How do you respond to Giles Corey in 'The Crucible' and how does Miller make you respond as you do?

How do you respond to Giles Corey in 'The Crucible' and how does Miller make you respond as you do?

1. Who is Giles Corey?

   • "Giles Corey, eighty-three enters. He is knotted with muscle, canny. inquisitive, and still powerful."
     • Stage Directions provide an insight of character.
     • Giles is old however, still strong physically and mentally.
   • Irascible and combative elderly resistant of Salem.
   • Comic figure.
   • Friends with proctor and supports him within Court.

2. What is Giles Corey's tragedy?

   • Brings a charge of witchcraft on this wife.
     • Giles Corey says his wife reads strange books and afterwards he finds it difficult to pray.
       • Giles did not know this statement would lead to his wife bringing accused.

3. Heroic Ending

   • Giles dyes a innocent man as he would not answer the courts questions.
     • "He would not answer aye or nay to his indictment; for if he denied the charge they'd hany him surely, and auction out his property."
   • "Aye. It were a fearsome man, Giles Corey."
   • Dies a Hero.
     • Asks for more weight instead of answering questions.
     • Selfless Act
     • Dies for his beliefs
     • Miller makes the audience feel empathetic towards Giles as he is dying for what he believe is correct.

4. Comic Features of Character

   • Argues with neighbours and with Danforth in Court.
     • Indicates his courage and strength
   • HIs wrangling makes him comic and displays his independent spirit.

5. Giles and Court

   • Well-known in court due to bringing endless lawsuits.
   • Supports Proctor in challenging the girls accusations.
     • Giles believes Thomas Putnam is using the witch trials to secure land.