The Crucible Quotes

John Proctor Act To who? Relevance

he is a sinner not
only against the
moral fashion of the
time but against his
own vision of decent
conduct
respected and
feared in Salem
1 Miilers notes Guilt and sense of self has worn away at
John
More reasons why he is determined later
not to be revealed as fraud as he wants to
keep his reputation.
the towns mumbling
witchcraft
1 bigail Rumours already starting and building of
hysteria. Shows it does not take much in
this town for people to create stories out of
and how fast these things happen.
youre wicked yet
arent you!
1 bigail "lirting and shows he thinks he knows her
well but also shows he does not realise
what she is capable of as he thinks he can
flirt and not have any conse#uences
$id you consult the
wardens before you
called this minister to
look for devils%
1 &arris Hysteria '
(vidence the community had democratic
principles for some community decisions
but this one has not been discussed and
the hysteria is being encouraged by the
powers that be )&arris* without them
realising it
he may turn his head
but not to hell!
1 &utnam
)about &arris
being
determined
to look for
wickedness
in the
situation
rather than
something
more benign*
Power of religion and use religious
languagereferences '
+eligious reference and shows how
important it was to keep ,od at the
forefront of the decisions they made
there are many
others stay away
from church these
days because you
hardly ever mention
,od any more
1 &arris Religion and Parris! misuse of it which
had stopped some in the community doing
what was e-pected of them. Shows
crac"s in the community which were
easily broken open by the tension the
witchcraft brought
./hy then 0 must find
and it 1oin it
.0 mean it solemnly2
+ebecca2 0 like not
the smell of this
authority
1 +ebecca Characterisation 3John is strong enough
to stand up publicly for his views )ironically
though not strong enough to do the same
with his weaknesses later in ct 4 when
he is told his name will be pinned to the
church door*
Power of religion 3 &arris is misusing his
power as ,ods voice in the community
and some are against this while others
support him because they believe they
must as is the law and the tradition in their
church. individual against authority#
John Proctor Act To who? Relevance
0 never see such a
load of flowers on the
earth
5 (li6abeth Characterisation 3 able to be romantic
and sees the beauty in the world around
him
woman2 0ll not have
your suspicion
anymore78ou will
not 1udge me
more9.every
moment 1udged for
lies
5 (li6abeth Characterisation 3 firm and demanding
with his wife2 shows another side. lso
gives us some background to the
relationship 3 there has obviously been
suspicion left over even though bigail left
months before
0t tells me that a
minister may pray to
,od without he have
golden candlesticks
upon the altar.
5 :ale ccusing &arris to :ale of putting status
and wealth above his ministry to ,od.
Shows the rivalries and tensions in the
community#
0 see no light of ,od
in that man
5 :ale Reference to God and the importance for
John that his minister is not 1ust given the
status but must earn it. Shows what he
and others thought of &arris. individual
against authority#
;here be no love for
Satan in this house2
Sir
5 :ale Reference to religion 3 deep belief in
Satan as a real entity that could take over
peoples souls
nd why not if they
must hang for denyin
it%
5 :ale <rucial for the $lot as the confessions of
innocent people are what keeps others
believing in the e-istence of the devil in
Salem. &ointing out the obvious responses
that people have to be being accused 3 he
sees the human failings in the behaviour
which the audience would also see but
:ale and others involved can only see
witches and innocent people and nothing
in between.
nother e-ample of the truth and so the
end of the witch hunt being set aside in
favour of what people want to see.
but the proof2 the
proof!
5 Mary /arren Hysteria
;he essence of the problem 3 there is no
proof as a reasonable person would see it
and yet all these people have been
condemned anyway and this continues
throughout the play
were 0 a stone2 0
would have cracked
for shame this seven
month
5 (li6abeth Characterisation 3 guilt
0s the accuser always
holy now%
=engeance is
walking Salem9now
the little children are
1angling the keys of
the kingdom and
common vengeance
writes the law!
5 :ale %engeance and community brea"down#
Religious references and also very
strong imagery to help us visualise the
situation the town is in. Hysteria starting
with John here. individual against
authority#
John Proctor Act To who? Relevance
My wife will not die
for me9that
goodness will not die
for me!
5 Mary Characterisation2 determined not to lose
(li6abeth and especially because of
something he has done i.e. the affair with
bigail.
