Year of Wonders and The Crucible Key Themes and Quotes PDF

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This document features key quotes, themes and literary techniques found within Year of Wonders and The Crucible. This document is perfect for a comparative essay, but can also be of incredible help if studying the texts separately as it is organised in an easy and coherent way.

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Year of Wonders and The Crucible Themes + Key Quotes THEMES

YEAR OF WONDERS QUOTES/EXPLANATION

Religion and (Loss of) Faith Faith is lost by the end of the novel ● Evident in Mompellion and Anna Frith ○ After the death of his wife, Mompellion declares that “there is no God,” ○ Anna discusses with Ahmed Bay how her faith is now “remnant,” a of what it used to be, “flimsy,” “ tattered,” and concludes that she does not have “ faith anymore,” ○ “may find Him a poor listener, as many of us here have done.” ○ “we all of us believed that God listened to such prayers.” Eyam sees the adoption of a Protestant religion ● No longer follow the strict rules of “dark and light,” ● Believe in a merciful God ○ “Friends, all of us, in our time, have listened to the false music of those crimes.”

THE CRUCIBLE QUOTES/EXPLANATION

SIMILARITIES/DIFFERENCES

Challenged but remains THE CRUCIBLE: ● Evident within Reverend Hale ● Salem founded by strict Puritans ○ Has his belief system challenged and ● Features are fear of the comes to develop a Protestant devil; repression of all outlook, rather than losing his faith forms of pleasure; in God complete devotion to God. ○ He no longer believes in the “ dark and light,” Puritan methods YEAR OF WONDERS: ■ (Hale) “Theology is a ● Eyam has remnant of fortress; no crack in a Puritans in the faith fortress may be accounted community ● While Mompellion’s small.”  (pg.65) protestantism is more ○ Evident in how during Proctor’s liberal, elements of examination, he states that you superstition lurk under the cannot “judge a man on such surface. evidence” of him not ploughing on Sundays as his actions are not truly COMPARISON/CONTRAST: malevolent ★ Similar religious heritage ■ Adoption of a grey area, as but Eyam has more liberal it is usually a polarised attitudes ★ Shared fear of the devil and perception in the Crucible. fear of the unknown Salem follows the strict Puritan religion ★ Mompellion is respected ● “Theology is a fortress,” (Hale) to which more by his congregation there can be no “crack,” compared to Parris. __________________________________________

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(Proctor) “What work you do! Its strange work for a Christian girl to hang old women!” (pg.58) ● (Mary Warren) “It’s God’s work we do.” (pg.58) ● (Hale) “I thought, to put some questions to the Christian characters of this house.” (pg.62) Patriarchy and Class

Patriarchy is engrained in Eyam, and therefore, inevitably returns ● Elizabeth Bradford who tries to drown a newborn child, “ a bastard, born of adultery,” ○ Represents the return of the old ways, and its persistence to maintain the patriarchy ○ Child represents modern ways of living ● Seen in Mompellion he yells that she has ‘‘taken entire leave of (her) senses’’ when he sees her riding a saddle ○ Counters him by questioning; “have you?” as he is meant to be forward thinking and open minded ● Forces Anna to flee as the community of Eyam has not moved forward with her

Seemingly challenged, as insinuated by the ending of the play ○ “The new sun is pouring in upon [Elizabeth’s] face,” ○ Represents a new era among the Salem community ● Members of the town begin to rise up against the courts ○ Francis Nurse and townsfolk go forward to the courts to prove how they never saw Rebecca Nurse having “dealings with the Devil” ● Reverend Hale declaring that he will “quit this court,” ○ No longer agrees with the system of the Salem courts who condemn individuals on their personal religious practices ○ “He plow on Sunday,” ○ “I cannot think you may judge a man on such evidence.”

THE CRUCIBLE: ● Strong social divisions in the community, including servants and slaves. ● Property disputes between villagers. YEAR OF WONDERS: ● Social division in the village; e.g most notably the role of the Bradfords and Jos Bonts as the drunken poor. COMPARISON/CONTRAST: ★ Anna and Elinor’s friendship transcends class ★ Anna’s acceptance in Oran offers a range of opportunities she could never have in England

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Deception

Seen within specific individuals - MOMPELLION ● Mompellion as he does not believe in the sermons he is preaching ○ States how God is merciful and preaches that we are human and make mistakes ○ “Listened to the false music.”

