Emma and Crucible paragraphs to memorise

Emma 

Paragraph 1: Wealthy people are egotistical and deluded as a result of their limited social experience. 

• The effect this has on the reader depends on the question.

Form: free indirect discourse, satire 

• Purpose of FID is to let us look into Emma's thoughts, making her sympathetic while also being a satire of rich people because of her mistakes. 

Characterised with “Very little to distress or vex her” wealthy live self-indulgent lives having “too much their own way”

She possesses “none of the usual inducements for women to marry” bring in regency context - she doesn’t need the financial/social security most women need. 

—> above part proves she’s disconnected from the world. 

So, she misjudges Harriet’s social abilities to marry above her station. 

She believes Mr. Elton is “an excellent young man and will suit Harriet exactly”. 

She’s so blind, and tells Harriet she’s “his object” and “will soon receive the completest proof of it”. This is IRONY to expose her conceited worldview, 

exposes her satisfaction of the alleged “glory of having schemed successfully” (not successful) 

—> above part proves the practical effect of her disconnection/further proves how disconnected she is. 

This can be switched out depending on the question 

Alt: 

Mrs. Elton is Emma's mirror - she has all the classism and superciliousness but doesn’t change like Emma does. Make “The timeless coming-of age story which charts the development of a young, misdirected and flawed protagonist still resonates.” enduring value. 

Ultimately, FID is a mix of satirical judgement and sympathy for her ignorance.
LionTrilling “inevitably we are drawn to Emma, but inevitably, we hold her deeply at fault.” 

Paragraph 2: Harriet’s character is both a critique and an affirmation of the class system. (NEED A BETTER CLASS PARAGRAPH) 

• The effect depends on the question. See my dependency question answer 

Form: social realism 

• WRITE SOMETHING ABOUT IT HERE?/ 

Emma sees Harriet as a “superior young woman”. Harriet has some upper class manners, but at heart she’s lower class. 

She is simple minded, easily influenced “guided by anyone she looked up to”. Emma uses her aiming to “improve her” to the “superior young woman” in “her fancy” helping her to “forming her own opinions and manners” (last quote said thru FID) 

She relies on Emma for high society i.e. input for marriage with mr martin, keeps asking “what shall I say?” 

Ultimately they marry, affirming static regency class - provided with “safe, respectable, and happy” circumstances. Tricolon. 

—> this proves harriet is an affirmation of the class system 

Emma initially views Harriet highly - FID says “a very pretty girl… with a fine bloom, blue eyes, and a look of great sweetness” listing positive characteristics.

One whose “natural graces should not be wasted on the inferior society of highbury”. 

Harriet would normally be looked down on for “misfortune of her birth”, but even snobbish emma is “determined to continue [her] acquaintance”. 

• COULD USE A PROOF THAT ISNT JUST EMMA 

Criticises pretentiousness of gentry. 

—-> this proves she’s a criticism of the class system 

Alt: dependency paragraph. 

• PUT IT HERE

Ultimately, harriet criticises the regency system of birth and wealth determining status while exposing the cynical reality of this system. 

Enduring value: Whilt contemporary Western audiences may not empathise with the strict patriarchal and class structures of Regency England the importance of judging individuals based on their worth irrespective of their gender, culture or background is a moral principle which endures.

Paragraph 3: Austen fuses bildungsroman with romance plot to reveal the necessity of self-discovery and improvement. 

• Can add a “reveal truths about regency women’s dependency on men”. Can also be its own paragraph though. 

Form: authorial intrusion, bildungsroman, romance plot 

Initially establishes Emma’s entitlement and hubris “disposition to think a little too well of herself,” and “having rather too much her own way”. 

Over the novel she accumulates “blunders… blindness of her own head and heart.”, which climax at the box hill picnic. 

Humiliates miss Bates and chastised by “ill opinion” of mr knightley - this is the key catalyst for her moral transformation (bildungsroman). 

Her romance interest (knightley) is her journey guide. 

Reminds her miss bates “is poor… her situation should secure your compassion.” opens her eyes to financial reality for other women. 

—> this proves how bad she was before her transformation 

b/c of that she questions her privileged worldview. Follows knightleys opinion instead of forcing him to hers like normal. 