;hat woman will
never lie
> $anforth ?ey moment for his future as later in the
play she does lie to save him ' ironic
/hore! /hore! > bigail &ey moment as he reveals he has
known bigail which leads to bigail take
a risk and intimidate $anforth to try to
avoid having to answer to the accusation
and not long after she starts the hysteria
again among the girls which includes Mary
is accused and who then accuses John
and so he is imprisoned.
man will not cast
away his good name.
8ou surely know that
> ,iles A man!s name ' highlights how important
this is to him and the risk he takes telling
them all about the affair. Characterisation
3 standing up for what he believes must be
told
she only thought to
save my name
> $anforth (ven (li6abeth knows how important it
was too "ee$ his name clear of any
blemish 3 and she lies to do so.

fire2 a fire is
burning!...and as you
#uail now when you
know in all your black
hearts that this be
fraud 3 ,od damns
our kind especially9
> $anforth $irect reference to a crucible
:ighlights that those who wait until it is too
late or are too afraid to speak the truth will
be damned more than others for their
cowardice. lso hysteria at the end of the
act. individual against authority#
,od does not need
my name nailed upon
the church! ,od
knows how black my
sins are!
4 $anforth A (an!s )ame* +Power of Religion*
Makes a mockery of the trials as he points
out that making his name public will not
make ,od forgive him 3 he knows that by
doing this $anforth will have more weight
to use to make others confess but John
does not want to be used in this way and
does not want his family to be shamed by
having it revealed so publicly. :e suggests
he has a private relationship with ,od but
the community is very much built upon a
public relationship with ,od.
@ecause it is my
name! @ecause 0
cannot have another
in my life! @ecause 0
lie and sign myself to
lies!
4 $anforth A man!s name ' gives his reasons why he
cannot have his name written down and
highlights the importance of a name and
its link to a persons sense of identity
"or 0 do think 0 see
some shred of
goodness in John
&roctor
4 (veryone
present
particularly
(li6abeth
A man!s name and characterisation. :e
sees some redemption and hope in knows
he is doing what reflects his true self and
his values.
,li-abeth Proctor Act To who? Relevance
it hurt my heart to
strip her
5 John CharacterisationA gentle2 kind2 but a woman
of her time
@lushing with
pleasure
5 John Characterisation Millers directions show she
responds when J flatters her and wants to
please him. 0t matters to her..
She doesnt want
friction
5 John Characterisation Millers stage directions
reinforce her gentle2 non confrontational
character
frightened all my
strength away
5 John Characterisation /eakness in health and
cannot bring herself to be confrontational with
Mary /arren
if it were not bigail
that you must go to
hurt2 would you falter
now. 0 think not
5 John Characterisation Strength of character and
wisdom about the situation. She understands
her husband.
;he $eputy
,overnor promise
hangin if theyll not
confess2 John. ;he
towns gone wild2 0
think.
5 John Hysteria 3 describes how she and other more
sensible people view the situation but also the
fear she has that it has got out of hand.
(-plains the unfairness of the courts 1ustice.
She speak of
bigail and 0 thought
she were a saint2 to
hear her. bigail
brings the other girls
into court and where
she walks the crowd
will part like the sea
of 0srael. nd folk
are brought before
them and if they
scream and howl
and fall to the floor 3
the persons clapped
in the 1ail for
bewitchin them.
5 John (-plains how the hysteria is being controlled
by bigail and the girls and how the
community is hooked into their hysteria. She
uses religious references which highlights
this is how they relate to the world around
them ' by referring to the bible and the
cultural7religious life they live. :ighlights how
the hysteria is working to bring innocent
people to 1ail and hanging.
0 do not 1udge you
5 John Characterisation "air2 non 1udgemental2 wise
and honest. ,ood morals2 true to her faith.
she wants me
dead. 0 knew all
week it would come
to this9
5 John Characterisation "ear2 $lot development2
wisdom about the situation.
there be no mark of
blame upon my life2
Mr :ale. 0 am a
covenanted <hristian
5 :ale Characterisation :onest2 truthful2. 0ronic
when compared to John and bigail.
individual against authority#
woman.
,li-abeth Proctor Act To who? Relevance
if you think that 0 am
one2 then 0 say there
are none
5 :ale $isbelief in witches and shows the belief
among those who distrust the witch hunt as
innocent people are being accused.