Does not believe what he is preaching, as evident in the treatment of Anna and Jane Martin ● Mompellion questions Anna after she rides Anteros in what is considered an inappropriate way, stating have you “taken entire leave of [her]senses,” ● Yells that Jane is a “sinner”  and “ s hall be punished” ● Anna seeing him look “downcast , ” before giving a sermon ● No longer believes what he is preaching The Crisis Itself

Born from a Plague ● Believed to be sent by God as a gift ○ “Opportunity” ○ “Casket of gold” ○ “God would have us shine” ● A challenge to overcome, “ to secure the valuable ore within”

In the form of the state as they are not as knowledgeable as assumed ● Hale as a “ dozen heavy books.” Yet “deeply troubled” once he found out Rebecca has been incriminated ○ Asks what “signifies, ” a poppet, is not knowledgeable in his profession yet is able to sign the death-warrants of individuals Unknowingly made false promises to the community ● “No corrupted man may fear this court, Mr Hale” (Danforth) ● Yet individuals, like Rebecca Nurse, who have had no “dealings with the Devil,”  a nd is a cornerstone of the Salem community, are punished ● “Seventy-two death warrants,” signed during the trials ● Means to “ hang us all,”

THE CRUCIBLE: Deception and lies present another important theme that runs throughout the play. It does not include myths related to black magic or witchcraft. It includes lies that people tell to save their false reputations in society. The girls of the town tell lies in the court thinking they can continue this by deceiving others. Putnam deceives the innocents to take control of their lands. Proctor deceives Elizabeth and himself by keeping the secret of his adultery in his heart to secure his false reputation. Therefore, deception and lies in Salem serve as a tool to achieve what is desirable.

Brought out from the hysteria of others, and not real ● Seen as a punishment from God, and something the community must be condemned for “seventy-two deathwarrants.”

The Crucible crisis is triggered by an INTERNAL FORCE, w  hereas Year of Wonders has an E XTERNAL FORCE (the plague) triggering crisis.

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Fear and Hysteria (+ Superstition)

“Fear will be your only faithful companion, and it will be with you day and night.”

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“[Tituba] her slave sense has warned her that, as always, trouble in this house eventually lands on her back.” (pg.17) (Parris to Abigail) “that my daughter and my niece I discovered dancing like heathen in the forest?” (pg.19) (Mrs Putnam) “For how else is she struck dumb now except some power of darkness would stop her mouth? It is a marvellous sign, Mr Parris!” (pg.24) (Mrs Putnam) “The psalm! The psalm! She cannot bear to hear the Lord’s name!” (pg.30) (Putnam) “That is a notorious sign of witchcraft afoot, Goody Nurse, a prodigious sign!” (pg.30) (Giles) “[Martha, my wife] have waked at night many a time and found her [daughter] in a corner, readin’ a book.” … “It discomforts me!” (pg.43) (Hale) “Does someone afflict you, child? It need not be a woman, mind you, or a man. Perhaps some bird invisible to others comes to you?” (pg.44) (Proctor) [scoffing, but without conviction] “They’d never hang –“ … (Proctor) “I never knew until tonight that the world has gone daft with this nonsense.” (pg.65)

THE CRUCIBLE: The stories about the work of the devil grow more extreme and lurid as the trials progress. Tituba becomes more vocal about her ‘relationship’ w  ith the devil when she realises that the girls, and Ann Putnam, have betrayed her. YEAR OF WONDERS: The villagers begin to exhibit extreme forms of behaviour which they believe will allay God’s wrath. John Gordon believes that self-flagellation will appease God. Kate Talbolt is one of many of the villagers who buys charms and spells from the “ghost” of Anys. Ahra dances with the snake. These behaviour reveal that REASON HAS BEEN SUPERSEDED BY SUPERSTITION.

