Why do certain characters seem to be blind to the irony of their actions (Abigail, Danforth)? This is ironic becausesearching for "the Devil's marks" as the potential cause of an ailment is inherently superstitious. He questions Abigail aggressively because hes worried his enemies will learn the full story of what happened in the woods first and use it to discredit him. By the second act, the repercussions of the trials are starting to reverberate out of the courtroom. (Act 2, p. 65), "It were only sport in the beginning, sir, but then the whole world cried spirits, spirits" (Mary Warren, Act 3, p. 100), "There be no blush about my name." Let you look sometimes for the goodness in me, and judge me not." ~Arthur Miller, The Crucible, John Proctor, Page 51 "Why do you never wonder if Parris be innocent, or Abigail? Below are a few Crucible quotes that relate to this theme. The people in charge are so eager to hold onto their power that if anyone disagrees with them in the way the trials are conducted, it is taken as a personal affront and challenge to their authority. The Salem witch trials empowered several characters in the play who were previously marginalized in Salem society. The Crucible: Study Guide | SparkNotes The College Entrance Examination BoardTM does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content of this site. Reverend Parris is in a position of power as the town's spiritual leader, but he is insecure about his authority. 42). Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. Other essay questions may not ask you directly about the themes listed in this article, but that doesn't mean that the themes are irrelevant to your writing. Mr. Nurse is now trying to prove the girls as frauds. Aye, naked! Why is everyone so quick to believe Abigails story? He is there to convene trials of the accused, so when he tells John and the others he'll "burn a hot fire,", he means it. Death sentences are not to be taken lightly, they must be careful. Hale is describing how he came in full of pride in himself and abilities, only to have that pride result in the deaths of others. "There are wheels within wheels in the village, and fires within fires!" SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. In this act, we learn more details about the accused that paint a clearer picture of the influence of reputation and social standing on the patterns of accusations. the peninsula chicago wedding; zachary knighton tattoo; road 96 security password stan and mitch; homes for rent in michigan with no . What is Reverend Parriss biggest concern? In telling people they must confess to their crimes or be hanged, the officials show that they have already decided the person is guilty no matter what evidence is provided in their defense. Each new false confession is thrown onto the pile of evidence of a grand Satanic plot, and as the pile grows larger, the hysteria surrounding it is fed generously. (Act 2, p. 59). 73), meaning the girls are testing out the extent of the chaos they can create with their newfound power. Danforth is convinced that there is a moving plot to topple Christ in the country! and anyone who doubts the decisions of the court is potentially involved. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Elizabeth doesnt realize that John is willing to sacrifice his reputation to save her life. 'The Crucible' Quotes - ThoughtCo In her conversation with John, Abigail claims that he helped her realize all the lies she was told by two-faced people in Salem who only publicly adhere to the conventions of respectable society (pg. quote makes clear. If you can show that you understand the themes of a work of literature, you've clearly mastered the material on a deeper level. This immaculate proof that has led him to sign numerous death warrants is nothing but the fabrications of teenage girls and other townspeople seeking petty revenge. 41). "No man may longer doubt the powers of the dark are gathered in monstrous attack up on this village. It is as impossible for most men to conceive of a morality without sin as of an earth without 'sky'. 123). I beg you, sir, I beg you - see her what she isShe thinks to dance with me on my wife's grave! One path to higher standing and greater control would be in becoming John Proctors wife. One example of this is when Mary Warren accuses John Proctor of being the Devil's man: when push comes to shove, she is not strong enough to tell the truth (Act 3, p. 110). Mary Warren feels entitled to, asks for, and (to some extent) receives respect because she is now in a greater position of power. Why does Reverend Hale change his mind about the witch trials? | I do wonder on it, when such a steady-minded minister as you will suspicion such a woman that never lied, and cannot, and the world knows she cannot! Hereferences the many sentencing decisions he has already made in the trials of the accused. I'll tell you what's walking Salemvengeance is walking Salem. In Act 3, Hale continues to make ironic statements about the existence of concrete proof for the accusations of witchcraft. (Danforth, Act 3, p. 87), Danforth's belief in black-and-white morality exacerbates the situation in Salem. Here's another example of a potential essay question for The Crucible that's less explicit in its request for you to discuss themes of the play: "Most of the main characters in the play have personal flaws and either contribute to or end up in tragedy. 