Buestion bigail
/illiams about the
gospel2 not myself
5 :ale Characterisation Strong when standing up for
herself. ngry that she is being accused when
it is the principal accuser who has started all
this and is corrupted and guilty. Stronger side
to her2 standing up to the accusations.
and what of
tomorrow% She will
cry me out until they
take me down!
5 John Characterisation /ise to the way things are
going 3 sees the situation for what it is while
John tries to avoid the reality.
0 cannot think the
$evil may own a
womans soul2 Mr
:ale2 when she
keeps an upright
way as 0 have
5 :ale CharacterisationC standing up to authority to
defend herselfCC going against the thoughts of
the time that the devil can take any soul 3
even a good woman. ;his in itself would make
people doubt her faith if she claims not to
believe in witches. Shows the ridiculousness
of the situation that innocent people are
targeted.
;heyve surely gone
wild2 now2 Mr :ale!
5 :ale Hysteria2 reasonable people can see it but the
authority and community cannot.
My husband is a
good and righteous
man
> $anforth Characterisation ;he good in John2 she is
honest and loyal ' trying to stand by her
husband
0 think that be the
devils argument7 0
cannot dispute with
you2 sirC 0 lack the
learning for it.
4 :ale7$anfort
h
Characterisation Shows clarity of thought
even under pressure. :umble but sure of
herself and her beliefs.
for if he denied the
charge theyd hang
him surely and
auction out his
property
4 John Plot develo$ment . bout ,iles 3 e-plains
why being condemned would leave families
destitute and why some were accusing others
3 to get their land.
0 counted myself so
plain2 so poorly
made2 no honest
love could come to
me! Suspicion kissed
you when 0 did..
4 John
Characterisation :umility2 self esteem was
low2 self awareness2 apologising. Shows
depth and strength of character to be able to
reflect. :aving reflected on her life and the
way things were she has changed and has
seen that she could have behaved differently.
:e have his
goodness now. ,od
forbid 0 take it from
him
4 :ale Dast line in the play 3 highlights a sad but
strong and noble ending to Johns life.
H./ /.012 3.0 ,)2 TH, P1A3????
Hale Act To who? Relevance
:ale 1 Read (iller!s notes on Hale
/e cannot look to
superstition in this.
;he $evil is
precise..
1 &utnam Power of religion :ighlights how they had very
clear markers to look for the devil and how seriously
they took the reality of the devil. lso shows that he
is willing2 at the start at least2 to be careful in any
accusations he makes.
:ave no fear now'
we shall find him
out if he has come
among us
1 ;hose
gathered
in &arris
house
Power of religion Shows determination at that time
to find the devil and their belief that with their faith in
,od they can do this.
:ave you sold
yourself to Ducifer%
1 bigail Religious language. cceptance that this is a real
possibility.
8ou are ,ods
insrtrument put in
our hands to
discover the devils
agents among us9
1 ;ituba Religious language that becomes #uite hysterical.
:e rarely does anything to calm a situation!
,lory to ,od! 0t is
broken! ;hey are
free!
1 ll
present
Hysteria as he says this because the girls are all
starting to accuse people. :e is happy about this but
it is ironic as it starts the tragedy that will unfold.
&ey moment
;heology2 sir2 is a
fortressC no crack
in a fortress may
be accounted
small.
5 John :e must pursue all doubt to ensure he has done his
1ob thoroughly 3 no weakness in a persons record
or faith will be tolerated and no mistakes let to pass.
0t was hard to be a flawed person in this community
and all flaws were for the community to comment
and pass 1udgement on. 0f a flaw could be seen to
be going against the faith then it could be said to be
a mark of the devil9
@elieve me2 Mr
Eurse2 if +ebecca
Eurse be tainted2
then nothings left
to stop the whole
green world from
burning
5 ,iles Hysteria2 innocents being named and accusedC
:ale starts to recognise the intensity of it all but fails
to see the flaws in the accusations.
;hese are new
times2 sir. ;here is
a misty plot afoot
so subtle we
should be criminal
to cling to old
respects and
ancient
friendships.
