Costume

What are the technical "ingredients" of a costume answer?

• Garments: Specific names (e.g., waistcoat, breeches, corset, shift, apron).

• Fabrics/Textile: (e.g., rough burlap, stiff linen, smooth silk, heavy wool).

• Condition/Distressing: Is it pristine, frayed, blood-stained, or "broken down" (made to look dirty)?

• Fit/Shape: Is it tight and restrictive (high status/repressed) or loose and oversized (low status/poor)?

• Color Palette: Symbolic choices (e.g., drab greys for dullness, stark white for "purity").

How do you describe a 17th-century Puritan costume for full marks?

• Modesty: High necklines, long sleeves, and hemlines that hit the floor to show religious devotion.

• Materials: Natural, coarse fibers like linen, wool, and leather.

• Fastenings: Use laces or wooden buttons (no modern zippers or Velcro).

• Accessories: Simple coifs (caps) for women or felt hats for men; no jewelry, as it was considered "vanity."

How do you use costume to show a character's journey?

• Status: Use better quality fabrics (e.g., a leather doublet for Parris vs. a canvas tunic for a servant).

• Change: If a character is in jail (Act 4), describe their clothes as "distressed" with mud and sweat stains to show their suffering.

• Personality: For someone like Abigail, you might suggest a slightly ill-fitting bodice to suggest her internal rebellion against the rigid social rules.

How do I write a 4-mark costume response?

Use Two Points following the "What + Why" formula:

1. Point 1 (Design): State the item, material, and color.

2. Justification: Explain how this links to the play's context or character's motivation. (Repeat for Point 2)

Example: A Perfect 4-Mark Response for John Proctor

"I would design a dark brown leather jerkin for Proctor made of a heavy, durable material. This reflects his status as a hard-working farmer and his rugged, masculine nature within the 17th-century community.

Additionally, I would distress the hem of his linen breeches with dried mud and frayed edges. This shows the audience he has been working the land, highlighting his physical labor and his distance from the 'clean' and 'polished' lifestyle of the court officials in Salem."

Response for Elizabeth Proctor

"I would design an ensemble consisting of a full-length, pleated skirt made of heavyweight charcoal wool to reflect Elizabeth’s somber and guarded nature. To show her status as a farmer's wife, the hem would be slightly distressed with dried mud.

She would wear a plain white linen kerchief pinned high at the neck with no lace or embroidery, adhering to the strict beliefs of the Puritan community. Her hair would be entirely concealed under a stiffly starched white coif, which draws focus to the actress's facial expressions and emphasizes her rigid adherence to social rules. Finally, I would add a coarse linen apron in a slightly off-white shade; the stark contrast between the white apron and the dark dress would visually represent her 'spotless' reputation and her desire for moral purity within a corrupt society."

Response for Hale

My design for Reverend Hale would focus on his authority and academic status. He would wear a tailored black wool doublet and breeches, using a richer fabric than the Salem locals to indicate his status as an educated guest from Beverly. I would include a stiffly starched white falling band at his neck, providing a sharp visual contrast that symbolizes his belief in a clear divide between God and the Devil.

To emphasize his arrival as an outsider, I would give him a heavy black wool traveling cloak with a high collar, adding physical presence to the character. His footwear would be sturdy leather calf-high boots, slightly dusty from travel to add a layer of naturalism. Finally, his most important 'prop' would be a set of large, leather-bound books carried in a leather satchel; the physical weight of these books would reflect the 'weight' of the law he is about to impose on the community, making him appear as a figure of undeniable religious power.

Response for mary

I would design Mary’s costume using a coarse woollen skirt in a faded indigo blue. This color choice reflects the traditional 'servant blue' of the period, but the 'faded' quality suggests it is a hand-me-down, highlighting her low social status in the Proctor household.

To ensure it fits the Puritan context, the blue would be a muted 'sad' tone. I would pair this with a dingy, off-white apron that has been conditioned with grey charcoal dust at the hem to show her manual labor. This combination of faded blue and dirty white would make her look physically 'washed out' on stage, emphasizing her weak and subservient personality compared to the more dominant characters."