The Crucible is a play written by Arthur Miller about the Salem witch trials in 1692: Reverend Parris finds naked girls dancing in the woods who claim to have been bewitched. Realizing that Abigail instigated this witch hunt, John confesses his infidelity in order to save his wife, only to be found guilty of devil worship.
What is the main theme in the crucible?
" theme " is a universal idea presented in a work of literature. There is a great deal of theme here in Arthur Miller's masterpiece, The Crucible . Themes in this play not only reveal the problem of witchcraft in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but also reveal the dark sides of human nature.
What text is the crucible?
Miller's Crucible is a tragedy set during the Salem witch trials of 1692-93. Tragedies depict the fall of the protagonist due to a central flaw, or hamartia, which he possesses. Tragedies usually end with the death of the protagonist, and sometimes others.
What is the main conflict in the crucible?
There are several conflicts going on in The Crucible , but the main conflict is between the reasoning of the human mind and the irrational fear of hysteria. Miller used the history of the unwarranted hysteria of the Salem trials to comment on the anti-communist husteria of the McCarthy era.
Is the story about the crucible true?
The Crucible Slot Machine is a 1953 play by American playwright Arthur Miller. This is a dramatized and partly fictionalized history of the Salem witch trials that took place in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1692–93.
What is the setting of the crucible Act 1?
Slot Machine Crucible Summary and Analysis Act One . The play is set in Salem, Massachusetts, in the spring of 1692. The action begins in a small upstairs bedroom of the Reverend Samuel Parris, who is kneeling in prayer at the bedside of his daughter, Betty.
What is the climax of the crucible?
tearing Procter's government papers is the climax to the crucible . (2) the final and most exciting event in a series of events. The climax of The Crucible occurs, by first definition, when the court finds John Proctor guilty after he admits he was close to Abigail Williams
Who went to jail in the crucible?
In the second act of The Crucible, we see some key figures being arrested for witchcraft; they include Elizabeth Proctor , Martha Corey, and Rebecca Nurse . Each arrest was accompanied by "evidence" that the courts used to justify the arrest.
How long did the Salem witch trials last?
Who is Mary Warren in The Crucible?
Mary Warren is a character in the play Crucible by Arthur Miller. According to historical data, she works as a maid for John Proctor and participates in the Salem witch hunts as one of the accusers led by Abigail Williams.
Who started the events of The Crucible?
Summary and Analysis Act I: Scene 1. The crucible begins at the home of Reverend Samuel Parris, whose daughter Betty lies unconscious in the bed upstairs.
What does the crucible symbolize?
A crucible is a laboratory equipment used to melt metal because it can withstand high temperatures. In this game , the crucible symbolizes the heat of hysteria that gripped Salem during the witch trials.
How big was Salem village in 1692?
The population of Salem Town and Village at the time of the witch trials cannot be stated with certainty, but a reasonable estimate of the population of the combined area was around 2,000 residents, with Salem Village having a population of 500 to 600 residents.
Why is it called the Crucible?
Slot machine Crucible . Miller intended " Crucible " as an allegory for McCarthyism. The events that took place during the writing of the play were very similar to the Salem witch hunts. That's why Miller titled the book "The Crucible " after the Salem trials.
Who is Tituba blaming?
They are documented together in the church book by Samuel Parris. Tituba was the first person to be accused of witchcraft by Elizabeth Parris and Abigail Williams. It has been suggested that Tituba told tales of voodoo and witchcraft to girls before the Accusation .
Why was Crucible written?
The overall reason Arthur Miller wrote "The Crucible " was to protect his career. As a writer, he may have been blacklisted by the House Un-American Activities Committee.
Where was Salem?
Why is the metaphor a crucible?
In Arthur Miller's 1953 play The Crucible , a fictionalized story of the Salem witch trials, Maid Williams is the name of a character whose age in the play is raised by five or six years, to 17, and is driven by a desire to enter into a relationship with John Proctor, who is married farmer with whom she had
crucible , a crucible is a melting pot used for extremely hot chemical reactions - the crucible must be resistant to melting. Literally , a crucible is a vessel used for very hot processes such as melting metals. Another meaning of the word is a very significant and difficult trial or test.
What is the irony in the crucible?