5 ,iles (-ample of abuse of $owerauthority encouraging
people to turn against their friends and neighbours
to find the devil. (ncouraging the hysteria and fear
about the devil being everywhere 3 especially where
you least e-pect it. &eople were2 essentially2 given
permission by the authority to blame and accuse
others all in the name of finding the devil but this
was taken advantage of and people took revenge
and spite out on those they wanted to get rid of or
wanted something from. :idden 1ealousies or
rivalries came to the fore and were pursued under
the auspices of the witch hunt.
)with rising
exaltation*8ou are
,ods instrument
put in our hands to
discover the $evils
agents among
us9face ,od2
;ituba2 and ,od
will protect you.
1 ;ituba Hysteria ' the religious language and intense
demand for ;ituba to face ,od fuels the hysteria
and shows the community that :ale believes in that
;ituba has been with the $evil and that admitting it
will save her soul3 his authority and knowledge of
these matters means the community will be easily
led by whatever he believes and so he2 unwittingly2
fuels the already poisoned accusations of innocent
people.
Hale Act To? Relevance
;he $evil is out
and preying on her
like a beast upon
the flesh of the
pure lamb.
1 ;ituba Hysteria ' the religious language makes the
moment seem even more intense and gives the
process of accusing people more credibility. 0t also
fuels the hysteria as this kind of language can be
used to whip up religious fervour. ;he image of the
devil feasting on a lamb is very biblical and the
community listening in the room would be able to
relate to it very closely. 0t is also a very emotional
image which helps to make the moment more
intense.
;his is a strange
time2 Mister. Eo
man may longer
doubt the powers
of the dark are
gathered in
monstrous attack
upon this village.
5 &roctors Characterisation2 hysteria and fear. :ale often
uses very highbrow and educated language which
gives him a sense of intellectual superiority over
others. :e uses it to e-press himself when confident
and sure of himself. /hen he becomes less sure
and more emotional later in the play he uses
language much more like the common man. ;his
#uote shows us how sure he is about the evil and
how powerful this evil is 3 this attitude will fuel the
hysteria and the fear that the community have about
the devil and his power. &eople had strong belief in
their authority figures and he had a lot of power to
influence others because of his status.
;heology2 sir2 is a
fortressC no crack
in a fortress may
be accounted
small.
5 John
&roctor
Power of religion. ny weakness in any persons
religious commitment could be considered an issue
by others 3 there was no fle-ibility in what you could
and could not believe. weakness )like John not
going to church regularly or not baptising his child*
would be considered a sign of turning away from
,od9and towards the other side i.e. the devil.
9if +ebecca Eurse
be tainted then
theres nothing left
to stop the whole
green world from
burning.
5 "rances
Eurse
:ighlights the fear he and others felt when they
heard this news as if the best of people in the
community are being accused of being with the devil
then they are all at risk.
Characterisation 3 shows he has taken the time to
find out about the people in the community. :e
recognises a good person when he sees one.
;here is a misty
plot afoot so subtle
we should be
criminal to cling to
old respects and
ancient friendships.
9the $evil is alive
in Salem and we
dare not #uail to
follow where the
accusing finger
points.
5 "rances
Eurse
:e is warning them that the devil could be hiding
anywhere and so friendships may need to be
abandoned to find him. @y saying this he2
unwittingly2 encourages the community to turn
against itself with people taking revenge on each
other because of 1ealousy or greed. ;his helps to
fuel the hysteria which some use for their own
ends. :ale only wants to do good but often makes
things worse.
9the world goes
mad and it profit
nothing you should
lay the cause to the
vengeance of a
little girl9. 0 cannot
think ,od be
provoked so
grandly by such a
cause
5 John Shows that he really believes in the e-istence of the
devil and that ,od has a hand in it all 3 that none of
it could have been made up by a little girl 3
because she is a young girl they cannot believe that
she is capable of such evil as they had such low
status in the community and were not paid much
attention to9.before this!
Hale Act To /ho? Relevance
9think on your
village and what
may have drawn
from heaven such
thundering wrath
upon you all. 0 pray
,od open up our
eyes.
5 ,iles and
"rances
:e blames some badness in the village for ,od to
have abandoned them to the devil like this 3 he
cannot see any other logical or reasonable reason
for a community to turn against its own in the way
people are accusing each other in Salem. :e uses
very religious and $owerful language when he
talks about ,od.
.&ray be calm a
moment2 sir
. moment2 sir2 a
moment
.0 think you must
hear the girl2 sir.
.0 cannot think you
may 1udge the man
on such evidence.
