The Crucible Act III. Irony Irony Francis: We come here three days now and cannot be heard.” Francis: We come here three days now and cannot be heard.”

The CrucibleThe Crucible

Act IIIAct III

IronyIrony

• Francis: We come here three days Francis: We come here three days now and cannot be heard.”now and cannot be heard.”

• Why is this statement ironic?Why is this statement ironic?

• The accusers have no trouble being The accusers have no trouble being heard; only the defenders of the heard; only the defenders of the accused are not listened to.accused are not listened to.

Legal TermsLegal Terms

• ““deposition” deposition” – The word comes from the French The word comes from the French deposerdeposer, which means “to set down.”, which means “to set down.”

– A witness sets down his testimony in A witness sets down his testimony in writing, to be used when the case comes writing, to be used when the case comes for trial.for trial.

CharacterizationCharacterization

• Why is Parris so afraid of Mary Why is Parris so afraid of Mary Warren’s confession being heard in Warren’s confession being heard in open court?open court?

• Parris knows that Mary’s testimony Parris knows that Mary’s testimony will show that he has been a party to will show that he has been a party to the fraud all along.the fraud all along.

Verbal IronyVerbal Irony

• What is ironic about Danforth saying What is ironic about Danforth saying to Hale, “ I judge nothing”?to Hale, “ I judge nothing”?

• Danforth is a judge who makes life Danforth is a judge who makes life and death decisions.and death decisions.

PlotPlot

• What document does Proctor present What document does Proctor present to the court?to the court?– The document says that Rebecca, The document says that Rebecca,

Elizabeth, and Martha are all good Elizabeth, and Martha are all good Christian women.Christian women.

– It is signed by 91 people.It is signed by 91 people.

Dramatic IronyDramatic Irony

• What is ironic about Parris’s insistence What is ironic about Parris’s insistence that the signers of the deposition be that the signers of the deposition be summoned to the court?summoned to the court?

• By signing the deposition, these By signing the deposition, these people were trying to tell the truth people were trying to tell the truth and help others.and help others.

• Their punishment for this is that they Their punishment for this is that they are now all in danger from the court.are now all in danger from the court.


• Why is Parris’s reaction to the Why is Parris’s reaction to the deposition ironic?deposition ironic?

• Proctor says that all the signers are Proctor says that all the signers are members of the church.members of the church.

• Parris’s livelihood depends on these Parris’s livelihood depends on these people.people.

• He should treat them well rather than He should treat them well rather than suggesting that their actions are suggesting that their actions are suspicious.suspicious.


• Danforth: But you must understand, sir, that a Danforth: But you must understand, sir, that a person is either with this court or against it, person is either with this court or against it, there be no road between.there be no road between.

• Why is this statement ironic?Why is this statement ironic?

• The court’s job is to be impartial, not to The court’s job is to be impartial, not to assume the guilt of the accused as this court assume the guilt of the accused as this court does.does.

• Those who try to present actual evidence are Those who try to present actual evidence are ignored, but they are the ones trying to work ignored, but they are the ones trying to work by the rules of the court.by the rules of the court.


• Proctor: “Do that which is good and Proctor: “Do that which is good and no harm will come to thee.”no harm will come to thee.”

• In what sense is this quotation from In what sense is this quotation from the Bible ironic?the Bible ironic?

• It is ironic because so far in the play, It is ironic because so far in the play, harm has come to several characters harm has come to several characters who have nothing but good.who have nothing but good.

CharacterizationCharacterization

• DanforthDanforth– A true PuritanA true Puritan– Believes in the idea of demonic Believes in the idea of demonic

possessionpossession– Takes it for granted no one would lieTakes it for granted no one would lie– Innocent and naïve about human natureInnocent and naïve about human nature– Only wants to protect the reputation of Only wants to protect the reputation of

the courtthe court


• Why is Danforth’s insistence that Why is Danforth’s insistence that lawyers are unnecessary ironic?lawyers are unnecessary ironic?– Since the court is so unwilling to listen Since the court is so unwilling to listen

to defenders of the accused or to accept to defenders of the accused or to accept their evidence, they need the legal their evidence, they need the legal protection that the court insists no protection that the court insists no innocent person needs.innocent person needs.


