71). Dont have an account? Like a struck beast, he says, and screamed a scream that a bull would weep to hear. The Power Of Power In The Crucible If witchcraft is discovered in the Reverend's own home, it can very quickly ruin his reputation. AGAIN, Danforth takes this as an act against his authority. Samantha is also passionate about art and graduated with honors from Dartmouth College as a Studio Art major in 2014. Compare and contrast three authority figures in this drama: Hale, Danforth, and Parris. Quotes By Arthur Miller. Hales involvement is taken to mean that there must be a supernatural element to Bettys illness. She continues to act under the assumption that his reputation is of the utmost importance to him, and she does not reveal the affair. The Crucible Quotes about Hysteria #1: There are wheels within wheels in this village, and fires within fires! Essay questions that ask about themes in this straightforward way can be tricky because there's a temptation to speak in vague terms about the theme's significance. For them that quail to bring men out of ignorance, as I have quailed, and as you quail now when you know in all your black hearts that this be fraud God damns our kind especially, and we will burn, we will burn together!, Oh,Elizabeth, your justice would freeze beer., PROCTOR, his mind wild, breathless: I say--I say--God is dead!, When it is recalled that until the Christian era the underworld was never regardded as a hostile area, that all gods were useful and essentially friendly to man despite occasional lapsesl when we see the steady methodical inculcation into humanity of the idea of man's worthlesseness - until redeemed - the necessity of the Devil may become evident as a weapon, a weapon designed and used time and time again in every age to whip men into a surrender to a particular church or church state., What work you do! Once there have been enough convictions, the reputations of the judges also become factors. Why does he decide to do so anyways? Envy is a deadly sin, Mary" (Abigail, Act 3, p. 106). Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! I have given you my soul; leave me my name! (pg. 22). Quotes Deputy Governor Danforth We burn a hot fire here; it melts down all concealment. Abigail's words here are ironic because in The Crucible, it is Abigail who is envious of the position Elizabeth Proctor has as John Proctor's wife. 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. Why did Tituba confess to dancing with the Devil? 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. This well-intentioned mistake seals both of their fates. He believes that Postponement now speaks a floundering on my part; reprieve or pardon must cast doubt upon the guilt of them that died till now. It is a providence, and no great change; we are only what we always were, but naked now. I do wonder on it, when such a steady-minded minister as you will suspicion such a woman that never lied, and cannot, and the world knows she cannot! While touting his holy credentials, he claims that he dare not take a life without there be a proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of my conscience may doubt it (pg. Reverend Parris' concerns about his reputation are immediately evident in Act 1. Parris Act 1, Power, paranoia, hysteria, repression, self righteous society, "It's a bitter woman, a lying, cold, sniveling woman" Abigail about Elizabeth Act 1, "My name is goodI will not have it said my name is soiled" Abigail to Rev. SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. The Danger of Ideology. Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. Act 2 Characters: Proctor (Speaker), Herrick, Elizabeth, Hale She continues to act under the assumption that his reputation is of the utmost importance to him, and she does not reveal the affair. Ironically, though she is normally honest to a fault, in this situation Elizabeth decides to lie to preserve Johns reputation, not knowing he has already confessed. In this quote, Danforth shows the terrible effect of the logical extension of belief in witchcraft. The desire to preserve and gain power pervadesThe Crucible as the witch trials lead to dramatic changes in which characters hold the greatest control over the course of events. Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! 73), meaning the girls are testing out the extent of the chaos they can create with their newfound power. The ruthlessness with which the suspected witches are treated is aimed at purifying Salem, but it achieves the opposite outcome. The court's attempts to preserve Puritan morality by arresting and executing accused witches ironically lead to the removal of the most virtuous people from society. Interested in getting even deeper into the themes of The Crucible? 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. And died., The Devil is precise; the marks of his presence are definite as stone, A fire, a fire is burning! 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. midpoint between fall equinox and winter solstice; ryan nassar; who is cariad lloyd husband. In reality, he is constantly judging himself, and this leads to outbursts of anger against others who remind him of what he did (he already feels guilty enough!). 