Analyzing and Explaining Themes in The Crucible In a dramatic work, authors can create thematic ideas through character conflict. In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, there were many themes presented that stood out. Of those themes, the most important and recurring theme was the choices that the characters had. Throughout the play, many characters were given the option to tell the truth, maintain their integrity and face the consequences, or to lie so they don’t get in trouble or hurt their reputation. An example of the choices and decisions that the characters had, would be Abigail. Throughout the story, Abigail was given several choices to either tell the truth, or to lie. For example, when Abigail was accused of dancing naked in the …show more content…
He is a good example, because rather than lying about the affair that he had with Abigail to the court, he told the truth. He could have lied to uphold his reputation, but he admitted a crime that he had committed because he wanted to maintain his integrity rather than maintain his reputation. He also told the truth to prove to the court that Abigail was lying and accusing people of witchcraft just to get back at him because she was jealous. Meanwhile, his wife Elizabeth was later given the choice to tell the truth to the court about John’s affair. She could have either told the court that John had committed adultery, or she could’ve told them a lie and made up a different reason for dismissing Abigail from their family’s service. Abigail made the choice to lie to try and protect John; however, she did not know that he had already confessed to the committing the crime. Because of Elizabeth’s choice to tell a lie and not tell the truth, many other people lives were effected. If she would have told the truth and said that John did commit adultery, the court would have believed John when he said that Abigail was only accusing people to try and get John back. They would have realized that all Abigail was doing was spreading lies and rumors just so she could get rid of Elizabeth so she would be able to have
However, this is inaccurate because he avoids Abigail and risks everything for his wife. Elizabeth was taken by the court because she was accused for being a witch, but John knows she is a good women and fights for her. Elizabeth is worth the trouble of going to the court and defying the government. It is honorable for a husband to protect his wife after all they are family. John is talking to the court and tell the court a secret that no one knows about, John’s reputation is on the line.
Abigail Williams and Joseph McCarthy have some similarities. Those similarities include behavior, beliefs, and motives. The book The Crucible by Arthur Miller and the movie Good Night and Good Luck directed by George Clooney were in different eras and had different topics. Both Abigail Williams and Joseph McCarthy had similar problems just in different ways. They both believed they were doing the right thing by blaming innocent people.
In Arthur Miller’s, The Crucible, passions turned into problems. Witchcraft in Salem Massachusetts became a remembered event since 1692. Three girls were said to have interactions with the devil. When they were confronted about it they denied every interaction the people who were convicted they would say they weren’t a witch and would bring someone else’s name into the equation. Those who would admit to being a witch would go to jail, but for those who denied having interaction with the devil would have been trialed and hung, so really, anyway you put it
Miller’s use of symbolism and imagery, reveals the true love Circe had towards Glaucous and how Circe trusts too easily. When Glaucous awoke from undergoing the changes that turned him into a god, she hid the truth from him that it was her who gave him immortality. According to Miller, “I loved his face in those moments, glowing with power and joy” (Miller 50-51). Miller’s use of imagery, helps to convey the idea how much Circe loved Glaucous and how she trusted too easily. Even before Glaucous was turned into a god Circe truly loved him.
To live or to die? Seems like an obvious question, right? When the weight of another factor clouds the seemingly no-brainer question is it really so obvious? Die for a lie or live with dishonor? It’s not anywhere as obvious now.
While being questioned, John Proctor sacrifices his good standing in the community in order to save his wife when he confesses that “[he has] known [Abigail]” (Miller 3.2.380). By jeopardizing his family's good name, he shows his love for Elizabeth even though he faces severe consequences. Also, because of Elizabeth love for her husband, she is willing to sacrifice her own reputation. When John’s life is on the line, Elizabeth comes to testify and lies for John's reputation sake, even though, “she [has] never lied” (Miller 3.2.410). Elizabeth knows how important John's reputation is to him, so instead of sacrificing him for her good name, she lies to seemingly save his life and reputation.
Arthur Miller shows the definitions of crucible in a brilliant way throughout the play The Crucible. There are many ways that Arthur Miller connected the title of the play to the characters and events in the play. The three definitions of crucible show a strong relationship between the two. The definitions are a severe test of belief, a container for melting metals at extremely high heat, and concentrated forces to cause or change development.
John did tell the truth, about him and Abigail having an affair, to his wife Elizabeth. When Elizabeth suggests “I think you much tell him (Hale), John.” John did not want to tell the truth to Hale of the affair. When John admits to committing adultery to the court, nobody believes him because he waited so long the court thought it was just an attempt to save himself and Elizabeth from the charges they face.
According to the Freudian model of the psyche, psychoanalysis is a systematic structure of theories concerning the relation of the conscious mind and the unconscious mind by examining psychological process such as impulses, anxieties and internal conflicts. This model consists of three subcategories; the id, the ego, and the super-ego, all of which are evident in Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible. The id focuses on a person’s desires without any correlation to the conscience, much like that of Abigail William’s lust for John Proctor. The ego identifies the part of a person’s personality responsible for dealing with reality, such as John coming to the realization that he must remain an upright and honest man. The super-ego represents a repository of socially
Shawn Jande Ms. Clancy American Literature B3 15 November 2015 The Crucible Analytical Essay Imagine, being accused of a crime you didn’t commit by your neighbors and friends out of jealousy, and desire. This is what many people in the town of Salem had to go through during the time of the Salem Witch Trials. People's motives such as: gaining and maintaining power, and aspirations for what other people had caused them to make irrational, and atrocious decisions. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, desire and power drive characters to create chaos in the community.
The Crucible was written in 1952 by Arthur Miller, the play delivers many messages and carries many themes throughout. Nearly every character in the play is put to the test to display an act of courage, weakness, or truth. Some characters lack these traits and never learn to have courage or display honesty. However, most characters are very courageous and demonstrate these acts throughout the whole play. Overall the theme of the The Crucible boils down to being about honesty, weakness, and courage.
Hysteria can be defined as the exaggerated or uncontrollable emotion or excitement, especially among a group of people. This definition proves true and exists throughout the course of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible. In The Crucible, a group of girls go dancing in a forest around a cauldron, some even naked, and along with a black slave named Tituba. Reverend Parris, the local minister, then catches the girls in the act. As a result, Betty, one of the girls and Parris’s daughter, goes into what it seems like a coma.
Taking responsibility. Often times you will find yourself in an either difficult, or awkward situation where telling the truth is going to alter the conversation, and the person’s mood either for the better or worst, this leaves you thinking is being honest the right thing to do? This idea of being responsible for your actions is brought up countless times, both in real life and in fiction.
Also, in attempt to tell the truth about Abigail, John Proctor admits to cheating on his wife with Abigail, but Elizabeth lets her fear assist her in lying. John Proctor tells everyone in the court, previous to Elizabeth arriving, “she [has] never lied” (III.891.). With everyone now knowing that she does not lie, it makes her trustworthy and believable. Deputy Danforth then brings Elizabeth in to confirm what
In Arthur Miller 's play The Crucible, false accusations and fear are used to imprison and kill many people accused of being witches. In this way, The Crucible stands as an allegory for McCarthy 's communist hunt, during which many people were also killed and imprisoned due to accusations of communism. By comparing McCarthyism to the Salem Witch Trials, Miller is able to communicate that people should not conform to societal trends because these trends may be misleading and cause innocent people to get hurt. Many characters in The Crucible serve as allegories to McCarthy 's communist hunt, specifically Abigail Williams, Giles Corey, and Betty Parris.