The Crucible By Arthur Miller

The Crucible was a film created by Arthur Miller to showcase the witch trials of Salem in the 1690’s. In the Miller films, the opening scene in which a group of girls from the village of Salem as well as a slave known as Tituba are seen dancing together in the woods. As they begin to dance and perform a ritual for the men in their life whom they desire. The girls are seen placing items in a pot to secure the ritual. This first scene by Miller is extremely important and sets up the rest of the story. The way each character is introduced, the way the girls are shown as a group and the way the scene ends sets up for the rest of the story.

The first scene of the story introduces the group of girls in the movie as all being united. Showing all

With the dialogue given by the characters, we immediately learn who each of these characters are. Their traits and wants are conveyed through dialogue. Through the dialogue of the girls in the opening scene, we can see that they are having fun and in a playful mood while performing the ritual. This sets up the fact that the girls were never serious about their accusations and they were playing a part the entire time. However, through the dialogue of Betty Paris in the opening scene, you can understand that she is uncertain and guilty. Her dialogue proves that she feels guilty about the ritual, which justifies why she falls of a fake illness because of her guiltiness. Another dialogue that signifies the story is that of Abigail Williams in the opening scene. Based on her dialogue we learn that she would like to marry John Proctor and because of that she continues with the ritual, also with this dialogue it justifies her actions in accusing John Proctor wife of witchcraft due to jealousy. Miller’s dialogue in the opening scene helps the audience understand each character and their motivations, which sets up for the rest of the