> ;o ,iles
and then
to
$anforth
;hroughout ct >2 :ale tries to bring some reason
and fairness to the proceedings which shows his
characterisation as he is starting to realise that it is
all more complicated than $anforth and &arris etc
want it to be. ;his eventually leads him to walk out
of the court at the end.
0s every defence
an attack upon the
court%
> &arris Seeing the lack of fairness or willingness for the
1udges and &arris to be more humane and
reasonable in their way of dealing with the situation.
@ut it does not
follow that
everyone accused
is part of it.
> $anforth 0ncreasingly trying to get $anforth to open his eyes
and mind to the possibility that some people may be
innocent even though they have been accused.
;rying to lessen the hysteria. Characterisation
and connection with an audience. n audience
would want him to manage to do this and would be
very much on his side in this ct as they see him
develop more of an awareness of what is going on
and see him trapped by what he has been taught to
believe and have faith in 3 ,od and the courts 3 and
what he actually sees. individual against
authority#
290 dare not take a
life without there be
a proof so
immaculate no
slightest #ualm of
conscience may
doubt it.
> $anforth :e is beginning to show here that he is unsure
about the people who have been accused so far and
that he cannot go on unless they have absolute
proof 3 @F;2 how can there be without evidence of
the devil% ;he fact +ebecca Eurse has been
accused and will hang )he has 1ust signed her death
warrant* makes him #uestion the accusations and
the motivation of the accusers and the court.
individual against authority#
0t is a natural lie to
tell! 0 beg you stop
now before another
is condemned.
> $anforth Characterisation ' he understands why a wife
would lie for her husband and is developing more
and more of a conscience about the proceedings.
0 may shut my
conscience to it no
more 3 private
vengeance is
working through
this testimony!
> $anforth :e is open about the corruptness )abuse of $ower*
of the court and the fact that bigail is abusing her
P./,R and the H34T,R5A to take revenge on
(li6abeth and on John. :e is standing up to the
court and so is taking a stand 3 the individual
against authority#
0 believe him 3 this
girl has always
struck me false9
> $anforth "inally he is going with his instinct ' individual
against authority but as soon as he says this
bigail starts to scream )a weird2 wild chilling cry*
and whips up the hysteria again seeing the bird.
Hale Act To /ho? Relevance
.8ou cannot > $anforth :e is trying to stand up against the mass hysteria
believe them!
.0 see nothing your
honour!
.(-cellency2 this
childs gone wild!
the girls are creating and that $anforth and the
others are being swept along in but to no avail. :e is
seen to be trying to bring some semblance of reason
and focus to the proceedings but the whole court
now believes the accusations and the presence of
the devil.
0 denounce these
proceedings2 0 #uit
this court!
> $anforth Characterisation "inally he stands up for what he
knows is the truth. 5ndividual against authority#
:is final lines in this ct add to the hysteria as he
shouts this after &roctor and the girls have also
been shouting and bringing the ct to a clima-.
;here are orphans
wandering from
house to houseC
abandoned cattle
bellow on the
highroadsC the stink
of rotting crops
hangs everywhere
and no man knows
when the harlots
cry will end his life
3 and you wonder
yet if rebellions
spoke%
4 $anforth Characterisation. Standing up to $anforth and
being much more honest and forthright than before.
5ndividual against authority# /e get a good idea
here of the impact that the witch hunt has had on the
community and the fear that there is that anyone
could be accused at any time.
0 come to do the
$evils work. 0
come to counsel
<hristians they
should belie
themselves.
4 $anforth Characterisation. 0ronic as he is going against all
he said he believed in at the start of the play. :e is
more human and knows he is more fallible now 3
there is no rule book to guide him now that he can
see how cruel and vindictive people can be in their
accusations. :e 1ust wants people to live and
believes that ,od wants that too so he will do
anything to help achieve that even though it means
persuading innocent <hristians that ,od will forgive
them for lying about being involved with the $evil.
0 have gone this
three month like
our Dord into the
wilderness. 0 have
sought a <hristian
way2 for
damnations
doubled on a
minister who
counsels men to
lie.
4 (li6abeth
&roctor
Fsing religious imagery and language to help
make him sound more sincere and to show the
intensity of his feelings.
0t is a lie! ;hey are
innocent!