119). No, I cannot, I cannot stop my mouth; it's God's work I do." Hales involvement is taken to mean that there must be a supernatural element to Bettys illness. There is a faction that is sworn to drive me from my pulpit. 129). Continue to start your free trial. By Act 4, many of the power structures that were firmly in place earlier in the play have disintegrated. If you hope to write an awesome essay onThe Crucible, you should have extensive knowledge of its themes. "More weight," he says. Act 2 Characters: Proctor (Speaker), Herrick, Elizabeth, Hale How does this philosophy perpetuate hysteria? He's already accepted her testimony as evidence, so he is happy for any excuse to believe her over John and Mary.John finally comes to the realization that Mary's truthful testimony cannot compete with the hysteria that has taken hold of the court. Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership. Historical Context Essay: Arthur Miller and the Red Scare, Literary Context Essay: Political Theater and the Play. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. Abigails many deceptions are sometimes laughably ironic as she chastises others for lying even as she is spinning falsehoods. He believes there is a group of people in town determined to remove him from this position, and he will say and do whatever it takes to retain control. John tells the judge to summon Elizabeth to back him up because he knows she always tells the truth. However, this runs up against Danforths desire to preserve his reputation as a strong judge. Abigail, in particular, has quickly risen from a nobody to one of the most influential people in Salem. He says, I would to God it were not so, Excellency, but these people have great weight yet in the town (pg. makes Salem pay. I'll go over the most important quotes from The Crucible, explaining both their literal meaning and why they're important. For Proctor, we quickly realize, If her name is "soiled," Abigail could face harsh consequences in the Salem theocracy where women are already low on the totem pole if it's discovered that she, an unmarried orphan woman, slept with a married man, she would face huge consequences (although what these consequences would be aren't specified in the play). Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Score, list of every single character in the play, details on the history and thematic parallels behind this connection. How is the arrest of Rebecca Nurse a sign that the hysteria in Salem has gotten out of control? John attempts to crush his guilt instead of facing it, which only ends up making it an even more destructive factor in his life. Is the accuser always holy now? Reverend Parris' concerns about his reputation are immediately evident in Act 1. The way to have power is to capture it. By Act 2, there are nearly 40 people in jail accused of witchcraft. Parris Act 1, Paranoia, jealousy, power, reputation, repression, "You cannot command Mr Parris, We vote by name in this society, not by acreage." Throughout The Crucible, Mary Warren shows that she is a weak and submissive person who cannot overcome fear in order to stand up for what she knows is right. I'll go over the most important quotes from The Crucible, explaining both their literal meaning and why they're important. Hales involvement is taken to mean that there must be a supernatural element to Bettys illness. 91). . And the wind, God's icy wind, will blow!" (Danforth, Act 3, p. 83). I will not have it said my name is soiled! ..it may well be God damns a liar less than he that throws his life away for pride. What motivates their attitudes and responses toward the witch trials? To discover the top quotes from the Crucible you'll want to remember, keep reading! This makes him particularly averse to accepting that he's been fooled by a teenage girl. Use quotes to discuss how Abigail, Danforth, and John Proctor use their This is a lesson in how fear can twist perceptions of reality even for those who consider themselves reasonable under normal circumstances. They are extremely biased towards believing they have made the correct sentencing decisions in court thus far, so they are reluctant to accept new evidence that may prove them wrong. "And mark this. Her goal is to help students adopt a less stressful view of standardized testing and other academic challenges through her articles. The Crucible | 50 of the Most Important Quotes You Should Know With that in mind, here are some key quotes from The Crucible that demonstrate irony of some kind. Elizabeth is defined by her relationship to John, and Mary is pushed around by other characters (mostly men) throughout the play. The only power they have left is in refusing to confess