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Metaphors In The Crucible

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[Title]: [Subtitle] The Crucible is a play written by Arthur Miller about the witch trials that occurred in Salem, Massachusetts during 1692. In the play Miller uses metaphors, dramatic irony, and symbolism in order to convey the reoccurring theme that mass hysteria causes distrust among communities. Throughout the play Miller uses metaphors in several occasions. In Act II Reverend Hale says to John Proctor, “Theology, sir is a fortress; no crack in a fortress may be considered small,” (64). The fortress Hale speaks of is the Christian religion, and the hysteria about witches is causing chaos within the church community. Hale is a black arts expert, so when he said this, it caused people to question if the foundation they had built around …show more content…

This quote could be translated in many different ways, but perhaps Miller wanted it to portray that at the time if you were of Christian faith your fortress had to be built around God, and if there were any doubts, that would lead to an opportunity for the Devil to take control. Another example of a metaphor in the play is in Act IV when Reverend Parris says to the judges, “There be a faction here, feeding on that news, and I tell you true, sir, I fear there will be riot here,” (127). At the time, Reverend Parris, is saying this in order to voice his concerns that the hangings should be postponed. Reverend Parris shares his apprehensions because he doesn’t know if what they’re doing is right anymore. He’s becoming suspicious because so many people who hold weight in the town are being accused of witchcraft. …show more content…

In Act III Judge Danforth says, “I have seen marvels in this court. I have seen people choked before my eyes by spirits; I have seen them stuck by pins and slashed by daggers,” (91). Currently Judge Danforth still believes Abigail to be truthful. Danforth believing her relates directly back to the theme, because even the mass hysteria affects the judge. The community has many problems, but the whole town is blaming them on Satan and witchcraft. Judge Danforth wants to believe Abigail so that he can have answers for the people of Salem. Also, another situation in Act III that included dramatic irony was when Judge Danforth asked Elizabeth, “Why did you dismiss Abigail Williams?” and Elizabeth replies, “She- dissatisfied me (pause) And my husband,” (112). When Elizabeth was asked this, she wasn’t aware that her husband had already admitted that he committed the unimaginable crime of adultery. Elizabeth, being the honorable wife that she is, lied for her husband John causing all hell to break loose in the courtroom. By telling a lie about her husband’s actions, Elizabeth discredits John’s confession and makes Abigail look like she is telling the truth. If Elizabeth would have answered truthfully, it could have changed the entire path of the trial. Her answer now makes her husband look like a liar, and Abigail’s bizarre story even more believable. In the end, Elizabeth didn’t want to ruin her husband’s

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501 Words | 3 Pages

Thereby raising alarming questions about her trustworthiness. Despite this, Judge Danforth still continues the hangings which shows that he stills trusts Abigail’s words and accusations. The extend to which Abigail has manipulated Judge Danforth is shown here. Danforth’s unconditional reliability in Abigail motivated the people in Salem to accused each other to save their own

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647 Words | 3 Pages

Would a woman not want to protect her husband from hanging? She knew not of John’s confession and therefore thought that if she told the court what had actually happened he would be sentenced to hang. What good would he do dead? The two of them have two kids together, the boys deserve and need a father, Elizabeth would not be able to raise them on her own and take care of their land at the same time. So she told a very reasonable lie to protect her husband who she had vowed loyalty to, and to help her kid’s lives.

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1045 Words | 5 Pages

The Crucible is a play centered around the Salem Witch Trials, which the author uses to reflect on human nature. Rev. Hale is an expert in witchcraft from Beverly, a town near Salem, and starts off by assisting the court in judging those accused. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, Rev. Hale changes from feeling confident and justified in his beliefs to feeling uncertainty and guilt about what he has done through his manner, how he is portrayed, and his views of the trials. In Act One of The Crucible, Rev. Hale’s current demeanor, portrayal, and views are revealed.

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Elizabeth has seemingly never told a lie in her life until it appears as a way to keep John safe. Elizabeth is accused of witchcraft by Abigail Williams. Abigail previously had an affair with her husband John. John goes to the court with proof that all of the accusations are a lie, but that plan fails. John sees no other option but to tell the court about his affair, in hopes to discredit Abigail and save all the people accused.

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1066 Words | 5 Pages

Abigail first commits adultery with Elizabeth Proctor’s husband John Proctor. Later on, she accuses people of doing witchcraft which causes their life. Abigail Williams uses the Salem Witch Trials to put out all the resentment she has towards everyone. From this broad accusation, it shows how weak the human beings really are, and how greediness and to want for personal gaining. Many people die in the village after a series of lies and unjust practices.

