and development. The society changes after great chaos and people learn and make progresses, that’s how we grow up.

Isaiah Houston Mrs. Dempsey English 3, Period4 October 15, 2012 The Truth will set You Free “Honesty is the best Policy”- Benjamin Franklin. Ever since we were young our parents, teachers and mentors have told us that we should be honest with ourselves and each other. When people lie and act deceitful it will eventually catch up to them. I think that the lies people tell will start to pile up and weigh down your conscience. A prime example of this is in Arthur Miller’s play, the Crucible, when John Proctor hides his affair with Abigail and it continues to haunt him.

In Arthur Miller’s the Crucible, he uses John Proctor’s character to illustrate that the truth will put one’s mind at ease and he/she will be set free. With witch trials going on, lies are eminent and they overshadow the truth. People are getting accused of witchcraft for the wrong reasons. The good names of all the respected citizens and being ruined and there’s little to nothing they can do about it. Proctor finds out that his wife Elizabeth is being accused by Abigail, the young lady he has come to know, and he sought revenge against her.

John Proctor prepares to face his demons head on and come out with honesty. In order to save his wife, Proctor comes out and admits himself as a lecher in court in order to further convict Abigail and free Elizabeth. Proctor tells the Judge, “I have known her, sir. I have known her” (page 110). Saying that statement, Proctor crossed the threshold into a more open and honest life. He feels relieved to have the burden of his guilt lifted. By telling the truth Proctor feels free for one of the first times in his life. People can truly be considered honest when they’re willing to put their good name on the line.

Once he comes out as a lecher, John Proctor puts his good name on the line and lifts the guilt off of his conscience. The good names of all the respected citizens and being ruined and there’s little they can do about it. In the midst of pleading his case Proctor tells the Judge Danforth, “I have made a bell of my honor! I have rung the doom of my good name ? you will believe me, Mr. Danforth! My wife is innocent, except she knew a whore when she saw one” (page 111)! Judge Danforth is skeptical about believing Proctor so it is up to John to make a convincing case as to why charges on Elizabeth should be dropped.

Proctor has all his cards on the table by relying on Mary Warren’s testimony and is willing to ruin his good name for the sake of his wife and friends. From the beginning of the play up to this point people can tell that there has been a change of behavior in John. He seems more aware and selfless when it comes to the feelings and needs of other people. On his mission to save Elizabeth John is joined by his friends Giles Corey and Francis Nurse whose wives have been charged with witchcraft as well.

It almost seems like a lost cause until they find out that Mary Warren is aware of Abigail’s lies and she is reluctant to testify on their behalf. But once they get to court Mary Warren betrays them because she cracks from the peer pressure, to maintain the lie that Abigail is telling. Mary Warren soon enough sides with Abigail and Proctor is convicted of wizardry. At this point, no one in Salem is safe, they are all in danger of being convicted or accused of witchcraft. Proctor, even though he was convicted, has a chance at freedom for him and Elizabeth.

But that freedom would require him to lie and put flaw on his good name. Eventually Proctor refuses to further dirty his name and was put to death along with all his innocent friends Martha Corey, , and Giles Corey. Upon his deathbed his wife Elizabeth now free and says, “He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him” (page 145)! Personally I think that Elizabeth can speak for everyone when she says that John has made right with everybody and has a clear conscience as he goes to his grave. People can truly be considered honest when they’re willing to sacrifice yourself for others.

In Arthur Miller’s the Crucible, he uses John Proctor’s character to illustrate that the truth will put your mind at ease and set you free. When you lie and act deceitful it will eventually catch up to you. Like when Abigail tells all her lies and they eventually catch up to her, causing her to flee Salem. A prime example of this is in Arthur Miller’s play, the Crucible, when John Proctor hides his affair with Abigail and it continues to haunt him. Ever since we were young our parents, teachers and mentors have told us that we should be honest with ourselves and each other. “Honesty is the best Policy”- Benjamin Franklin.

