Themes in The Crucible 11 CP. Conflicts Act 1 Paris vs. Town: reputation with his daughter/niece associated with witchcraft Abigail vs. girls: desire

Themes in Themes in The CrucibleThe Crucible

11 CP 11 CP

Conflicts Act 1Conflicts Act 1

Paris vs. Town: reputation with his Paris vs. Town: reputation with his daughter/niece associated with witchcraftdaughter/niece associated with witchcraft

Abigail vs. girls: desire to keep quiet Abigail vs. girls: desire to keep quiet events in the forestevents in the forest

Proctor vs. Abigail: affair and romantic Proctor vs. Abigail: affair and romantic relationshiprelationship

Conflicts: Act 1 (con’t)Conflicts: Act 1 (con’t)

Proctor vs. Town Elders: resents Putnam’s land greed, Proctor vs. Town Elders: resents Putnam’s land greed, doesn’t think Parris preaches effectivelydoesn’t think Parris preaches effectively

Putnam vs. Francis Nurse: resents the fact that he owns Putnam vs. Francis Nurse: resents the fact that he owns more land and wants the property for himself.more land and wants the property for himself.

Rebecca Nurse vs. Town: doesn’t think the town elders Rebecca Nurse vs. Town: doesn’t think the town elders should look into witchcraft.should look into witchcraft.

Hale vs. Rebecca: She doesn’t think demons should be Hale vs. Rebecca: She doesn’t think demons should be sought sought

Tituba vs. the town: Scapegoat for witchcraft.Tituba vs. the town: Scapegoat for witchcraft.

Act 1 Thematic MotifsAct 1 Thematic Motifs

Theocracy: what happens when the church tries Theocracy: what happens when the church tries to regulate behavior by severe punishment?to regulate behavior by severe punishment?

Control: When society is too repressed, it cracksControl: When society is too repressed, it cracks

Appearance vs. Reality. Characters appear Appearance vs. Reality. Characters appear different on the outside: Paris, looks holy but different on the outside: Paris, looks holy but wants political gain. Abigail looks innocent but is wants political gain. Abigail looks innocent but is evil. Can’t trust what you see.evil. Can’t trust what you see.

Act 1 ThemesAct 1 Themes

Deflected blame: Pointing the finger at Deflected blame: Pointing the finger at another takes the blame off the guilty.another takes the blame off the guilty.

When a person is threatened with When a person is threatened with violence, he or she will say anything from violence, he or she will say anything from being harmed, there fore justice is lost. being harmed, there fore justice is lost.

Act 1 QuotesAct 1 Quotes

1. "There is a faction that is sworn to drive 1. "There is a faction that is sworn to drive me from my pulpit.“me from my pulpit.“Speaker:Speaker: Paris ParisSignificanceSignificance: Shows his obsession with his : Shows his obsession with his reputation.reputation.

2. "There be no blush about my name."2. "There be no blush about my name."SpeakerSpeaker: Abigail: AbigailSignificanceSignificance: Is not who she appears to be: Is not who she appears to be


3. "... I have laid seven babies unbaptized in the 3. "... I have laid seven babies unbaptized in the earth."earth."Speaker: Anne PutnamSpeaker: Anne PutnamSignificance: Shows a motive to instigate Significance: Shows a motive to instigate hysteria, she is bitterhysteria, she is bitter

4. "Give me a word, John. A soft word."4. "Give me a word, John. A soft word."SpeakerSpeaker: Abigail: AbigailSignificance:Significance: Shows her desperate desire for Shows her desperate desire for John and motive to capture him.John and motive to capture him.


5. "We vote by name in this society, not by acreage."5. "We vote by name in this society, not by acreage."Speaker: ProctorSpeaker: ProctorSignificance: Shows he is not willing to be shamedSignificance: Shows he is not willing to be shamed

6. "You are God's instrument put in our hands to discover 6. "You are God's instrument put in our hands to discover the devil's agents among us."the devil's agents among us."Speaker: HaleSpeaker: HaleSignificance: Manipulation and loss of justiceSignificance: Manipulation and loss of justice

7. “You drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor…”7. “You drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor…”Speaker: BettySpeaker: BettySignificance: Result of repressed emotionsSignificance: Result of repressed emotions

Act 1 QuotesAct 1 Quotes8. “A child’s spirit is like a child, you can never catch it by running after 8. “A child’s spirit is like a child, you can never catch it by running after

it; you must stand still, and, for love, it will soon itself come back.” it; you must stand still, and, for love, it will soon itself come back.” Speaker: Rebecca NurseSpeaker: Rebecca NurseSignificance: Voice of reason, kids are kidsSignificance: Voice of reason, kids are kids

