The Crucible

The Crucible

Fear/hysteria
1. What motivates the characters
2. First appears when the girls begin to accuse others
3. Fear of the devil
4. Proctor fears losing his reputation
  1. Allows Abigail to gain control of the town
    1. Elizabeth fears this in Act 2
  2. Elizabeth also fears this as she cares for him and it affects her own reputation
5. Parris fears the loss of his power
  1. Leads to audience satisfaction when he gets robbed
6. The girls are loyal to Abigail as a result of fear
7. Driven by fear that God will not save them
Morality
1. Proctor dies for his name
  1. “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life!"
  2. Elizabeth stays by his side throughout
  3. Danforth keeps his morality to that of the court trying to remain fair at all times even if he is mislead by the girls
    1. "I should hang 10 thousand that dared to rise against the law"
2. Hales morals change throughout the play as he sees Abi as a liar
3. Symbolises the corruption that power and greed can cause
4. Parris is not moral himself as a representation of McCarthy
Relationships
1. Trust issues within the Proctors relationship due to the affair
2. Jealousy of the Proctors the catalyst of the entire conflict
  1. through Abgails lust for proctor
3. The girls are loyal to Abigail
Injustice
1. Links to context of McCarthyism
  1. Innocent people being accused of what they didn't do
2. Directed towards Elizabeth as she is portrayed as a good christian women yet still arrested
  1. Audience feels the injustice as they know of Abigails ulterior motive
3. Towards women in genral
  1. Lower class then men
4. All those who stand for their beliefs are killed
  1. Not signing the confession
Witchcraft
1. Represent the accusations surrounding McCarthyism
2. Builds context
  1. 1692 Salem dwellers feared the Devil was to blame for their troubles
    1. Leads to their belief in IRL witches
Power
1. Abigail holds the most power throughout the play
  1. However he devotion to proctor could be seen as him holding power over her
  2. All the girls follows Abigail in court when Mary tries to speak out
    1. However Danforth shows ultimate power in this situation
  3. Abigail is the most believed throughout the play due to her power
Hypocrisy
1. The church and Puritans
  1. Demands honesty yet the whole play is based upon lies and deceit
    1. Characters claim to be good Christians yet go against the morals
  2. Parris and his golden candle sticks
    1. Going after Proctor to save his own skin
Crucible
1. Melting pot for metal
  1. Miller see's society as melting
  2. Blames everything on external factors
Light
1. Act 1
  1. the morning sun streams and a candle still burns
    1. Demonstrates revelation or change
2. Act 2
  1. almost dark, a fire in the fire place
    1. Darkness shows that unwlecoming but fire suggests love is still there
3. Act 3
  1. sunlight pouring through, 2 high windows in the back wall.
    1. Shows that justice may be served
4. Act 4
  1. place is in darkness except for the moonlight seeping through the bars
    1. Moonlight suggests that hope may prevail
Birds
1. Girls referred to as flying
  1. Suggests witchcraft
2. Sits like a great bird
  1. Shows his pride
Other animals
1. “many cows wandering the high road”
  1. Shows disordered society as all farmers are in jail
  2. Nature restoring balance and overcoming man

Next up

Description

Resource summary

Similar

	Created by Chloe Becca about 8 years ago