Proctor, a score of people have already testified they saw [Rebecca Nurse] with the Devil (pg. This includes not only accusatory lies about the involvement of others in witchcraft but also the lies that people consistently tell about their own virtuousness and purity in such a repressive society. The Danger of Ideology Theme in The Crucible | LitCharts Danforth, Hathorne, and Parris become even more rigid in their views when they feel they are under attack. 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). There is a culture of keeping up appearances already in place, which makes it natural for people to lie about witnessing their neighbors partaking in Satanic rituals when the opportunity arises (especially if it means insulating themselves from similar accusations and even achieving personal gain). What motivates their attitudes and responses toward the witch trials? A theme is a central topic that is addressed by a work of literature. Below are a few Crucible quotes that relate to this theme. If Tituba was permitted to explain what really happened, the ensuing tragedy might have been prevented. The Crucible Quotes - eNotes.com But Ill cut off my hand before I ever reach for you again., You are pulling down heaven and raising up a whore, 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., We are what we always were in Salem, but now the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance writes the law!, an everlasting funeral marches round your heart., Peace. Danforth continues to demonstrate the effects of hysteria in act 4 even after things have died down a bit in Salem and there have been rumblings of discontent about the courts actions. He counters, the only evidence is the witch and victim's words. The hysterical atmosphere and the dramatic performances of some of the accusers cause people to believe they have seen genuine proof of witchcraft. If you can show that you understand the themes of a work of literature, you've clearly mastered the material on a deeper level. 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 fraudGod damns our kind especially, and we will burn, we will burn together! hbspt.cta.load(360031, '4efd5fbd-40d7-4b12-8674-6c4f312edd05', {}); Have any questions about this article or other topics? I'll go over the most important quotes from The Crucible, explaining both their literal meaning and why they're important. Danforth has extensive pride in his intelligence and perceptiveness. John and Rebeccas solid reputations lead to pushback against their executions even though people were too scared to stand up for them in the midst of the trials. Abigails presence is always rife with irony in The Crucible, as she constantly chastises others for sins she herself has committed. John Hale. Try your hand at explaining how each of them does so. 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. God will not let you clean your hands of this!, If she is innocent! Why does he decide to do so anyways? Even with prompts that ask you to discuss a specific character or plot point, you can find ways to connect your answer to major themes. Significant Quotations Acts 2-3 . These quotes, selected from Arthur Miller's The Crucible, highlight the psychology of protagonist John Proctor and his two antagonists, Abigail Williams and Judge Danforth. No one even considers Mary's statement about sticking the needle in herself. Quotes By Arthur Miller. Elizabeth notes that Mary's demeanor is now like that of the daughter of a prince (pg. God forbid I take it from him! Try your hand at explaining why each one is ironic and analyzing the difference between what the character mean when she said the quote and the hidden meaning. And you know I can do it; I saw Indians smash my dear parents' heads on the pillow next to mine, and I have seen some reddish work done at night, and I can make you wish you had never seen the sun go down!" Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. | Abigail, on the other hand, faces an uphill battle towards more power over her situation. In the case of a play like The Crucible, themes are revealed mainly through the dialogue of the characters. quote makes clear. If Tituba was permitted to explain what really happened, the ensuing tragedy might have been prevented. would be hers. The most substantial female character is Abigail, who is portrayed as a devious and highly sexualized young woman. The depths of the hysteria that has gripped Salem are revealed in Act 3 when John finally confronts the court. What are some of the factors that feed the panic and suspicion in Salem, and why are. "ABIGAIL, in a temper: My name is good in the village! She has the power to utterly destroy peoples lives with a single accusation because she is seen as a victim and a savior. How do the actions of authority figures encourage the girls to continue their accusations and even genuinely believe the lies theyre telling? Why is Cheever both astonished and afraid when he finds the poppet with the needle in it? In steadfastly refusing to confess, Rebecca Nurse holds onto a great deal of power. Look no further! Elizabeth is a victim of cruel irony in this Act when she is summoned to testify on the reasons why she dismissed Abigail from her household. What ACT target score should you be aiming for? Let us know whats wrong with this preview of, Until an hour before the Devil fell, God thought him beautiful in Heaven., Because it is my name! May 1, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 The other two main female characters, Elizabeth and Mary Warren, are somewhat bland. overflows, and we see the roots of what becomes her targeted, destructive This leads to Marys hysterical accusation of Proctor after she finds herself targeted by the other girls and about to be consumed by the hysteria herself if she doesnt contribute to it. Danforth has extensive pride in his intelligence and perceptiveness. 