9. “I am not some preaching farmer with a book under my arm; I am a 9. “I am not some preaching farmer with a book under my arm; I am a graduate from Harvard.”graduate from Harvard.”Speaker: ParisSpeaker: ParisSignificance: Appearances are deceiving, he is insecureSignificance: Appearances are deceiving, he is insecure

10. “The devil is precise; the marks of his presence are definite as 10. “The devil is precise; the marks of his presence are definite as stone...”stone...”Speaker: HaleSpeaker: HaleSignificance: Shows his belief that he has the right to judge othersSignificance: Shows his belief that he has the right to judge others


11. 11. "I cannot blink what I saw, Abigail, for my enemies "I cannot blink what I saw, Abigail, for my enemies will not blink it.“will not blink it.“-Show’s Paris’s obsession with his reputation-Show’s Paris’s obsession with his reputation

1212. "And now you bid me tear the light out of my . "And now you bid me tear the light out of my eyes?“eyes?“

-Shows Abigail’s inability to hear “no” from John-Shows Abigail’s inability to hear “no” from John

13.13. "She made me do it! She made Betty do it!“"She made me do it! She made Betty do it!“-Example of deflected blame.-Example of deflected blame.


14. “You are God’s instrument put in our 14. “You are God’s instrument put in our hands to discover the Devil’s agents hands to discover the Devil’s agents among us.”among us.”-Shows Hale’s “ability” to find out evil -Shows Hale’s “ability” to find out evil in othersin others

15. 15. “You load one oak of mine and you’ll “You load one oak of mine and you’ll fight to drag it home!”fight to drag it home!”

-Shows Putnam land greed-Shows Putnam land greed


The worst judge is oneself: John is The worst judge is oneself: John is tormented by his own guilt of adultery.tormented by his own guilt of adultery.

Proctors are voice of reason. They know Proctors are voice of reason. They know who they are and don’t pretend to be who they are and don’t pretend to be otherwise.otherwise.

Hale’s cross examination: It is not for Hale’s cross examination: It is not for another to decide how “good” you are another to decide how “good” you are (McCarthy).(McCarthy).


Vengeance rules Salem, society is broken Vengeance rules Salem, society is broken in the name of blame.in the name of blame.

The accuser becomes holy. Accusing The accuser becomes holy. Accusing becomes a form of purification. Way of becomes a form of purification. Way of gaining power.gaining power.

Fear is a powerful tool for manipulation.Fear is a powerful tool for manipulation.

Act 2 QuotesAct 2 Quotes1. “I have good reason to think before I charge fraud on Abigail, and I will think on it.”1. “I have good reason to think before I charge fraud on Abigail, and I will think on it.”Speaker: Speaker: John ProctorJohn ProctorSignificance: Significance: Shows his initial guilt and fear about coming forward Shows his initial guilt and fear about coming forward

2. “She’ll kill me for sayin’ that! Abby’ll charge lechery on you, Mr. Proctor!”2. “She’ll kill me for sayin’ that! Abby’ll charge lechery on you, Mr. Proctor!”Speaker: Speaker: Mary WarrenMary WarrenSignificance: Significance: Shows her meager attempt to use fear to control Proctor Shows her meager attempt to use fear to control Proctor

3. “I thought sir, sir, to put some questions as to the Christian character of this house, 3. “I thought sir, sir, to put some questions as to the Christian character of this house, if you will permit me.”if you will permit me.”Speaker: Speaker: HaleHaleSignificance: Significance: Show’s Hale’s alleged ability to decide how “holy” the Proctor’s are.Show’s Hale’s alleged ability to decide how “holy” the Proctor’s are.

4. “You have a faulty understanding of young girls. There is a promise made in any 4. “You have a faulty understanding of young girls. There is a promise made in any bed.”bed.”Speaker: Speaker: ElizabethElizabethSignificance: Significance: Shows Elizabeth as the voice of reason, and her ability to use reason Shows Elizabeth as the voice of reason, and her ability to use reason to save herself from Abigail’s attack to save herself from Abigail’s attack

Act 2 QuotesAct 2 Quotes5. “I am amazed you do not see what weighty work we do.”5. “I am amazed you do not see what weighty work we do.”Speaker: Speaker: Mary WarrenMary WarrenSignificance: Significance: Shows Mary gaining “power” as an accuser Shows Mary gaining “power” as an accuser

