How Does Hynter Use Film Techniques In The Crucible

The Crucible, a play written by Arthur Miller in 1953 is a political allegory, based on the Salem witch trials. During its time, it was used to inform people about the horrid nature of the accusations which took place during the Red Scare. In 1996, director Nicholas Hynter released a film adaptation of Miller’s play. Despite popular belief, movie adaptations hold just as much significance as the original written text. Both the text and its visual counterpart are created to convey a message, just in their own respective ways. As authors use literary devices to create meaning and convey themes within their texts, directors use movie techniques. A technique like lighting can be used to characterize, while visual symbolism can allude and foreshadow,

A scene which utilizes lighting most effectively is in the Proctor house when John and Elizabeth are in a heated conversation about what their relationship has developed into. Overall, the lighting in the Proctor house is poor and dim, especially compared to other settings within the movie, such as the courthouse or Parris’ home, which are generally well lit. This lack of light gives off a cold, gloomy tone for the scene. This tone then evokes the idea that things may be hostile within the relationship between Proctor and Elizabeth. The lighting can also characterize the individuals in the scene. During the Proctor’s quarrel, the director pans back and forth between Proctor and Elizabeth. When focused on Proctor, he is shown in dull lighting, often in the shadows. By being in the shadows, it seems as though Proctor may be hiding something. When this shadow is coupled with the overall darkness of the camera shot, it may show that he is dishonest. The audience knows that Proctor had an affair with Abigail, which he is dishonest with Elizabeth about in this scene, and is trying to hide by minimizing what occurred. Not only is John in the dark in this scene, but it is something that is prominent throughout the majority of the movie. Elizabeth, on the other hand, is often well lit and bright when she is in the camera’s view. Elizabeth is one of the most

When Proctor arrives in court for the first time with Mary Warren to get her to confess that Abigail and the girls are frauds, Proctor is wearing a red scarf around his neck. This red scarf remains on his neck up until the point he is falsely accused of being a witch and persecuted. When he is persecuted he, spreads his arms out and exclaims “God is dead.” The red scarf in this scene is not only a symbol, but it also foreshadows, as it represents the ultimate death of John Proctor. The color red represents blood, which is associated with dying, and by wrapping it around his neck, it represents the noose which is put on him when he is hanged at the end of the story. Also, by spreading his arms out, it is symbolic of Jesus on the cross, who was persecuted and crucified for being falsely accused of being an anti-government rebel, which is very similar to John Proctor’s situation, who is falsely accused of practicing witchcraft. In the book, John’s death is ultimately decided based on his relationship with the community. By the end, John has such an animosity with Salem. He is so heavily disappointed in the community to continue building on each other’s lies and stepping on other people in order to get by. As an attempt to fix this mess, Proctor is given the opportunity to ‘confess’ to witchcraft in order to save his life, but in the