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. Crucible Abuse of power quotes Flashcards | Quizlet Most Important Quotes From The Crucible, Analyzed - PrepScholar How may I live without my name? The ruthlessness with which the suspected witches are treated is aimed at purifying Salem, but it achieves the opposite outcome. Reverend Samuel Parris plays an important role in . Why does John decide to ruin his reputation in Act 3 by confessing to the affair? In the Arthur Miller play, The Crucible, one person abused their power; while the other person was elevated . 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. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. When she is brought in for questioning and claims to see Marys familiar spirit, she says Envy is a deadly sin, Mary.Abigail herself has acted out of envy for the entire play. The final major theme is that of the power of society and authority in Puritan Salem. Some will be very direct. The depths of the hysteria that has gripped Salem are revealed in Act 3 when John finally confronts the court. For example, Abigail went from being powerless to using the witch trials to become empowered. He chooses to die instead of providing a false confession because he doesnt think life will be worth living after he is so disgraced. Proctor cannot bear to have his reputation be smeared with this confession of witchcraft, because if his reputation is damaged then he no longer can think well of himself. Historical Context Essay: Arthur Miller and the Red Scare, Literary Context Essay: Political Theater and the Play. It is a providence, and no great change; we are only what we always were, but naked now.. The desire to preserve and gain power pervadesThe Crucible as the witch trials lead to dramatic changes in which characters hold the greatest control over the course of events. Hale demonstrates perfectly the mindset of the characters affected by the hysteria and fear. Need some context to make these quotations make sense? Most Important Quotes From The Crucible, Analyzed, Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Score, Salem Massachusetts - Burying Point Cemetery, Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now, We profile Aleister Crowley and analyze some of his key quotes in this article, "ABIGAIL: I never sold myself! The following are . This all takes place in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. Ask below and we'll reply! First off, what is irony? officials (like Danforth) unable or unwilling to listen to reason? Download it for free now: hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(360031, '688715d6-bf92-47d7-8526-4c53d1f5fe7d', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(360031, '03a85984-6dfd-4a19-93c8-5f46091f5e2b', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); Samantha is a blog content writer for PrepScholar. 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. It is as impossible for most men to conceive of a morality without sin as of an earth without 'sky'. Concern for reputation is a theme that looms large over most of the events in. what pretense Salem was, I never knew the lying lessons. "I am a minister of the Lord, and I dare not take a life without there be a proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of conscience may doubt it." 71). No one even considers Mary's statement about sticking the needle in herself. The madness begins in earnest with Abigails claim that Tituba and Ruth were conjuring spirits in the woods. I'll not conceal it, my hand shakes yet as with a wound! 91). By the second act, the repercussions of the trials are starting to reverberate out of the courtroom. (Act 1, p. 40), "Proctor, I cannot think God be provoked so grandly by such a petty causethink on your village and what may have drawn from heaven such thundering wrath upon you all " (Hale, Act 2, p. 75), "PROCTOR: 'Do that which is good, and no harm shall come to you.'" Here are a couple of other quotes that demonstrate fear/hysteria. The College Entrance Examination BoardTM does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content of this site. Concern for reputation is a theme that looms large over most of the events in The Crucible. Wed love to have you back! "ABIGAIL, in an open threat: Let you beware, Mr. Danforth. He believes that, as the pastor, he is . Free trial is available to new customers only. The Crucible is commonly viewed as an allegorical representation of the communist "witch hunts" conducted in the 1950s. No one considers that the accusers are lying, partially because theyre seen as innocent children and partially because many witches confess to avoid the death penalty. 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. Most Important Themes in The Crucible, Analyzed - PrepScholar Insert commas where necessary. The thematic significance of hysteria builds quickly as accusations of witchcraft proliferate throughout Salem. What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For? This is taken as evidence that things are really getting out of control ("if Rebecca Nurse be tainted, then nothing's left to stop the whole green world from burning." Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Parris Act 1, Paranoia, jealousy, power, reputation, repression, "You cannot command Mr Parris, We vote by name in this society, not by acreage." Why is Elizabeth Proctor accused of witchcraft? 71). Cite this page as follows: "Use quotes to discuss how Abigail, Danforth, and John Proctor use their power and authority in The Crucible."eNotes Editorial, 12 Oct. 2017, https://www.enotes.com . He. No one will listen to Tituba until she agrees to confirm the version of events that the people in traditional positions of authority have already decided is true, a pattern which continues throughout the play. The fear caused by the thought of supernatural evil in Salem causes the characters in the play to turn a blind eye to logic and instead believe in claims not backed by actual "hard as rock" proof. John Proctor sabotages his own reputation in Act 3 after realizing it's the only way he can discredit Abigail. AbracaDENIAL! As Reverend Hale says to Danforth, Excellency, there are orphans wandering from house to house; abandoned cattle bellow on the highroads, the stink of rotting crops hangs everywhere, and no man knows when the harlots cry will end his life - and you wonder yet if rebellions spoke? (Act 4, pg. These types of statements made by Hale earlier in the play become even more ironic in Act 4 when he realizes he made a horrible mistake by trusting the evidence that was presented to him. While I speak Gods law, I will not crack its voice with whimpering (pg. No one thinks a teenage orphan girl is capable of such extensive deception (or delusion), so she is consistently trusted. and her fantasy that if she could only dispose of Elizabeth, John Danforth makes a shocking argument defending the way the trials have been conducted, insisting that only the victims testimony can serve as reliable evidence in this type of trial. Power in Salem flourished in 1962 at the beginning of the Salem Witch Trials. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. Our blog has complete analyses and discussion of all The Crucible themes as well as of McCarthyism in The Crucible. 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. Who is Reverend Parris? . The only power they have left is in refusing to confess and preserving their integrity. Abigail's version of events is held to be true even after John confesses to their affair in a final effort to discredit her. It is mistaken law that leads you to sacrifice. First, his upstanding reputation is melted away (when he confesses to adultery) and Procto is revealed as a hypocrite; at the end of The Crucible, though, a second, stronger core is exposed when Proctor chooses to be hanged as a witch rather than falsely (and publicly) confess to witchcraft. To Danforth, anything that doesnt confirm that he was right all along is a lie. Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com, allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. I will not have it said my name is soiled! Abigail, with a flash of anger: How do you call me child! Shes not a traditionally accepted target like the others (except in her susceptibility as a woman to the misogyny that runs rampant in the play). He covers his face, ashamed. Abigail's presence is always rife with irony in The Crucible, as she constantly chastises others for sins she herself has committed. 25+ Significant 'The Crucible' Quotes Explained | Kidadl I think I have made my point. This lie essentially condemns both of them. We'll learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. Throughout the play, there is evidence that many characters, power rises while it falls for others . The Crucible Power Analysis 705 Words | 3 Pages. You can view our. "DANFORTH, conciliatory: You misunderstand, sir; I cannot pardon these when twelve are already hanged for the same crime. If retaliation is your fear, know thisI should hang ten thousand that dared to rise against the law, and an ocean of salt tears could not melt the resolution of the statute." Proctors good reputation is almost a burden for him at this point because he knows that he doesnt deserve it. Like a struck beast, he says, and screamed a scream that a bull would weep to hear. Salem Massachusetts - Burying Point Cemetery/Used under CC BY 2.0/Resized from original. And Mary is not the only one to benefit from the added respect accorded to the afflicted girls, as the next quote demonstrates. The whole purpose of a trial is to hear both sides of the story before a verdict is reached. A real example of irony would be if two married guests got into a fight about going to your wedding that ended in their divorce. Parris initially insists that there are no unnatural causes for Bettys illness because he fears that he will lose favor with the townspeople if witchcraft is discovered under his roof. Compare and contrast three authority figures in this drama: Hale, Danforth, and Parris. One could make the argument that Giles didn't intentionally accuse his wife of witchcraft and that he just wanted to ask the witchcraft expert about his wife's strange behavior, that's all. In Act 3, Hale continues to make ironic statements about the existence of concrete proof for the accusations of witchcraft. AGAIN, Danforth takes this as an act against his authority. As mentioned in the overview, religion holds significant power over the people of Salem. Is it an evil force, as du Maurier seems to suggest at times? I pay you, sir, this argument, let lawyers present