and preserving their integrity. This hysteria-based evidence of witchcraft includes the discovery of the poppet in the Proctor household with a needle in it. Abigail yelling "don't lie" at another person is highly ironic, not only because Miller introduced her as a liar (she has "an endless capacity for dissembling"), but because Abigail had just told Proctor Betty's illness was nothing to do with witchcraft not 20 page previously. Most Important Themes in The Crucible, Analyzed - PrepScholar While I speak God's law, I will not crack its voice with whimpering. Here are few more quotes that show the concern of Salem residents with reputation and the pride they have in their names. She continues to act under the assumption that his reputation is of the utmost importance to him, and she does not reveal the affair. AbracaDENIAL! The concept of unity, in which positive and negative are attributes of the same force, in which good and evil are relative, ever-changing, and always joined to the same phenomenon - such a concept is still reserved to the physical sciences and to the few who have grasped the history of ideas., There is prodigious fear in seeking loose spirits, Pontius Pilate! Mr. Nurse is now trying to prove the girls as frauds. Refresh and try again. Is reputation more important than truth? They say he give them but two words. This all takes place in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. to her, he is desperately trying to put the incident behind him. This is also the commandment that he has violated most explicitly, so youd think it would be the first one to spring to mind. Abigail's version of events is held to be true even after John confesses to their affair in a final effort to discredit her. She turns and starts for the door." Proctor, gently pressing her from him, with great sympathy but firmly: Child. The town, already primed with rumors of black magic, is quickly willing to accept that the first few women who are accused are involved in black magic because theyre beggars and slaves. She openly threatens Danforth for even entertaining Mary and John's accusations of fraud against her. Therefore, we must rely upon her victimsand they do testify, the children certainly do testify. In Act 1 he jumped on board with the hysteria to preserve his power, but he ended up losing what little authority he had in the first place (and, according to Miller's afterward, was voted out of office soon after the end of the play). Where before she was just an orphaned teenager, now, in the midst of the trials, she becomes the main witness to the inner workings of a Satanic plot. Beware, Goody Proctorcleave to no faith when faith brings blood. Try your hand at explaining how each of them does so. The Crucible Danforth's Innocence Quotes. For them that quail to bring men out of ignorance, as I have quailed, and as you quail now when you know in all your black hearts that this be fraud God damns our kind especially, and we will burn, we will burn together!, Oh,Elizabeth, your justice would freeze beer., PROCTOR, his mind wild, breathless: I say--I say--God is dead!, When it is recalled that until the Christian era the underworld was never regardded as a hostile area, that all gods were useful and essentially friendly to man despite occasional lapsesl when we see the steady methodical inculcation into humanity of the idea of man's worthlesseness - until redeemed - the necessity of the Devil may become evident as a weapon, a weapon designed and used time and time again in every age to whip men into a surrender to a particular church or church state., What work you do! She would never be able to say what she says in this quote to, for instance, her uncle Parris, and get away with it. references the many sentencing decisions he has already made in the trials of the accused. This lie essentially condemns both of them. She puts on a fake front to get what she wants, ultimately creating a persona thats even worse than that of the hypocrites she criticizes. Get professional help from PrepScholar. The people in charge are so eager to hold onto their power that if anyone disagrees with them in the way the trials are conducted, it is taken as a personal affront and challenge to their authority. John Proctor sabotages his own reputation in Act 3 after realizing it's the only way he can discredit Abigail. The classic example of an incorrect use of irony is in Alanis Morisette's song "Ironic" when she says that "rain on your wedding day" is an example of irony. It is an invisible craft, evidence is hard to consider. Danforth, who has the most authority, is also the most sold on her act, and it only takes a few screams to persuade him that hes in the presence of witchcraft. He says, I would to God it were not so, Excellency, but these people have great weight yet in the town (pg. A Comprehensive Guide. Reverend Parris has a false notion of reputation. He is appalled by Elizabeths lack of emotion when he asks her to help the court get a confession out of her husband (pg. Need some context to make these quotations make sense?