Miller effectively creates a sense of tension and conflict between John and Elizabeth Proctor at the beginning of Act two. Act two follows directly on from a very highly charged and climatic note. At the end of act one Abigail and the girls accuse many people in Salem of being witches and a state of hysteria is reached. It is therefore a surprise that act two is not a court scene or trial, merely a domestic scene between John and Elizabeth Proctor.

This variation is a good thing I believe as it helps to keep the reader interested and keeps the play from becoming monogamous. This is a very important scene. Miller I believe created this scene and the love interest between Abigail and John Proctor to make the ending of the play far more dramatic. If a significant rift is created between John and Elizabeth, then surely the ending will become more impressive, because as soon as they have conquered their problems and regained trust in each other following John’s fight to free Elizabeth, John is hanged.

This scene is also important to help us understand Elizabeth’s dilemma in act three when Danforth asks her whether John had an affair with Abigail. John is unable to tell her what to say so Elizabeth has to decide for herself whether or not to tell the truth, she is unaware that John has confessed to the affair so denies it happened so as not to incriminate him. Act two helps us to understand that she most definitely did know about the affair and had not forgotten, so therefore is lying to protect John in act three despite their rocky relationship.

The audience have already by act two heard only bad words about Elizabeth, so it is likely that they have come to the conclusion that she is not a very nice person. This is due to Abigail bad mouthing Elizabeth and saying that she is “… a sickly wife” and a “… cold snivelling woman”. Because we do not meet Elizabeth until later on in the play we only have the opportunity to form an opinion on Elizabeth’s character from what Abigail says about her, which is unfortunately all malicious and derogatory. The language used by Miller in the crucible is archaic, rural American.

Because the play is based upon events, which took place around 311 years ago, to make it seem realistic it is crucial that miller does use such language. An example of the language used, is when John says to Elizabeth, “Aye… its warm as blood beneath the clods”, this is definitely not an expression we would use today. Although nowadays we may not understand the language used by Miller perfectly it is important for him to use it in order for the play to become genuine and believable. In his autobiography Timebends, Miller discusses the language he found in the court records.

He said that he wanted “to study the actual words of the interrogations, a gnarled way of speaking” Miller also admitted to unintentionally, “elaborating a few grammatical forms himself, the double negatives especially”, although Act two is not a court scene I believe that Millers research into the language of the inhabitants of Salem in the 17th Century helped the play to achieve its sense of authenticity. It is important for Miller to create tension within the play to keep the audience interested; he uses this technique in Act two with great affect.

The audience is already aware of the Proctors strained relationship following John’s affair with Abigail, and Miller highlights the damage that has been done by the affair perfectly in this scene to create a excruciating sense of tension. At the start of Act two Miller using stage directions and has John on his return from the field taste the meal the Elizabeth has been preparing, he is displeased with it so seasons it. This appears at first perfectly normal and harmless to the audience, however when John hears Elizabeth coming downstairs he jumps away from the stove and proceeds to wash his hands.

It becomes obvious to the audience at this point that their relationship is so strained that John racked with guilt about his affair with Abigail avoids doing anything at all which might aggravate or offend Elizabeth. This huge effort on John’s behalf to not offend Elizabeth is blatant when he tells her that the rabbit is “well seasoned” Elizabeth gratefully accepts this praise replying that she “took great care”, this is an awkward scene because both are trying to be friendly to one another but it is easy to see they are uncomfortable in each others presence.

It is ironic that John complimented her on the seasoning on the rabbit, since he seasoned it himself; this in particular highlights the conflict between them. At first glance the proctor household appears homely, welcoming and peaceful. John returns home to work and finds his supper ready, cooked for him by his wife who has just finished singing their children to sleep. However this is all very misleading, the conflict between the proctors is highlighted at the very start of act two with the use of monosyllabic sentences from Elizabeth in reply to Johns attempts at conversation.

