Common Module - The Crucible Quotes

“I saw Sarah Good with the Devil! I saw Sarah Osborne with the Devil! I saw Bridget Bishop with the Devil!” (Abigail Williams, Act 1)

Symploce of “I saw…with the Devil!” with a frantic and hysterical tone, redirecting the focus onto others, protecting Abigail’s reputation by creating hysteria

“The Devil is out of hand, it’s out in the community” (Reverend Hale, Act 3)

Anaphora os “is out” as emotion of fear has become reality motivating hysteria. Anomaly to Salem’s religious society as community is placing higher importance on accusations than evidence and justice

“A person is either with this court or he must be counted against it.” (Judge Danforth, Act 3)

High modality language and Binary opposition of “with the court or…against it.” demonstrating the fear driven mentality motivating the witch hunts

“My name is good in the village! I will not have it said my name is soiled!” (Abigail Williams, Act 1)

Metaphor of “my name is soiled” as motivation for her actions as she doesn’t want the negative consequences placed on her

“…we are only what we always were, but naked now…God’s icy wind will blow!” (John Proctor, Act 2)

Metaphor of “naked now” reflects the exposure and vulnerability of people, as the communities true nature is being revealed by mass hysteria. Biblical allusion to Adam and Eve story, symbolising shame, judgement and loss of innocence

“You will confess or you will hang.” (Judge Danforth, Act 4)

Antithesis as false confessions are seen as a way out of death, but compromise self-integrity and truth. Irony as this goes against the Biblical beliefs of honesty over all

“…and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you.” (Abigail Williams, Act 1)

Violent imagery as she is physically threatening Mary Warren. Hyperbole demonstrates the extent and strength of her threat

“You are God’s instrument put in our hands to discover the Devil’s agents among us. You are selected, Tituba…” (Reverend Hale, Act 1)

Metaphor dehumanising Tituba as a tool of divine will rather than a person, as she has the power over life and death of others. Religious diction demonstrates their puritanism society; everything is either divine or demonic

“We burn a hot fire here; it melts down all concealment.” (Judge Danforth, Act 3)

Metaphor symbolising the intense scrutiny and punishment of the court, used as a purifying force that reveals all truths. High modality through high certainty and confidence, asserting the court’s power as unquestionable and divinely justified