Parris and Putnam in Crucible - 1601 Words

How do Act 1 and Act 2 develop the various characters in the play? The play ‘The Crucible’ written by Arthur Miller is an allegorical reference to the McCarthyism of the 1950s. Set in the historical context of the 17th century Salem, this play explores several themes to point out how politics, greed and imaginative hysteria can tear a community apart. To further emphasize this, Miller uses different characters and develops them as the play progresses. In addition, his use of effective language intensifies the role of characters like John and Elizabeth Proctor, Abigail Williams, Reverend Parris and many others in the play. The first act of the play is an exposition act which reveals all the primary characters and conflicts in the play.†¦show more content†¦She becomes flirtatious and tempting â€Å"I’d almost forgot how strong you are†. Through her desperation â€Å"Give me a word John. A soft word†, Miller indicates to the audience their past. is Throughout the hysteria, Abigail’s motivations never seem more complex than simple jealousy and a desire to have revenge on Elizabeth Proctor. Despite this, her quick-wittedness and smartness is reflected in her questions to Proctor â€Å"You come five mile to see a silly girl fly?†. Her intelligence, which is supposed to be a strength, becomes her weakness at the end of the play. ------------------------------------------------- When she is on the brink of getting caught due to her actions in the woods, she skillfully manages to shift the blame on Tituba and other second-class citizens. To gain sympathy for her cause, Abigail makes the use of examples of her dilemma â€Å"She makes me drink blood†, â€Å"She makes me laugh at prayer† and â€Å"she’s always making me dream corruptions†. Miller thus says that her truths are told with wrong intention. However, Abigail intends to do so as reflected in Act 2 when she frames Elizabeth Proctor for witchcraft, revealing her malicious character. The author tells us that the social order has changed: young girls who never had a voice are blaming older, more respected women. ------------------------------------------------- As Abigail is the play’s antagonist, John Proctor is the play’sShow MoreRelatedThe Destruction Of Salem By Arthur Miller1558 Words   |  7 PagesArmania Heckenmueller Mrs. Hagerty H English II 2EF 11/23/15 The Destruction of Salem Through Greed and Vengeance in The Crucible During the time The Crucible was set, the community of Salem was awry. It did not have the solid characteristics of what a healthy town should look like. Instead there was no trust between people, everyone was watching out for only themselves, and most of the townspeople were turning their backs on the disastrous deeds of the court. The people of Salem feel like they haveRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1063 Words   |  5 PagesIn the English dictionary, there are three definitions of the word crucible. One is a metal container in which metals are mixed and melted. Another is a severe test. But the third definition, and the one that I think fits the best for this book, is a place or situation in which different elements interact to create something new. In my mind, this fits because all of the characters had their little grudges and dirty secrets. But when all those seemingly little things interact, they formed somethingRead MoreHuman Failings in The Crucible by Arthur Mi ller Essay1106 Words   |  5 Pages Arthur Miller writes about the tragic results of human failings in his play, The Crucible. He presents characters from the past and infuses them with renewed vitality and color. Miller demonstrates the horrifying results of succumbing to personal motives and flaws as he writes the painful story of the Salem witch trials. Not only do the trials stem from human failings but also from neglect of moral and religious considerations of that time. Characters begin to overlook Puritan values of thrift andRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1063 Words   |  5 PagesIn the english dictionary, there are three definitions of the word crucible. One is a metal container in which metals are mixed and melted. Another is a severe test. But the third definition, and the one that I think fits the best for this book, is a place or situation in which different elements interact to create something new. In my mind, this fits because all of the characters had their little grudges and dirty secrets. But when all those seemingly little things interact, they formed somethingRead MoreComparing Mass Delusions And Hysterias : Highlights From The Past Millennium By Robert Bartholomew And Erich Goode1185 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Salem Village (now Danvers, Massachusetts) was the scene of a moral panic that spread throughout the region and involved witchcraft accusations which led to trials, torture, imprisonment, and executions† (Bartholomew and Goode). The famous play The Crucible by Arthur Miller demonstrates the similar act as the article which led to a mass hysteria between people of Salem for wrongful accusations and death of twelve individuals of Salem for witchcraft. According to the play, the delusions of fear in SalemRead MoreThe Crucible By John Proctor895 Words   |  4 Pagesindividual in both the Salem Witch Trials and The Crucible, was tried and executed for witchcraft in 1692. When the witchcraft hysteria first began in Salem village in the winter of 1692, Proctor became an outspoken opponent of the trials and stated to many that the afflicted girls, who had been accusing many of the villagers of witchcraft, were frauds and liars (Brooks). There were many parallels between John Proctor and his character in The Crucible, including his vocal opposition towards the trialsRead MoreThe Dramatic Effect of the First Act in Arthur Millers The Crucible1154 Words   |  5 PagesThe Dramatic Effect of the First Act in Arthur Millers The Crucible The Crucible is set in Salem in 1692. It is about a group of girls who are accused of witchcraft by the people of Salem, and they are put on trial for it. The story is centred on a man named John Proctor who is a farmer in the town, and it is about his affairs, his everyday ones and his sexual ones. There are many themes in The Crucible, deceit, religion, fear, guilt and the evading of peoples privacyRead MoreThe Art Of Deception : The Origin Of And Escape From The Spread Of Falsehoods Essay1413 Words   |  6 PagesFalsehoods Throughout the centuries, episodes of hysteria have disturbed humanity, plaguing both small communities and powerful empires. Although often short-lived, these instances of widespread panic can disrupt social and political order. In The Crucible, Arthur Miller reveals that self-centered ambition underlies the spread of false ideas, which can fuel societal paranoia. However, Miller argues that individuals can escape this hysteria and preserve their dignity if they choose to sacrifice theirRead MoreThe Crucible Feminist Theory Essay1248 Words   |  5 Pages Feminist theory is the advocacy of gender equality in terms of respect, opportunities and social rights. The Crucible by Arthur Miller represents the conventional feminist gender struggle, through the medium of an androcentric patriarchal society built on the ideals of religion. In Salem, woman are portrayed as the lower class of society, patronised by men such as Proctor â€Å"I am looking for you more often than my cows! comparing Mary to a farm animal is indicative of their perceived place. FurthermoreRead MoreThe Crucible-Thomas Putnam Essay751 Words   |  4 PagesThomas Putnam plays a major role in the Salem witch hunt in Arthur Miller#8217;s The Crucible. Inheriting a handsome amount of property makes Putnam a wealthy person; however, it doesn#8217;t seem to satisfy his ambition. After the town terribly rejected Putnam#8217;s brother-in-law, Bayley, Putnam#8217;s bitterness has increased. Finally his prodigious involvement in the relentless accusations places him in the cent er of the spot light, making him a salient character in both the play and the