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Personal Gain/Saving Face

Done out of pure malevolence as they have no means for their actions ● Josiah and Aphra ○ Aphra pretends to be the ghost of Anys Gowdie as she “parted with a shilling for a charm” in order to supposedly protect people from the Plague ○ Aware people are willing to do anything in times of crisis to protect children and family ○ Josiah left a Christopher Uwin with a “cleft across the crown” and awoke in a grave ○ Did so in order to steal “ silver,” from his household ○ Willing to commit murder in times of crisis, no longer abuse

(Hathorne) “How do you know then that you are not a witch?” (pg.77)

Done for revenge/improve one’s reputation ● Putnam’s and incriminating Rebecca Nurse in response to losing the land they believed to be rightfully theirs ● Goody Nurse gets called to trial for the “ unnatural murder,” of Ann Putnam’s children ● The Putnam’s brought enough suspicion against Rebecca Nurse through statements such as “what have you done,” when Betty Parris would not wake ○ Theology is a “fortress, ” and by casting doubt over Rebecca, she faced punishment Retain power ● Parris continues to denounce others ○ At any point where people try to undermine his power within the court, he states that they are conducting to “ overthrow the court.” ○ Calls for people to do be “ summoned,” when they contradict his decision concerning Rebecca Nurse ■ Will not lose authority, and wants to retain it by any means ■ Does not like it when people Carmelina Delorenzo

do not ask for his permission to “shut the door.” Leadership

Mompellion ○ Unites people on the basis of religion and is accepting of people’s mistakes ○ All “ listened to the false voices” ○ Worked until in “exhaustion” in visiting the sick Anna and Elinor ○ Elevate the roles of women ○ Styles of leadership ○ Based on taking care of others

People rise to power ● Abigail Williams and the young girls ○ Have the say over the lives over people in the community ○ “I saved her life today,” ● Abigail becomes a leader for the young girls within Salem

Women tend to be targeted to blame for the Plague ● Anys and Mem Gowdie are targeted by the Eyam community first ○ The community had already looked  pon them, hence “ aslant,” u incriminated first ○ Done so because of their “ herb knowledge,”w  hich sprouted “superstitious mutterings” f rom the community Replace the role of men during the crisis ● Anna and Elinor replace the “sharp probes”  listering cups” and “ b of the barber-surgeon

Women tend to be targeted first to blame for the crisis ● Tituba targeted by Abigail Williams ● Not just because she is a woman, but also due to prejudice based on race, as she is a slave from Barbados ○ Abigail aware Tituba was already being questioned by those in the community ○ “She were swaying like a dumb beast over the fire?” ● Supposedly forced Abigail to “drink blood” ● Will be “(whipped) to death” i f she does not confess ● Due to her social standing, she is unable to fight back against the claims and has to

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Women and Feminity

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Become learned on treating

Styles of leadership ● Endangers the lives of others in order to retain their power THE CRUCIBLE: The women’s portrayal in the play is not of a typical Victorian era. They are not portrayed as servants to men, mothers or wives. Miller presents them keeping in mind the attitude of the society toward women in 1950s when writing The Crucible. The most prominent character, Abigail, portrayed as a promiscuous young woman, represents a few women during that period. She is selfish and becomes extremely revengeful when John leaves her. On the contrary, there were many women

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“common ailments.”

accept guilt

Immense poor treatment from men within the Persecuted community ● Abigail being made to  “stand straight” a nd ● Once Anna talks back to her father stating to keep her “mouth shut” that he should ● Parris considers children having fun as some “let no corrupt communication proceed our of “ obscene practice.”  e threatens her by suggesting your mouth’’, h that she should be put in the  er branks to  “muzzle,” h ● Forcing women to remain in their patriarchal roles within society. Reputation/Heroism (Name)

Proctor + Giles Corey: ● (Proctor) “ I have made a bell of my honour! I have rung the doom of my good name.” (pg.98) ● “I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” ● Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name! ● “More weight”  - Giles Corey

like Rebecca, a nurse, who chooses to sacrifice herself over false statement. Again, a few women held false standards of feminity like Elizabeth, John Proctor’s wife, in the society of that time.

THE CRUCIBLE: The prominent example is John Proctor, who hides his affair with Abigail. He fears it will harm his reputation in the society. Even in the court after confessing his crime, he tries to save his name. Judges of Salem are also biased, as they uphold a false reputation to honor the church. They believe that they make the right decisions and hesitate to accept any evidence which could have set innocents free. It is evident from John Proctor’s case, as the delay in his confession makes him a liar in the court.

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Mompellion; seen as a figurehead ultimately loses his credibility

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YEAR OF WONDERS - RESPONSES TO ADVERSITY:  ositive while others are destructive or negative. Some are c onstructive or p

Reaction Flight

Characters

Consequences/Quotes

The Bradfords

Scorned by the villagers Abandoned servants and villagers left with no choices “Those who have most give less” “loneliness awaits those who flee.”

The village ● No choice ● Mompellions convincing.

Isolation from the world and its social changes Gratitude from other villages Spread of disease to whole village through inability to run.