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. 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. And it is my face, and yours, Danforth! The theme of guilt is one that is deeply relevant to John Proctor's character development throughout the play. This is a decision with dire consequences in a town where reputation is so important, a fact that contributes to the misunderstanding that follows. Other essay questions may not ask you directly about the themes listed in this article, but that doesn't mean that the themes are irrelevant to your writing. (Act 1, p. 12). I have given you my soul; leave me my name!, I speak my own sins; I cannot judge another. The people in charge are so eager to hold onto their power that if anyone disagrees with them in the way the trials are conducted, it is taken as a personal affront and challenge to their authority. Want to find out more about the characters who say these things? Did the girls really see the Devil or witches? ann putnam quotes the crucibleimplications of these symbolic interactionist thoughts to education dorothy virginia gumm. 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. Later in Act 4, Danforth becomes angry at the implication that Johns confession may not be the truth. ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score, How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League, Is the ACT easier than the SAT? All Quotes I I would have you speak civilly to me, from this out." quote makes clear. This is irony of the same type that I discussed in the overview of this theme. As John gives his confession, Danforth says to Rebecca Nurse Now, woman, you surely see it profit nothin to keep this conspiracy any further. Abigail distracts the judges from any rational investigation in this act by playing into this hysteria. Hale tries to combat his guilt by persuading the prisoners to confess, refusing to accept that the damage has already been done. 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. Even in cases when the girls display symptoms (going cold and clammy or having needles stuck in them), there's never any physical evidence directly linking the accused witches to their supposed crimes. Tituba, the lowest of the low (slave and a woman) has her status temporarily elevated because of the witch trials. 119). Hale pg. Abigail accuses Tituba first because Tituba is the one person below her on the ladder of power, so she makes an easy scapegoat. romp through Salem. It'll mean the loss of his good name, but on the other hand, it'll be a way for him to atone for his sins maybe he'll at last feel "God's icy wind" and be able to put this behind him. God will not let you clean your hands of this!, If she is innocent! John Proctor surrenders his agency at the end of Act 3 in despair at the determination of the court to pursue the accusations of witchcraft and ignore all evidence of their falsehood. Will you confess yourself with him? (pg. In the next few sections,I'll take a look at a group of broad themes inThe Crucible, including irony, hysteria, reputation, and power. Most Important Quotes From The Crucible, Analyzed, Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Score, Salem Massachusetts - Burying Point Cemetery, Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now, We profile Aleister Crowley and analyze some of his key quotes in this article, "ABIGAIL: I never sold myself! He covers his face, ashamed. How is the arrest of Rebecca Nurse a sign that the hysteria in Salem has gotten out of control? I have broke charity with the woman, I have broke charity with her. No, I cannot, I cannot stop my mouth; it's God's work I do." He's already accepted her testimony as evidence, so he is happy for any excuse to believe her over John and Mary.John finally comes to the realization that Mary's truthful testimony cannot compete with the hysteria that has taken hold of the court. Abigail also shows concern for her reputation. Danforth has extensive pride in his intelligence and perceptiveness. The Salem witch trials empowered several characters in the play who were previously marginalized in Salem society. in an Act I conversation with John Proctor, clueing the audience This new power is exciting and very dangerous because. Significant Quotations Acts 2-3 . The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points, How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer. Is it an evil force, as du Maurier seems to suggest at times? Abigail insists that she did nothing to deserve it and tries to put all the blame on Elizabeth Proctor. Abigail's presence is always rife with irony in The Crucible, as she constantly chastises others for sins she herself has committed. Arthur Miller. (Danforth, Act 3, p. 87), Danforth's belief in black-and-white morality exacerbates the situation in Salem. He claims that they must not jump to conclusions based on superstition in their investigation of Bettys affliction. "We cannot look to superstition in this. Abigail, on the other hand, faces an uphill battle towards more power over her situation. As an exercise to deepen your understanding of the book, try to explain how each one demonstrates concern about name, reputation, or pride. The power of collective hysteria ultimately becomes insurmountable because it grows larger than the influence of the few rational voices in the community. Proctors good reputation is almost a burden for him at this point because he knows that he doesnt deserve it. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. on 50-99 accounts. (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." But you're not, you're not, and let you remember it! 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. makes them feel the best about themselves. The hysterical atmosphere and the dramatic performances of some of the accusers cause people to believe they have seen genuine proof of witchcraft. Choose a single character and discuss how this person embodies one of the themes. This is especially true with the reputation and hysteria themes. In reality. 133). (Hale, Act 1, p. 35). We've got 50 quotes and 4 themes that will help you spark some great ideas. Parris initially insists that there are no unnatural causes for Bettys illness because he fears that he will lose favor with the townspeople if witchcraft is discovered under his roof. What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For? The court refuses to challenge anyone who claims to have been afflicted. Or are you somewhere else?) Logic has no power to combat paranoia and superstition even when the claims of the girls are clearly fraudulent. Power in Salem flourished in 1962 at the beginning of the Salem Witch Trials. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. What causes tension between John and Elizabeth Proctor? 20% Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now: hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(360031, 'f20994d3-fd87-4c1e-988d-22ad8d920c1a', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); This final section is devoted to The Crucible quotes that don't relate to one of the themes listed above, but still mark an important moment in the play. Quotation Who said it to whom Act Thematic and Character Analysis "It is a mouse no more. 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. 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. SAT is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination BoardTM. 41). In Act 2, the value of reputation in Salem starts to butt heads with the power of hysteria and fear to sway peoples opinions (and vengeance to dictate their actions). 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. By Act 2, there have been notable changes in the power structure in Salem as a result of the ongoing trials. How does Parris pride prevent him from doing anything to stop the progression of events in the play? In steadfastly refusing to confess, Rebecca Nurse holds onto a great deal of power. In a case like this, you'd be writing directly about a specific theme in connection to one of the characters. (Act 3, p. 100). To Danforth, anything that doesnt confirm that he was right all along is a lie. Parris begs Danforth to postpone their hangings because he fears for his life if the executions proceed as planned. I have your back with this complete guide to The Crucible quotes. This attitude comes from a man who has shown no remorse for condemning people to death throughout the play. officials (like Danforth) unable or unwilling to listen to reason? (Act 3, p. 88), "Oh, Mary, this is a black art to change your shape. Please wait while we process your payment. Is there any character besides John Proctor that represents the voice of common sense amidst the madness? The irony, of course, is that the "marks" of the Devil are nowhere near "definite as stone" the only evidence to support accusations of witchcraft are the subjective experiences of the "afflicted." How is Millers underlying message revealed in one of these themes and through the character?". John tells the judge to summon Elizabeth to back him up because he knows she always tells the truth. Goody Good, an old beggar woman, is one of the first to be named a witch. . Therefore, we must rely upon her victimsand they do testify, the children certainly do testify. 130). We'll learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. Sure, you don't expect or want rain, but it's not the polar opposite of getting married. 118). Curious about more recent (20th-century) occult activity in the U.S.? I have given you my soul; leave me my name! (pg. One of the main elements that eventually build up to the main plot in the play is power. because of societal preconceptions; but his stance is also influenced, at least to some extent, by the fear of witchcraft that pervades Puritan society. The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points, How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer, Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests. Elizabeth notes that Mary's demeanor is now like that of the daughter of a prince (pg. This is a lesson in how fear can twist perceptions of reality even for those who consider themselves reasonable under normal circumstances. Beware of it!" Concern for reputation is a theme that looms large over most of the events in. Abigails power skyrockets as the hysteria grows more severe. Danforth, Hathorne, and Parris become even more rigid in their views when they feel they are under attack.
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