• Danforth: …children, the law and Danforth: …children, the law and Bible damn all bearers of false Bible damn all bearers of false witness.witness.

• In what ways is Danforth’s statement In what ways is Danforth’s statement ironic?ironic?

• The play is filled with people who lie The play is filled with people who lie against their neighbors.against their neighbors.


• Describe the difference between the Describe the difference between the judge’s interrogation of Abigail and judge’s interrogation of Abigail and his interrogation of the defenders.his interrogation of the defenders.

• He takes Abigail’s unsupported word He takes Abigail’s unsupported word as hard evidence, whereas he as hard evidence, whereas he expects the defenders to bring more expects the defenders to bring more proof.proof.

Tragic HeroTragic Hero

• A tragic hero is a significant character who A tragic hero is a significant character who is brought down by a tragic flaw or is brought down by a tragic flaw or weakness in his character. He eventually weakness in his character. He eventually redeems himself but usually dies in the redeems himself but usually dies in the process.process.

• Who is the tragic hero?Who is the tragic hero?• John ProctorJohn Proctor• What is his flaw?What is his flaw?• His failure to truly understand the His failure to truly understand the

repercussions of his adultery.repercussions of his adultery.

SpeculationSpeculation

• Why can Mary Warren not faint now, Why can Mary Warren not faint now, when she was able to in the past?when she was able to in the past?

• Mary had been stirred up by the Mary had been stirred up by the frenzy around her--- the other girls frenzy around her--- the other girls claimed they were affected by the claimed they were affected by the spirits, so Mary did, too.spirits, so Mary did, too.


• Abigail: I have been hurt Mr. Danforth; Abigail: I have been hurt Mr. Danforth; I have seen my blood runnin’ out! I I have seen my blood runnin’ out! I have been near to murdered every have been near to murdered every day because I done my duty pointing day because I done my duty pointing out the Devil’s people --- and this is out the Devil’s people --- and this is my reward?my reward?

• What is ironic about Abigail’s speech?What is ironic about Abigail’s speech?• Abigail describes herself as the victim Abigail describes herself as the victim

when in fact she is the accuser.when in fact she is the accuser.

PlotPlot

• What threat does Abigail level at What threat does Abigail level at Judge Danforth?Judge Danforth?

• She implies that she may accuse him She implies that she may accuse him of witchcraft.of witchcraft.


• When Elizabeth is questioned about When Elizabeth is questioned about John’s affair with Abigail, she lies. What John’s affair with Abigail, she lies. What is ironic about her defense of him?is ironic about her defense of him?

• Elizabeth believes that defending her Elizabeth believes that defending her husband requires her to lie, but the husband requires her to lie, but the audience knows that, in this case, audience knows that, in this case, defending him requires her to tell the defending him requires her to tell the truth.truth.

Situational IronySituational Irony

• Elizabeth is an honest woman who Elizabeth is an honest woman who finds it very difficult to lie. The one finds it very difficult to lie. The one time that the truth is most essential time that the truth is most essential is the time she decides she must lie is the time she decides she must lie to protect someone. Once again in to protect someone. Once again in Salem, lies to the court have hurt the Salem, lies to the court have hurt the innocent and protected the guilty.innocent and protected the guilty.


• What does the audience know about What does the audience know about the girls that Danforth does not know?the girls that Danforth does not know?

• The audience knows the girls are The audience knows the girls are pretending.pretending.

• Why does Abigail scream at the Why does Abigail scream at the moment that Hale tries to speak?moment that Hale tries to speak?

• She knows that Danforth may listen to She knows that Danforth may listen to Hale, and she needs a distraction.Hale, and she needs a distraction.


• Why is Mary Warren’s accusation of Why is Mary Warren’s accusation of John Proctor ironic?John Proctor ironic?

• Proctor is the only person who tried Proctor is the only person who tried to help her crush the fraud.to help her crush the fraud.

Documents

The Crucible Act III. Irony Irony Francis: We come here three days now and cannot be heard.” Francis: We come here three days now and cannot be heard.”