John, full of good intentions, begins to tell Elizabeth about the farm and tries to engage in conversation with her, however she meekly replies to his questions with short, abrupt sentences such as “That’s well”, “Aye, it would” and “Aye, it is”. By manipulating the sentence structure Miller is able to show Elizabeth’s reluctance to speak to her husband, and highlight the distance and awkwardness present between them. After complimenting Elizabeth on the meal John, talks about the farm and says with a grin “I mean to please you Elizabeth. And she answers, “I know it John. ” However, before she answers, she pauses, and “finds it hard to say. ” This means that she might not think he honestly wants to please her, or make their marriage work. Since this is quite a dramatic moment, I think that on stage at this moment the lighting should focus on Elizabeth, and if present the orchestra should be silent to emphasize her hesitation. It becomes very clear in this scene that John is desperately trying to regain Elizabeth’s trust.

The fact that she is cold and distant towards him creates a great sense of strain and the conflict is plain to see. Miller is able to illustrate this conflict between them by using stage directions, he has John walk over to Elizabeth and kiss her, Elizabeth receives his affection with disappointment, she is still cold and unforgiving. Miller shows us that words are not necessary to convey feelings, the expressions of the actors and their body language is enough and can sometimes be more convincing in a subtle way.

When I watched the film made about the play it struck me that in the scene between John and Elizabeth a table had been positioned between them, this acted as a physical barrier. This is actually of great significance and subtly shows the audience that there are obstacles that stand in the way of the proctors, keeping them apart, namely Abigail. Watching the film helped me to see that stage props can be used to great effect, and can often play a significant part in the enhancement of dramatic scenes such as this one.

Gradually the tension between the Proctors escalates and soon they are arguing, this is bought about when Elizabeth says “You came so late I thought you’d gone to Salem this afternoon” to John. We know from the stage directions, which direct the actor’s body language that John realises Elizabeth is implying that he went to see Abigail. Miller portrays the tension between them by using exceptionally short sentences that help to show the coldness and curtness that they show towards each other.

In this act John and Elizabeth have several blazing arguments and between each argument there is a lull, it becomes apparent that all the personal disagreements and grudges within the town are coming to a head. Like in a crucible, which is a melting pot everything is being brought to the surface and is breaking down, society is collapsing within the town and amongst the town’s people. Because Miller builds up several arguments between John and Elizabeth, he prevents this scene from becoming boring and keeps the sense of tension between John and Elizabeth very much alive.

Whenever the audience begin to believe that the Proctors have resolved their problems another argument breaks out, this stopping and starting prevents the audience becoming frustrated with the constant squabbling and makes sure the sense of tension and conflict is maintained. The series of smaller outbursts between them then conclude into a huge argument in which Elizabeth says to John ” She (Abigail) has an arrow in you yet, John Proctor, and you know it”, this is true, despite the fact that Abigail is in Salem and far away from the Proctors she is still causing arguments between them and is driving a wedge between them.

Elizabeth knows that John is still physically attracted to Abigail and that she has a hold on him. She creates a strong sense of conflict because John hates Elizabeth’s accusations and resents her for continuing to bring up the past when he simply wants to be forgiven and allowed to have a fresh start and be a good husband to her. It is excruciating to watch this scene between the Proctors and see jealousy, suspicion and mistrust tearing them apart however the tension and conflict created is so strong that the audience feels compelled to watch on.

When Hale interrupts the Proctors argument and invades their privacy the sense of conflict between the Proctors eases and the tone of the play and atmosphere changes. John and Elizabeth realise that they must work together to eradicate any suspicions or accusations of them being witches, this causes great tension because it is very hard for them to join forces and act as though nothing between them had happened. Following a huge argument they must help each other and keep up appearances.

This is a very subtle and clever way of creating tension. Throughout Act two in the crucible Miller creates a sense of conflict and tension between the Proctors using a number of different methods. Doing this I believe is a brilliant way of keeping the audience interested and making the ending of the book more dramatic. Not only however does this in particular scene help to ensure that the audience wish to watch on, but it also ensures that they understand key events in the play, such as Elizabeth’s denial of Johns affair.

In act two the audience discover that Elizabeth does know about Johns affair so therefore can work out the later on in the play Elizabeth says that John did not have an affair to protect him, not because she simply did not know. I think that were it not for this scene then the whole of the story would be a lot more complicated and harder to understand. So in conclusion although the tension and sense of conflict that Miller creates between the Proctors make Act two an interesting scene, it also affects the rest of the play and the audiences understanding of events to come as a whole.