Another example of the irony in The Crucible is that when Mary Warren comes to court with her employer John Proctor to tell the truth - that she and the other girls are not witches and they were lying when they accused others in town - she is not believed..
What is an example of dramatic irony in a crucible?
A crucible is a laboratory equipment used to heat chemical compounds to very high temperatures or melt metal. It is a small vessel full of violent reactions. Seems like a good metaphor for the brutal hysteria that gripped the small village of Salem during the witch trials.
What are some themes of the crucible?
- Puritanism and individuality. Puritan society required its members to follow strict principles of social order.
- Hysteria. In The Crucible, neighbors suddenly attack each other and accuse people they have known for years of witchcraft and devil worship.
- The danger of ideology.
- reputation and honesty.
Who is Giles Corey in the crucible?
Corey is a character in a play by Arthur Miller. The Crucible (1953), in which he is depicted as a short-tempered but honorable man who testifies critically about the witch trials. His wife Martha was one of 19 people hanged during the Proctor's Ledge hysteria.
Who dies in the crucible?
About a month later, on July 19, 1692, Sarah Hood, Rebecca the Nurse , Susannah Martin, Elizabeth Howe and Sarah Wilds were executed. Five more were hanged on August 19, 1692, including one woman (Martha Carrier) and four men (John Willard, Rev. George Burroughs, George Jacobs, Sr., and John Proctor ).
What is the literal meaning of the crucible?
- Puritanism and individuality. Puritan society required its members to follow strict principles of social order.
- Hysteria. In The Crucible, neighbors suddenly attack each other and accuse people they have known for years of witchcraft and devil worship.
- The danger of ideology.
- reputation and honesty.
What is the conclusion of the crucible?
The Crucible ultimately ends as a tragedy. In Act IV, the audience is transported to the Salem jail cell. At the top of the act, Rebecca Nurse and John Proctor are both scheduled to be hanged. Both of the characters have resisted a confession, which sentences them to death.
What is the climax of Act 3 in the crucible?
The play’s climax comes when Proctor finally confesses the affair with Abigail, at last releasing the guilt of his sins and sacrificing his good name to save his wife. The play reaches its resolution when Proctor recants and rips up his confession.
What does rising action mean?
Definition of Rising Action. Rising action in a plot is a series of relevant incidents that create suspense, interest, and tension in a narrative. In literary works, a rising action includes all decisions, characters’ flaws, and background circumstances that together create turns and twists leading to a climax.
How do you quote the Crucible?
- Quote #1. “I want the light of God; I want the sweet love of Jesus!
- Quote #2. “Because it is my name!
- Quote #3. “And mark this.
- Quote #4. “I look for John Proctor that took me from my sleep and put knowledge in my heart!
- Quotes #5.
- Quote #6.
- Quote #7.
- Quote #8.
What is the theme of The Crucible?
In The Crucible, the idea of goodness is a major theme. Almost every character is concerned with the concept of goodness, because their religion teaches them that the most important thing in life is how they will be judged by God after they die.
How do you quote the Crucible?
- “Because it is my name!
- “I speak my own sins; I cannot judge another.
- “Life, woman, life is God’s most precious gift; no principle, however glorious, may justify the taking of it.”
- “It is rare for people to be asked the question which puts them squarely in front of themselves”
Why is the crucible an allegory?
effect on plot: after Tituba is forced to confess, Abigail jumps in and starts accusing others. main motivation: to keep his reputation clean; to retain his position as Reverend of Salem. main conflict: he is not well liked; has many enemies. personality: self-serving, selfish, arrogant.
Why is Tituba’s Prayer an example of dramatic irony?
Tituba’s prayer is an example of dramatic irony because we know that she is praying just to make people think that she is in God side, when we know that she was the one who planned the dance in the forest and conjured the bad souls.
What is the climax of Act 1 in the crucible?
The inciting incident of the play occurs when Abigail confesses to witchcraft and the accusations rapidly spiral out of control. The play’s climax comes when Proctor finally confesses the affair with Abigail, at last releasing the guilt of his sins and sacrificing his good name to save his wife.
Where does the action take place in the crucible Act 3?
The Crucible Act 3 Summary — Long Version. This act takes place in the vestry room of Salem meeting house, which is right outside the courtroom. The audience hears Judge Hathorne questioning Martha Corey off stage (in court). He asks her a series of leading questions in an attempt to get her to confess to witchcraft.