Opportunism G  reed Selfishness

Aphra and Josiah Bont ● Joss as a grave digger ● Aphra masquerading as a Ghost ● David Burton- Wickford mine

“For I am sure we will find someone of this village – corrupt and greedy, but very much alive…”

Superstition

Aphra Bont Kate Talbot

Rationality lost “I bought this charm because that which I do believe has failed me”

Loss of faith

Mompellion Anna

“Why was I not one of the many in the chamber of Death?” “Let her speak direct to God to ask forgiveness for her conduct. But I fear she may find Him a poor listener, as many of us here have done.”

Self-imposed quarantine

Causes re-evaluation of actions and natures role This is an essential crisis

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Insanity

Fear

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Courage Risk taking, daring acts Self-sacrifice by work

Recognition of ability to help

Violence

Scapegoating

Aphra Bont -Loss of rationality

Elinors death caused by Aphra’s grief “ravages of her madness”

The Bradfords

Rationality lost “Fear, as I have said, was working strange changes in all of us, corroding our ability for clear thought.”

Anna – Wickford Mine The Village – the threat of the plague makes them willing to face other dangers.

Quarantine caused by courage. “You have met His test with courage, and be sure you will be rewarded for it.” Anna transforms- “ I let go of my pride, and took my courage into my hands instead.”

Anna Elinor Mompellion

Anna’s transformation Elinors atonement for her sins “I would become the woman Elinor wished me to be.”

Josiah Bont Some Villagers

“These times, they do makes monsters of us all…” Death of people such as Josiah and Aphra Bont, Anys and Mem Gowdie, and Elinor Mompellion as a result of not the Plague but the reactions to it.

Persecution of Anys and Mem Gowdie by Marginalised Groups Lib Hancock. Increased vigilance from Mompellion. “our hurts so raw and our fear so great that we would lash out at anyone.” “ugly thoughts and doubting of one another”

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Reflection and Repentance

Jacob Merrils self-reproach for treatment of wife

Increased self-knowledge and determination to make better provision.

Unity of Villagers

Increased Church attendance

Mr. Stanley- religious difference seen as irrelevant Increased desire for spiritual guidance and guidance within congregation

Attempt to Drown Griefescapism

Jane Martin’s Promiscuity Challenge to Mompellion

Overturning for established codes of behaviour Anna and Mompellions’ “relationship”- emulates Elinor Anna’s use of poppy

Religious Extremism- Self Flagellation

John Gordon

May result in scapegoating Repentance and atonement for sins.

Strength

Anna

“tempered”- more strengthened Anna’s riding of Anterros- role reversal between Anna and Mompellion, when she leaves Mompellion washes Anna’s feet. Irony when Anna says “there’s no one strong or skilled enough to handle him.”

Science and Reason

Anna

Searches the meaning of the cause and suffering, whether it was an act of God or Nature Self-reflection and discovery Answers to life found in books and medical science

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Text Features: YEAR OF WONDERS POLARISED - DARKNESS MOTIF ○ Mompellions voice is “full of light and dark. Light not only  ark not only as it as it glimmers, but also as it glares. D brings cold and fear, but also as it gives rest and shade ” IMAGERY: ● Light - Elinor’s name means light, often described in terms of lightness as an ethereal woman. ● Light represents learning, knowledge and culture, and other roles and ideas beyond the village confines. Both the Gowdies and Elinor are characters filled with. SEASONAL CHANGES: ● Anna is often turned into the seasonal changes in her world, but Brooks often subverts what is expected from the seasons. In spring, a time of new life and hope, the plague strikes. Winter is a time where the plague abates, ut there are new problems, with the hardships that the cold brings. ● CYCLES OF LIFE; Just as the seasons cycle, as there is light and dark, there is birth and death, and Anna comes to accept that within joy comes darkness. SYMBOLISM VILLAGE BOUNDARY: Boundary stone p118 – At first the narrator’s world is defined by the realm within the marker. Her view of the world is limited as she only “ventured [beyond the boundary] half a dozen times a year” p117. As well at first, she is also illiterate, widow and plays a restrictive role as servant to the Bradfords. She recognises the constraining nature of her life and that of others referring to “the wide green prison”

THE CRUCIBLE DARKNESS: (Mrs Putnam) “For how else is she struck dumb now except  ower of darkness would stop her mouth? It is a some p marvellous sign, Mr Parr...