4 $anforth :e speaks the truth plainly and he should know as
he is telling people to lie to save themselves but
$anforth refuses to accept this and will not back
down. missed opportunity for $anforth to stop the
hangings.
0 would save your
husbands life2 for if
he is taken 0 count
myself his
murderer.
4 (li6abeth :e feels deep guilt for his part in the witch hunt and
to save Johns life means he can save another
persons soul.
Hale Act To who? Relevance
@eware ,oody
&roctor2 cleave to
no faith when faith
brings blood. 0t is a
mistaken law that
leads to sacrifice.
4 (li6abeth Shows his depth of change towards his faith and
towards the law 3 if your faith leads you to kill
innocent people then it cannot be a true or good
faith.
Dife2 woman2 life is
,ods most
precious gift9it
may well be ,od
damns a liar less
than he that throws
his life away for
pride.
4 (li6abeth (-plaining that ,od may see Johns pride as more
of a sin that lying to save his life.
Man! 8ou will
hang! 8ou cannot!
4 John :orrified at Johns decision to be hung. :ales guilt
will never leave him now. <ontributing to the
hysterical end of the play as he shouts.
/hat profits him to
bleed% Shall the
dust praise him%
Shall the worms
declare his truth%
4 (li6abeth $esperately trying to get (li6abeth to change his
mind 3 he does not understand how important it is
for John to leave an honest legacy for his name and
for his children. :is panic and horror contribute to
the climactic end of the play.
Parris Act To who? Relevance
,o directly home and speak
nothing of unnatural causes
1 Susanna 6ear of the possibility that it may be
unnatural and fear that his name and
reputation will be tainted
bigail2 do you understand that 0
have many enemies% ;here is a
faction that is sworn to drive me
from my pulpit
1 bigail :is re$utation matters to him and he
knows that his enemies )i.e. those in the
community who do not like his way2 his
manner or his arrogance* will take full
advantage of anything negative about
him. ;his sets the scene for the audience
to know that there is a divide in the
community already.
0 pray you leap not to witchcraft 9
they will howl me out of Salem for
such corruption in my house.
1 Mr &utnam 6ear of the vengeance of his enemies and
of the accusation of witch craft.
0 do not preach for children2
+ebecca. 0t is not the children
who are unmindful of their
obligations towards this ministry.
1 +ebecca 0ronic since it is the children who start and
continue the accusations!
0 am not some preaching
farmer..A0 am a graduate of
:arvard <ollege.
1 John &roctor Characterisation. rrogance and hubris
3 he sees his academic success as the
only skill he needs to be a minister of ,od
3 the compassion and love that some in
the community )+ebecca2 John2 ,iles all
represent these people* look for in their
minister is not evident in anything &arris
does.
/hy am 0 persecuted here% 90
have often wondered if the $evil
be in it somewhere
1 &roctor2 ,iles2 @lames the e-istence of the devil in the
community for the fact he is not welcomed
in Salem as he would like 3 shows that
the $evil was blamed for a lot of things
they could not understand. Since they
could not actually see the devil himself but
instead he would be found in people who
had apparently trafficked with him so
they then would be blamed 9and so the
laws and 1ustice was meted out even
before the witch hunt.
;here is either obedience or the
church will burn like :ell is
burning!
1 &roctor2 ,iles ?(8 #uote to e-plain the reasons why
people stuck to the theology and the laws
3 the fear that if they did not their
communities would break down2 ,od
would abandon them and the devil would
take over. ;his is what their leaders told
them would happen and it was important
in those uncertain times to keep a sense
of a strong community 3 but people like
John )and even bigail in her way* were
#uestioning these laws and rules.
Parris Act To who? Relevance
:ow can it be the devil% /hy
would he choose my house to
strike%
1 :ale :e7they think the devil would only
communicate with the obviously bad.
"ear of the devil and the unknown.
8ou will confess yourself or 0 will
take you out and whip you to your
death2 ;ituba!
1 ;ituba =iolent and aggressive 3 fearful and
stoking the flames of the fear and the
beginnings of the hysteria. lso2 who
would not confess if they thought they
would be whipped to death anyway% @ut
the authority figures never see this human
aspect to the accusations.
/ho% /ho% ;heir names2 their
names!
1 ;ituba "ueling the accusations and hysteria 3
getting the names is key for the blame to
be placed and for &arris to feel he can be
distanced from the accusations.