What is the ultimate irony of the crucible?
The greatest irony in The Crucible is the fact that Salem’s supposed to be a God-fearing Christian community and yet due to the witch-craze, evil descends upon the town. And in a further irony, this is far greater evil than would ever arise due to the practice of witchcraft.
What is the turning point in the crucible?
Proctor’s goodness, as Elizabeth puts it, and his sense of honor in a world filled with dishonor is a significant turning point in the drama. It is a turning point because it moves Proctor from an ordinary human being into a supremely transcendent figure.
How many acts are in the crucible?
What is the main plot of the crucible?
The Crucible takes place in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692 during the Salem witch trials. The play is a fictionalized version of the trials and tells the story of a group of young Salem women who falsely accuse other villagers of witchcraft.
What is a metaphor in the crucible?
In act 2 of the Crucible, an example of a metaphor would be, “this farm is a continent when you go by foot by droppin’ seeds in it.” this quote was said by Proctor. This also can be expressed as hyperbole.
What event begins the rising action in Act I of The Crucible?
What event begins the rising action in Act I of The Crucible? Betty has fallen mysteriously ill after she and some other girls were found engaging in apparent rituals in the woods.
Why is the crucible an allegory?
The encounter between Abigail and Danforth could be described as a power struggle of sorts. Abigail clearly enjoys the power that her participation in the trials has conferred upon her, and Danforth, as the deputy governor of the province, already has a great deal of power that he’d surely like to retain.
Who is Tituba in The Crucible?
Authors can use irony to make their audience stop and think about what has just been said, or to emphasize a central idea. The audience’s role in realizing the difference between what is said and what is normal or expected is essential to the successful use of irony.
Why is irony used in the crucible?
In the book I believe irony was used by Arthur Miller to show the characters true colors and intentions throughout the play because everyone seemed all good and perfect but majority of them had underlying demons which showed based on their actions.
How has Reverend Hale changed Act 3?
Reverend Hale changes his position on the witch trials because he is determined to save John Proctor from execution. He becomes convinced that Abigail Williams is a liar in Act III, after she is asked to respond to the confession of John Proctor to lechery. Hale proclaims that he believes Proctor.
How has Reverend Hale changed Act 3?
Accused of communism by a government committee led by Republican Senator Joseph P. McCarthy, playwright Arthur Miller fired back with The Crucible. This play is an allegory, or metaphor, that compares McCarthyism to the Salem witch trials.
What is an allusion in The Crucible?
Allusion to creation of the Devil with the fall of Lucifer from Heaven (goodness becoming evil) “until an hour before the Devil fell, God thought him beautiful in Heaven” (Hale about Rebecca Nurse) Allusion to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor who called for Jesus’ execution but washed his hands of any guilt or blame.
How do you explain irony?
Irony is a figure of speech in which words are used in such a way that their intended meaning is different from the actual meaning of the words. It may also be a situation that ends up in quite a different way than what is generally anticipated. In simple words, it is a difference between appearance and reality.
What is John Proctor’s tragic flaw?
John Proctor’s ultimate tragic flaw is the honesty because he could have easily saved his life by agreeing and signing the confession which stated that he was a witch. However, because he had an exceeded amount of pride in his name as well as honesty, he did not sign the confession, which ultimately lead to his death.
Who is accused in Act 3 of the crucible?
Summary and Analysis Act III: Scene 3. Danforth summons Abigail and three of the girls into the vestry room, where he questions Abigail. She denies Mary Warren’s charge that she is lying and that she falsely accused Elizabeth Proctor.
Why do authors use irony?
Irony is a figure of speech in which words are used in such a way that their intended meaning is different from the actual meaning of the words. It may also be a situation that ends up in quite a different way than what is generally anticipated. In simple words, it is a difference between appearance and reality.
What is the key conflict in Act 3 of the crucible?
Proctor is trying to get the court and others to believe that her beliefs are fraudulent. This is where their conflict lies. Proctor and Abigail wage a sort of “chess match” of veracity whereby both are seeking to be seen as true and right. Only one of them can win.
What is the most important theme of the crucible?
Authors can use irony to make their audience stop and think about what has just been said, or to emphasize a central idea. The audience’s role in realizing the difference between what is said and what is normal or expected is essential to the successful use of irony.