The Crucible

The Crucible

1. Characters

   • Giles
     • Prominent citizen, opposing charges of witch craft and then is accuded. Rather than admitting a false accusation, he endure the torture.
       • Courage and Personal Intergrity, refused to answer charge (cant be tried inc ourt, and his land cant be confiscated. He does not speak of those whoare torturing him,.
         • "More Weight" he says, no dount with contempt.
     • Famous for tendency to file lawsuits. His wife Marths is accuded. He is an example of how people usedwsitchcraft scare to settle old enmities.
     • He b rought up the fact that his wife reads strange books. Leading to witch accusation of his wife. Attempted to defend wife by showoing proff that in one case the accusation was based upon Thomas Putnams greed lan, this backfires and he is condemned himself.
       • Miller would go on to pull Giles of his own, when he was called to testify before McCarthy's House Un-American Activities Committee, despirte tremendous pressure, Miller refused to name suspected Communists.
   • Abigail
     • Least complex character, the villain. Sends 19 to their deaths. Motivations never seem more complex thatsimple jealously and desire to have revenge on Elizabeth.
       • A biblical character, driven only be sexual desire and lust for power.
         • Miller does not mitigateAbigails guilt, but makes her actions understandable
           • Orphan and unmarried, thus occupies a low rung on the Puritan Salem social ladder. For younger girls in Salem, male adults are God's earthly representatives.
             • Once towspeople rejected rumors of Proctor and her, she found that she had a clout. A mere accusation from any of the girls in enough to convict one of the most well-respected inhabitants of Salem. If reappraoched about adulterly she can accuse the of the worst sin: Devil-Worship.
   • Putnams
     • Thomas, a wealthy influential citizen. They all hold grude againt Francis Nurse for preventing Putnam's brother-in-law from being elected to the offic of minister. Users witch trials to increase his own wealth buy accusing others and buying land.
       • Ann Putnam, 8 children. But other Ruth survived. 7 died before a day old - convinced murdered by supernatueral means.
         • Ruth, falls into a strange stupor after Parris catches her in forest, like Betty.
         • Thomas persuades Parris is was presence of witchcraft. Miller used Putanm as a symbol of individuals of his own time, ( McCarthyism) of theose who were accusing people of being communist for equally selfish reasons.
   • Proctor
     • Tragic Hero (with one single weakness) honest blunt-spoken character. His affair with Abigail sets entire witch hysteria in motion. He can only her rampage if he confesses to adultery. By end of play he is more concerned with his personal intergrity that public reputation.
       • he is aware that people are using witchcraft scare to gain influence or to settle old disputes. MIller presents him as rational and honest.
         • Openly denounces (publically says hes wrong) Parris and do not attend Church.
       • Makes attempts through Marys testimony to name Abigail as a fraud but fails and confesses, aand calling her a "whore"
         • His refusal to provide a false confession is a true relgious and personal stand.
           • "He have this goodness now. God forbid i take it from him!"
     • Did not baptize 3rd child, “I like it not that Mr. Parris should lay his hand upon my baby. I see no light of God in that man.” Proctor finds no love, humility, compassion or dedication in serving God, only Parris' selfishness and greed.
   • Elizabeth
     • Her postive qualites are also her negative, she is a virtuous woman who is true. These traits make her 'cold' when we first meet her this is the case. Her reaction to the affair reveals a vindictive streak (gave Abby the boot)
       • Throughout most of the play she is a stand-up woman. Seems to stuggle to frogive her husband and let go of anger. She is a blamelss victim and only sin we see her commit is liying in court so save her husband.
         • Alone in prision for a few months, she comes to her own relization: she was a cold wife. SHe didnt love herself so was unable to recieve husbands love. Believes it was her coldness that led to the affair. This relization helps her forgive her husband bringing her a measure of personal peace.
         • Noblest act comes at end when she helps tortured John to forgive himself before death.

2. Themes

   • Irrational Fear
     • Those who embrace is are the villains of the place - greedy, vengeful and selfish. (Abigail, Parris&Putnam)
       • Can assume Miller thinks same way about influential anti-communists in America 1950.
   • Courage
     • Ability to face danger when affriad.
       • P63 "John - I think I must go with them"
         • P38 "Oh, how many time he bid me kill you, Mr Parris!" Tituba. Yet aware of consequences
   • Integrity - When someone is whole and honest
     • Act3. Mary: "I can not lie no more, I am with god"
       • John saving is wife, too
   • Conflict
     • "How do you call me a child?" Belittling her, trying to take control
   • Tyranny, people with power
     • P39 Hale "Glory to god, it is broken they are free"
   • Bigotry - cheating
     • Proctor in court "I have known her sir, i have known her". Name not said (regret)
   • Loyalty
     • P18 Abigail " I know how you clutched my back behind your house" Dramatic verb of clutched to create imagery.

3. Context

   • Communism
     • A system of social organization in which all property is owned by the community and each person contributes and receives according to their ability and needs.
     • Miller was accused of being a communist but like John Proctor, he refused to accuse others: "I could not use the name of another person and bring trouble on him"
   • McCathyism
     • McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of subversion or treason without proper regard for evidence.
   • Allegory
     • A story that can have two different and parallel meanings
   • Meaning
     • A Crucible is a pot which metal and other substances may be melted or heated (heat under the pot - tension) to a very high temperature. often used to separate pure metals from waste (Those who dont follow religion) Pure being Puritans.

4. Quotes

   • "I look for John Proctor that took me from my sleep and put knowledge in my heart!..." Abigail says this to John in act 1. He realizes the relationship belongs in the past. Abigail has no sense of closure. her anger overflows, and we see the roots of what becomes her targeted, destructive romp through Salem.
   • "A man may think God sleeps, but God sees everything, I know it now. I beg you, sir, I beg you—see her what she is. . . . She thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grave!" In Act 3. He is trying to expose her as a fraud without revealing their liaison. This scene, in the Salem courtroom, marks the climax of the play, in which Proctor’s concern for justice outstrips his concern for his reputation.
     • He is called a liar and accused of witchcraft.
   • Abigail: With a bitter anger: "Oh, I marvel how such a strong man may let such a sickly wife be-" Abigail accuses Elizabeth Proctor of damaging her reputation, and she also maligns the man she loves. Elizabeth will later admit that there is some truth to the charge that she is “cold.” But “sniveling”?
   • Putnam to Parris: "They're thirsting for your word, Mister! Surely you’ll pray with them." Thomas Putnam urges Parris to take spiritual control of the situation and show who is in charge. Parris is probably also influenced by Putnam’s wealth and power.
   • Ann Putnam to Parris: "I have laid seven babies unbaptized in the earth. Believe me, sir, you never saw more hearty babies born." Comforting proof of witchcraft.
   • "I do not judge you. The magistrate sits in your heart that judges you. I never thought you but a good man," lizabeth is a good and just woman, but forgiveness is difficult under any circumstances – and as a result, her husband feels judged every day of their marriage. The both leap to assume the worst of eachother.