Emma’s narration vs knightleys dialogue in FID reveal her new awareness of her privilege and the reality for others. 

She ultimately condedes with “anger at herself, mortification, and deep concern”. 

She then goes to “call upon [miss bates] the very next morning” and apologise. 

—> this proves she changed.

Important to change because of how bad she was/affecting others before. Emma is a didactic (intended to teach moral instruction) yet flawed protagonist, helping austen prove the centrality/necessity of reflection/growth and rectifying one’s mistakes in all contexts. 

Enduring Value: The transformation of our young protagonist and her gaining of wisdom and empathetic understanding continues to align contemporary moral principles. The significant role of the older male figure of Mr Knightley however has lost some relevance in our contemporary post-feminist milieu.

Paragraph 4: Emma explores the centrality of marriage for gentry/middle class women. 

• Probably links into the romance plot point earlier. 

Form: Satire, romantic convention 

Satirises rigid expectations for women through jane fairfax and emma as character foils. Jane is elegant/accomplished/educated - equal to emma apart from status. “Growing up with no advantages of connection or improvement”. 

Romantic convention of damsel in destress - jane needs rescuing from being a governess by MARRIAGE. Conveys why marriage is necessary: status, income, etc. 

—> this proves the situation for middle class is marriage for income/status etc  

Emma juxtaposes “none of the usual inducements of women to marry.. Fortune i do not want, employment i do not want, consequence i do not want”. Tricolon satirise normal reasons to marry - separates her from them 

She realises “how much her happiness depended on being first with mr. knightley” social realism within romance plot reveals only privileged like emma can put happiness first in marriage. 

—> proves for rich people, they can afford to choose happiness 

Ultimately the novel’s ‘happy ending’ - emma(rich) needs a man to ‘complete’ her, jane(poor) neds a man to ‘save’ her. So marriage is still central to all regency women, no matter status. 

Paragraph 5: (bonus) Emma is a ‘detective story where the clues to the real relationships are cleverly planted.’ (P.D. James) 

• Power of deception as catalyse for misinformed perspective. Misunderstandings 

Form: detective novel, FID 

Lots of hints at the secret engagement between Jane Ff and Frank Churchill. On first reading - the reader is oblivious just like emma. -> initially deceived by seamless transition between FID(emma) to FID(authorial commentary from austen). 

I.e. emma says jane fairfax’s “account to her aunt contained nothing but the truth, though there might be some truths not told.” this is authorial intrusion - a clue from austen jane is withholding info. Second read, you know it’s the engagement. +aware misinterpretation of reality 

‘Detective novel’ leads to awkward/miseducated misinterpretations. 

—> proves the deception littered around the novel is there 

Emma falls for this. Clear in ch41 - austen uses FID to access mr knightley’s POV, who is “so placed as to see them all” so we see through a new lens emmas misinterpretation of frank churchills feelings. 

Knightley describes “sly and demure” frank churchill manipulate jane + emma to each miseducate ppl to hide his engagement. 

Knightley says “these letters were but the vehicle for gallantry and trick. It was child’s play, chosen to conceal a deeper game on frank churchill’s part.” (can shorten. Either half is good) 

Knightley “observes… his two blinded companions”. Emma is completely deceived. 

—> proves the consequences of this deception 

Alt; just a similar proof. Explicit emma-pov proof instead of knightley proof. 

Susie Hogarth “[Emma] was radically experimental because it was designed to share her delusions.” two layers, first/second reading. E.g. 

Emma is narcissistic, thinking frank churchill loves her. Him and jane encourage it “he was more in love with emma than she had supposed!” 

Knightley suggests he might like jane, emma vehemently denies “there is no admiration between them, i do assure you.” b/c of FID, when SHE cannot look through the deceptions, the reader can’t either. 

Frank arrives @ highbury “barnes, or bates. Do you know any family of that name?” pretends not to know jane. 

Seems insignificant but revealed to be dramatic irony when we realise theyre engaged. 

—> proves consequences of deception, power of deception 

(emma seems like a romcom, revealed to be a secret love story) 

Therefore illuminates vulnerability of perception to deception. 