6. “The promise that a stallion gives a mare I gave that girl.”6. “The promise that a stallion gives a mare I gave that girl.”Speaker: John ProctorSpeaker: John ProctorSignificance: Significance: John says this to show he is through with Abigail John says this to show he is through with Abigail

7. “I labor the earth from dawn of day to blink of night…when I look to 7. “I labor the earth from dawn of day to blink of night…when I look to heaven and see my money at his elbows-it hurt my prayer sir.”heaven and see my money at his elbows-it hurt my prayer sir.”Speaker: Speaker: John ProctorJohn ProctorSignificance: Significance: Shows his willingness to show his beliefs Shows his willingness to show his beliefs

8. “I do not judge you. The magistrate sits in your heart that judges you.”8. “I do not judge you. The magistrate sits in your heart that judges you.”Speaker: Speaker: ElizabethElizabethSignificance: Significance: Shows the cost of guilt afflicting ProctorShows the cost of guilt afflicting Proctor


9. “I never said my wife was a witch, Mr. Hale; I only said 9. “I never said my wife was a witch, Mr. Hale; I only said she were reading books!” she were reading books!” Speaker: Speaker: Giles CoreyGiles CoreySignificance: Significance: Shows his regret for seeking Hale’s help. Shows his regret for seeking Hale’s help.

10. “Is the accuser always holy now? Were they born 10. “Is the accuser always holy now? Were they born this morning as clean as God’s fingers? I’ll tell you what’s this morning as clean as God’s fingers? I’ll tell you what’s walking Salem-vengeance is walking Salem…”walking Salem-vengeance is walking Salem…”Speaker: Speaker: John ProctorJohn ProctorSignificance: Significance: Shows John as voice of reason.Shows John as voice of reason. Shows Shows how the girls gain power through accusation.how the girls gain power through accusation.


Hale’s inability to stick up for justice shows Hale’s inability to stick up for justice shows that the “religious” are not always the most that the “religious” are not always the most honest. honest.

Hysteria corrodes the fabric of society. Hysteria corrodes the fabric of society. The town’s best are thrown in jailThe town’s best are thrown in jail

The notion that truth is found in the The notion that truth is found in the governing powers is NOT necessarily true.governing powers is NOT necessarily true.


Love in marriage is a very powerful force. Love in marriage is a very powerful force. Elizabeth is a pillar of honesty, but caves Elizabeth is a pillar of honesty, but caves to protect John.to protect John.

A man’s sinful nature doesn’t discount his A man’s sinful nature doesn’t discount his heroic attributes. John’s willingness to heroic attributes. John’s willingness to come forward is heroiccome forward is heroic

Crucible Title Crucible Title

Crucible is a melting pot that separates Crucible is a melting pot that separates base metals from valuable ones.base metals from valuable ones.

Separation of the good people from the Separation of the good people from the bad-those with integrity and those without bad-those with integrity and those without it. John Proctor, though he is condemned, it. John Proctor, though he is condemned, has the greatest integrity has the greatest integrity

McCarthyismMcCarthyism

Reflection of McCarthyism that Miller Reflection of McCarthyism that Miller encountered which was an abuse of encountered which was an abuse of power.power.

Truth is Truth is notnot necessarily found in the necessarily found in the judicial system or in the governing judicial system or in the governing powers. Truth is found in an individual powers. Truth is found in an individual (such as Proctor).(such as Proctor).

TheocracyTheocracy

Excessive repression in society Excessive repression in society (theocracy) leads to rebellion-hysteria (theocracy) leads to rebellion-hysteria tears apart a community.tears apart a community.

Girls repressed sexuality led to an Girls repressed sexuality led to an explosion of hysterical behavior.explosion of hysterical behavior.

Peer PressurePeer Pressure

Peer pressure is a powerful tool. Peer pressure is a powerful tool. People easily fall into corrupt People easily fall into corrupt behavior by following the crowd.behavior by following the crowd.

Few take responsibility for their Few take responsibility for their actions when everyone around them actions when everyone around them is going crazy-known as mob is going crazy-known as mob mentality.mentality.

ProctorProctor

You only get one name in life and can You only get one name in life and can never have another.never have another.

In the end, personal integrity is the most In the end, personal integrity is the most important quality; Proctor dies with his important quality; Proctor dies with his good name and finds his goodness in good name and finds his goodness in that fact. that fact.

Documents

Themes in The Crucible 11 CP. Conflicts Act 1 Paris vs. Town: reputation with his daughter/niece associated with witchcraft Abigail vs. girls: desire