Crucible paragrpah quote and analysis PDF

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Crucible quotes and analysis...

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QUOTE

ANALYSIS

“for now my ministry’s at stake, my

repetition of ‘my ministry’ and hyperbole emphasise that

ministry and perhaps your cousin’s

he attributes more weight to his position as Salem’s

life.”

reverend than his role as a father. Miller elucidates that this obsession with protecting one’s reputation can be destructive to relationships and one's own integrity as Parris’s disregard for his daughter’s wellbeing is further evident through the second person pronoun ‘your cousin’, showing this detachment.

‘Abigail, in a temper: “My name is

Miller exposes how Abigail’s concerns about her

good in the village! I will not have it

reputation and “name” drive her malicious actions,

said my name is soiled! Goody

ultimately accusing Tituba of witchery. If her name is

Proctor is a gossiping liar!”’

“soiled,” Abigail could face harsh consequences in the Salem theocracy where women are already subordinate.

“I have known her, sir. I have known

in the hopes that it will validate Mary Warren's claims

her”

and save Elizabeth. Here, the starting point to reclaim his probity within the corrupt Salem can be seen through his repetition of “I have known her”. Through the striking polarisation of Proctor and Abigail’s responses to their own wrong doings, Miller creates a dichotomy of fundamentally ‘good’ and ‘evil’.

“a plain bench at the left, and

symbolises both the hierarchical ranks and societal

another at the right. In the centre a

positions within Salem but also their tendency to incite

rather long meeting table, with stools

injustices and belittlement.

and a considerable armchair snuggled up to it” “I should hang ten thousand that dare

The use of hyperbole . . . accentuates the faults within

to rise against the law and an ocean

Danforth's application of the law and how it suppresses

of salt tears could not melt the

the sense of individual voice. The juxtaposition between

resolution of the statutes”,

the emotive language of ‘ocean of salt tears’ with the firmness of Danforth’s statement subverts courts purpose to find justice, as it further demonstrates the inhumanity within the justice system and the damage it has inflicted upon the individual experience.

“Let either of you breathe a word, or

Abigail's threatening tone, . . . , exposes her clear

the edge of a word, about the other

determination to hold power over the people in Salem.

things, I will come to you in the black

The metaphorical expression “edge of a word”,

of night and I will bring you a pointy

represents her motivations and the extent to which she

reckoning that will shudder you”

will abuse her authority to ensure her personal safety.

“I saw Sarah Good with the Devil! I

The dramatic tension engages the audience as Abigail

Saw Goody Osbourn with the Devil!”

exclaims . . . The repetition of “I saw” and the motif of accusations based on ocular proof, reveals an escalation of hysteria that encapsulates the society of Salem, the underlying purpose challenging the hysteria surrounding the irrational fears of communism.

“she’d dare not call out such a

The antithesis ties the irrational hysteria proliferated by

farmer's wife but there be monstrous

Abigail to her own ulterior motives. This is conveyed

profit in it”

through the oxymoron ‘monstrous profit’, which showcases how fear and hysteria are used to aid personal and heinous intent.

“They were murdered, Mr Parris! And

The fear and hysteria has already overcome Mrs

mark this as proof!”.

Putnam as a result of her tragic background and the loss of seven children. Emotive language further exemplifies the notion of fear, as her personal distress has cemented her belief in witchcraft over ocular proof. Mrs Putnam’s character makes clear to the audience that fear can be promoted through ones previous personal experiences.

The acoustic climax of a cacophony

creates an uncomfortable auditory impact that

of chanting, prayers, rejoicing, fear

symbolically inhibits rationality. As such, Miller explores

and cries as “the curtain falls” at the

how hysteria quickly spirals out of control in the

end of Act 1

absence of objective thought....