TLDR Basically all you need is a “emma is stupid because she’s rich”, a “bildungsroman plus romance form”, a “gender issues”, and a “class stratification” paragraph

And a few different ways to argue all of those. Also an extra on misunderstanding/deception 

For questions on: 

Complex ideas; 

• Para X, paraX, paraX etc 

Form/artistry; 

Crucible

Paragraph 1: allegory of salem/mccarthyism shows no matter the context, repressive/controlling societies catalyse irrational fear and paranoia 

• Depending on question alter the impact of this irrational fear and paranoia 

Form: allegorical drama 

People lie about others being witches to save themselves, similar to the red scare. 

Metaphor of the title “the crucible” reinforces - crucible is a container to purify metals under high heat → trials tested true morals

Danforth says “we burn a hot fire here; it melts down all concealment” -> metaphor implies court seeks truth, but really fuels deceit. 

Preface describes salem as “paradox”; meant to protect citizens from sin, but the environment really intensifies it. 

—> proves the state of the societies, establishes them as oppressive 

End of act I - abigail and the girls are caught in their lie, forced to ironically ‘confess’ to witchraft. 

Hysterical outburst of accusation is only way to avoid punishment. “I saw sarah good with the devil! I saw goody osborne with the devil! I saw bridget bishop with the devil!” anaphora i saw ->absurdness of impulsive accusations, everyone accused 

Betty who was unresponsibe w/ a “fever in her eyes… picks up the chant.” court becomes more n more hysterical as curtain falls 

-> PUT A SENTENCE ABOUT MCCARTHYIST AMERICA HERE 

—> proves how out of hand situation lets it get. 

Paragraph 2: corruptibility can be exploited for personal gain (e.g. abigail). 

• Audience be more aware of if you take advantage like this sometimes too 

Form: allegory?, storytelling 

Abigail exploits the corrupt justice system to get revenge on elizabeth. 

Manipulate’s danforth’s reputation-orientated nature - “let you beware, mr. danforth. Think you to be so mighty that the power of hell may not turn your wits?” by threating his name + status in community -> she can control him.

This is symbolic of how she manipulates justice for her personal vengeance.

Manipulation seen in proctor’s metaphor “vengeance is walking in salem… the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom” personification of vengeance -> shows how powerful it has become due to abigail’s manipulation of danforth+justice system. 

—> proves she manipulated justice system for personal gain

Storytelling to encourage audience to see this vulnerability irl. 

It also is a result of collective hysteria - hale days “abandoned cattle bellow on the highroads, the stink of rotting crops hangs everywhere.” accumulation of deserted imagery -> shows widespread fear/discord in salem. 

—> proves universal impact of exploitation of justice. 

Ultimately through storytelling, miller aims to show SHARED human experiences ie manipulation and hysteria + bring awareness of them 

Paragraph 3: abigail is a victim of her repressive context -> helps impact as modern tragedy (opt)

Form: modern tragedy, drama(stage direction) 

She’s the villain -> by making her motivations due to having no psychological fulfillment, makes audience aware of relation between individual and share experiences. 

Abigal - the absence of love in her life - she’s a disempowered orphan, servant girl - she is desperately “waitin’ for [john proctor] every night.” 

b/c their past intimacy gave her “something better than hope”. 

Powerful stage directions reveal her “flash of anger” after proctor disisses her as a “child”. -> shows human nature turns to vengeance when psychological survival(proctor) is threatened. 

—> proves she is a villain for an understandable reason - her loveless circumstance 

Proctor observes “the little crazy children are janging the key sof the kingdom, and common vengenace writes the law!” -> ironically affirms that it was his rejection of her that sent abigail’s power trip over the edge. 

Miller reveals that abigail’s manipulation, which was just trying to fulfill her psychological needs, was what catalysed tragedy. 

Uses her innate hymanity to reveal human nature’s willingness for extremist behaviour for basic psych. Needs. 

—> same thing - proves it’s human nature (psych needs) AND bad circumstances that catalyse extremism -> tragedy 

Ultimately emphasises the need for a good nontoxic society that satisfies our basic (psychological) needs. 