to you." Nurse?" What are their strengths and personal flaws? As for the witches, none will deny that we are most eager for all their confessions. (Act 1, p. 12). At the end this act, John Proctor delivers a short monologue anticipating the imminent loss of the disguises of propriety worn by himself and other members of the Salem community. Please wait while we process your payment. You surely know that" (Proctor, Act 3, p. 102), "Postponement now speaks a floundering on my part; reprieve or pardon must cast doubt upon the guilt of them that died till now. Think you to be so mighty that the power of Hell may not turn your wits? How does reputation influence who is first accused of witchcraft? This quote shows that even though John Proctor has signed the confession, Danforth won't give him his name, and will refuse for him to take his innocence. There are several ironies in Act 1 that center around Abigail Williams. Therefore, what is left for a lawyer to bring out? John has already confessed that the affair was the reason for Abigails dismissal. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. their relationship belongs to the pastwhile he may still be attracted The way to have power is to capture it. Goody Good, an old beggar woman, is one of the first to be named a witch. Hale also makes some unintentionally ironic statements in Act 1 when he begins his investigation. Arthur Miller. Now that you've read about the most important themes in The Crucible, check out ourlist of every single character in the play, including brief analyses of their relationships and motivations. A man may think God sleeps, but God sees everything, I know it now. I will not have it said my name is soiled! Unlike Hale, Proctor realizes that you can only trust in accusations as much as you can trust the accuser, and Proctor has cause to suspect that at least one of the accusations is being driven by a thirst for vengeance. Parris Act 1, Power, paranoia, hysteria, repression, self righteous society, "It's a bitter woman, a lying, cold, sniveling woman" Abigail about Elizabeth Act 1, "My name is goodI will not have it said my name is soiled" Abigail to Rev. These types of statements made by Hale earlier in the play become even more ironic in Act 4 when he realizes he made a horrible mistake by trusting the evidence that was presented to him. Parris' need to remain powerful- "Do you know who I am, Mr. Nurse?" Danforth to Francis Nurse They are all in the meeting room at court. 20% Consider the. (Act 3, p. 88), "Oh, Mary, this is a black art to change your shape. Nowhere is there any consideration of ulterior motives. Mr. Nurse is now trying to prove the girls as frauds. in to her past affair with him. Let him give his lie. Hales involvement is taken to mean that there must be a supernatural element to Bettys illness. These are themes that could be considered subsets of the topics detailed in the previous sections, but there's also room to discuss them as topics in their own right. But second, and perhaps more important, we see in this quotation a fierce loathing of the entire town"I never knew what pretense Salem was, I never knew the lying lessons. The village is certainly under attack, but not necessarily in the way Hale thinks it is. Many people are under the impression that irony is just when something happens that you don't expect (or that you really hoped wouldn't happen). In reality, he is constantly judging himself, and this leads to outbursts of anger against others who remind him of what he did (he already feels guilty enough!). First off, what is irony? The play illustrates the sudden empowerment of women, the fall of community, and the loss of power of high-ranking people, like Reverend Parris and John Proctor. (Cheever pg. If you argued that John Proctor was the central tragic character, you could say that his flaws were an excessive concern for his reputation and overconfidence in the power of reason to overcome hysteria. We've got 50 quotes and 4 themes that will help you spark some great ideas. SparkNotes PLUS Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. What is a crucible? The Power Of Power In The Crucible If witchcraft is discovered in the Reverend's own home, it can very quickly ruin his reputation. I beg you, woman, prevail upon your husband to confess. Mary Warren in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Quotes & Character 42). Though Danforth is the most powerful official figure in court, Abigail manipulates him easily with her performance as a victim of witchcraft. Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com, allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. You can also read my full summary of The Crucible here for a review of exactly what happens in the plot in each act. The Devil is precise; the marks of his presence are definite as stone, and I must tell you all that I shall not proceed unless you are prepared to believe me if I should find no bruise of Hell upon her." Hale also makes some unintentionally ironic statements in Act 1 when he begins his investigation. I have broke charity with the woman, I have broke charity with her. The Crucible Danforth's Innocence Quotes. John tells the judge to summon Elizabeth to back him up because he knows she always tells the truth. Want to write the perfect college application essay? The idea that a witch's familiar spirit is capable of stabbing people is too scary for the superstitious and now hysterical people of Salem to give Elizabeth the benefit of the doubt.