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During court, Mary said she heard “the other girls screaming” and that Danforth “seemed to believe them” so she followed suit (Miller 107). Abigail and her friends saw the court believing their act, so they continued with their theatrics. This same display of emotion from Proctor also works at convincing Danforth Abigail’s words are not to be trusted, and her accusations against his wife have no

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224 Words | 1 Pages

The Crucible metaphor also shines bright when Judge Danforth says to Proctor,‘We burn a hot fire here; it melts down all concealment’. The court scenes always portrayed a feeling of fear, tension and conflicts between the hands that wield power. Proctor later speaks out one of his most rageful dialogues ‘A fire, a fire is burning! I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face! …. And we will burn, we will burn together!’Here Miller makes one of the most important connection between the play’s title The Crucible and the society that he wishes to portray.

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598 Words | 3 Pages

At this instance, he is indirectly fueling Abigail and the girls to accuse whomever they want to. Judge Danforth’s irrationality bubbles out in this situation, as according to his judiciary system any person accused of witchcraft have no chance of being a defendant due to the absence of a witness. This shows incompetence and irrationality of legal judgments on the part of an experienced Judge such as Danforth. Lastly, Danforth’s poor judgment is also revealed in the instance of the play wherein John proctor sacrifices his name and tell the truth that he and Abigail had committed the crime of Lechery. In order to confirm this Judge Danforth calls Elizabeth Proctor to testify in court, in which she lies, as a result Danforth says “She spoke nothing of lechery, and this man has lied” (Miller 114).

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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

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842 Words | 4 Pages

She accused Elizabeth Proctor of witchcraft so she can be with John and she is lying to force Mary Warren to join their side again. In the beginning of the play, when the girls are just about to try to wake up Betty but Mr. Parris will come in while, Abigail says, “No, he’ll be comin’ up. Listen, now; if they be questioning us, tell them we danced-I told him as much already” (Miller 174). She is lying to save herself and she is expecting others to do the same and they will. In middle of the play when John Proctor just tells Mr. Hale that Abigail told him she is lying the whole time, “Abigail Williams told you it had naught to do with witchcraft” (Miller 200).

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630 Words | 3 Pages

Dramatic irony is created in the text through Danforth asking “Why did you dismiss Abigail Williams?”, and Elizabeth responding “She - dissatisfied me”(Miller. III.18.). This is an example of Dramatic Irony because the reader already knows that John has confessed to adultery, but Elizabeth doesn't so she lies in hopes of protecting his reputation. Elizabeth's attempt in maintaining John’s Power caused her and John to both have bad reputations, and resulted in John being out on death row. from this, more chaos in the community is created because of more deaths of significant characters, leaving the town to run with orphans and rotting from lack of order.

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451 Words | 2 Pages

If Abigail, John, and Elizabeth would have been honest to begin with then many innocent people would not have lost their lives and left the town in despair. Abigail Williams lied to many people a during the entire story. In Act 1, Abigail made Reverend Parris believe that she was dismissed from working for the Proctors was due to the fact that “She (Elizabeth) hates me, uncle, she must, for I would not be her slave. It’s a bitter woman, a lying, cold, sniveling woman, and I will not work for such a woman!” (Miller, 140).

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677 Words | 3 Pages

Most communities in the world today believe that excluding harmful thoughts, ideas, actions, and sometimes people are ultimately the best course of action for uniting their group. An example is the exclusion of same-sex marriage in most states, but especially in the Catholic Church. By excluding same-sex marriage, the Catholic Church community unites with a feeling of purity towards their religious community. In the play, The Crucible, Arthur Miller presents the audience with a paradox that was exemplified through the Salem witchcraft trials. The paradox “Unity through Exclusion” means that a community will become closer together through the exclusion or exile of harmful people.

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674 Words | 3 Pages

And Elizabeth, who has lived by the truth, lies to keep her husband's secret and condemns them both by doing so. And Mary Warren, who had lied and now is finally telling the truth, lies again to save her life. The only winner here is the chief liar, Abigail Williams, who continues to lie. And the court, which should be an instrument of truth, is in the position of condemning those who tell the truth and believing

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1237 Words | 5 Pages

This was a perfect opportunity for Abigail to get Elizabeth accused since she wants John. Consequently she did just that and got Elizabeth arrested. Throughout all of act II people are being arrested on  lies told due to the fact that someone does not like

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