Paragraph 4: proctor is a tragic hero who is the paradox of morality; flawed AND capable of redemption. 

• Good for Qs on the individual, human experience, conflict, complex behaviour 

Form: modern tragic form. 

Point of proctor’s arc is that self-preservation instinct clashes with principles, possible for chosen principles to win 

He’s a hero of modern tragedy -> downfall not by fate/given hamartia, but by internal conflict and restrictions of theocratic society. 

Moral struggle is from affair w/ abigail even tho he still loves elizabeth. 

“Abby, i may think of you softly from time to time” metaphor - guilt for liking her in the past. 

“But i will cut off my hand before i’ll ever reach for you again!” hyperbole - he detaches himself from it, he’s still a good person. 

—> prove’s he’s a good person by rectifying flaws 

Internal conflict exacerbated by salem’s morals - reputation = piousness/dedication to “divine order”. Society values perception of conformity > individualism 

Proctor fears tarnishing his “good name”.

Act 4 “because it is my name! Because i cannot have another in my life! Because i lie and sign myself to lies!” anaphora “because” - highlights - he doesnt confess to save his name. 

Proves tragic structure - embraces death to avoid compromising integrity. 

His downfall (unlike aristotlean tragic hero) is from personal choice, not a fatal flaw. 

—> proves he’s not a typical tragic hero + flawed 

Earlier, He is tentatively willing to sacrifice reputation for truth (to expose abigail). 

“I have known her, sir, i have known her” alludes to biblical sin, making confession more obvious. 

He admits this too late - elizabeth, trying to save his ‘name’, unknowingly contradicts him. At the end, he’s unwilling to compromise his name, but here it shows he’s willing to FOR ELIZABETH. 

—> proves hes a good person by admitting his flaws 

Tragic irony - noblest act (even compared to final stance for integrity) reflect modern tragic focus on fallibility (not divine destiny). 

Therefore he reveals that moral worth is not defined by perfection, but instead the willingness to confront one’s flaws. 

NOTE: can pick any two of the three arguments depending on what’s most relevant. 

Paragraph 5: resisting against the theocratic collective is inherently futile

• Good for questions on society/circumstance. Good to parallel allegory (pair w/ p1+abigail society para) 

Within puritan society, judge danforth embodies adhering to religious principle. 

Wider - mary warren endorses the institution (of theocracy) - says all evidence is “hard proof, hard as rock” - repetition hard - the society trying to give itself credibility for accusation. 

Throughout play, we discover the paradox in puritan society (that its meant to be good but is bad). 

Seen thru bildungsroman transformation in hale - believed “theology… is a fortress” metaphor - he’s attached to religious doctrine. 

Hale autonomously “come[s] of [his] own, without the court’s authority” to uncover his personal truth of the events - big personal shift. 

After this, more people begin to defy ie proctor “ripping the warrant” he’s the symbol of anomaly. 

He questions whether “the accuser [is] always holy?” → this is the essence of the crucible - the unabridged trust in institution. 

—> proves that salems paradoxical (is bad but meant to be good) thru hale and proctor 

Even tho ppl try to spread knowledge of the paradox, bc theology is so omnipotent, these attempts are inherently futile. 

At the end of the play “the salem meeting house, now serves as the .. court” -> proves distinction between law-making court + theocracy has been blurred (ie court=theocracy) 

Danforth embodies the theocracy - he has power over life and death “condemned [seventy-two] to hand” 

As “a person is either with this court or… against it” -> polarised view of morality -> institution can discount other accounts of the ‘truth’. 

Ppl like hale+proctor still uncover the paradox. → but b/c of the omnipotence of theology, both fall in the end. 

Seen in how Danforth paradoxically says “cannot withhold them from the perfection of their punishment” (ie god/religion damns them) 

—> proves that efforts to defy theocracy are inherently futile 

TLDR just hit an allegory paragraph, an abigail one, a proctor one. Depending on the question, sub the abigail/proctor one for theocratic collective paragraph. 

Be prepared for a question on exclusively dramatic form. Include form section for all 

For questions on: 

Complex ideas; 

• Para X, paraX, paraX etc 

Form/artistry;