The Crucible

English

The Crucible

Arthur Miller - portrayal of the Salem witch trials, where mass hysteria, fear, and personal vendettas lead to the wrongful persecution of innocent people. Use of the events as an allegory for McCarthyism, exposing the dangers of fanaticism and the breakdown of justice.

“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.”

Abigail is threatening the other girls not to admit anything they did in the woods - Highlights how Abigail is threatening and manipulative, her desperation to have control over the situation in order to protect herself/ her image, fear is what drives the town’s actions = reflects the paranoia throughout Salem

Shows moral darkness and corruption throughout Salem, as well as Abigail being a source of this evil. The ominous tone and violent diction can also foreshadow the violent outcome of the witch trials and the chaos that will result.

“We burn a hot fire here; it melts down all concealment.”

John Proctor has brought Mary Warren to court, in front of Judge Danforth, to testify against the other girls, against witchcraft - This metaphor is used to show that every lie and sin will be exposed in the court, including John Proctor’s adultery. Also foreshadows the destructive results/ consequences of the witch trials.

“a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it, there be no road between.”

Giles Corey and John Proctor are trying to prove that the girls are lying and their wives are not witches. They bring in Mary Warren to the court - stark dichotomy to emphasize the immense pressure on the people in Salem to conform to the court, and society’s, expectations, as well as highlight the consequences of disagreement = fear forcing people to align with people in power in order to prevent punishment/ persecution.

“Mary, as though infected, opens her mouth and screams with them.”

John Proctor has brought Mary Warren to court to testify that the other girls are lying, but the girls accuse Mary of witchcraft and start screaming, so Mary eventually joins them - emphasizes the mob mentality that can occur in the face of hysteria and paranoia, fear forces people to abandon the truth and their morals, succumbing to societal pressures, highlights how hysteria can be contagious as fear and paranoia of witches is spread throughout Salem.