;hroughout the play2 &arris and other
authority figures often fuel the very
hysteria that fuels the accusations of
innocent people thereby destroying the
community they claim to want to save
from the devil!
Such a <hristian that will not
come to church but once in a
month!
> $anforth about
&roctor
ccusing &roctor of being un<hristian 3
he sees &roctor as an enemy and would
like to see him undone and humiliated in
public. So2 even the authority figures are
taking their revenge on those they dislike
or distrust without thought to the
conse#uences.
ll innocent and <hristian people
are happy for the courts in Salem!
;hese people are gloomy for it.
> $anforth :ighlighting the fact that if people
#uestioned any of the court proceedings
they would be accused of being
un<hristian and so possibly in league with
the devil or with those who have been
accused 3 reminiscent of ,eorge /
@ushs statement about terrorism you are
either with us or against us which leads
to very simplistic2 e-treme and often
un1ust laws.
;he $evil lives on such
confidences!
> $anforth Fsing the name of the $evil )and
sometimes he uses the name Satan*
gives his point more power and intensity
and means it can be ignored less easily
as no one can be seen to be ignoring any
accusations that the $evil be involved.
;he use of religious language
throughout the play is used to give power
and intensity to the lines so that the
characters speaking it or listening to it
gain more control or influence in the
scene.
0 never saw any of them naked > $anforth Characterisation and abuse of $ower.
lie as he tells bi in ct 1 that he thought
he saw someone naked running through
the trees. $esperate to keep any blame
away from himself. bi knows he is lying '
she would only do herself damage if she
tells them this. &eople are protecting
themselves now no matter what the real
truth is.
<ast the$evil out! Dook him in the
face! ;rample him! /ell save
you2 Mary2 only stand fast against
him
7 Mary /arren Religious language to inspire Mary and
persuade her that ,od is on her side 3 the
ultimate thing they all want.
Parris Act To who? Relevance
;here be a faction here2 feeding
on that news2 and 0 tell you true2
sir2 0 fear there will be a riot here.
8 $anforth 5ndividual against authority# &arris is
realising that he has been duped by his
niece2 bigail 3 now he is trying to redeem
himself in some way by trying to stop the
trials.
0f he ):ale* brings even one of
these to ,od2 that confession
surely damns the others in the
public eye2 and none may doubt
more that they are linked to :ell
8 $anforth :ighlights the fact that the authorities now
know that they need to find a way out of
the situation without losing credibility 3
their $ower and abuse of it has gone too
far
0t will strike the village that &roctor
confess. Det him sign it2 let him
sign it.
8 $anforth Fsing &roctor to get what they want i.e. an
end to the trials. $esperate 3 starts the
hysteria leading up to &roctor refusing to
sign his confession
Abigail Ac
t
To who? Relevance
a bitter woman2 a lying cold2
snivelling woman
1 John &roctor Characterisation very nasty and mean in her
description 3 talking out of turn for a girl her age in
that community. Starts to show her darker side.
a gossiping liar! 1 John Characterisation
no blush about my name 1 &arris Characterisation
Dying to save herselfC dissembling to appear
innocentC in direct contrast with (li6abeth
Gh well be whipped! 1 Mary Characterisation the darker side is clear here. Eo
way will she take the full blame even if she did
instigate the calling of the spirits etc.
Det either of you breathe a word2
or the edge of a word2 about the
other things2 and 0 will come to you
in the black of some terrible night
and 0 will bring a pointy reckoning
that will shudder you.
1 Mary and Mercy Characterisation and use of $owerful imagery
in her language to create more intensity and fear.
oh shes only gone silly somehow 1 John (-plicitly says that @etty is not witched and yet as
the play unfolds she uses the witchcraft rumours
and hysteria for her own ends
0 have a sense for heat2 John2 and
yours has drawn me to your
window and 0 have seen you
looking up2 burning in your
loneliness
1 John Characterisation ;he language and sensual
imagery shows her to be a much more
sophisticated and e-perienced girl than her uncle2
&arris2 or the community would believe of a
young girl.
you are no wintry man 1 John $escription of John as a man with warmth and
heat in his character 3 flirty and e-plicit for the
times which shows us her forward and confident
personality
0 never knew the lying lessons 0
was taught by all these <hristian
women and their covenanted men!
1 John ;he affair with John has opened her eyes to a life
and a relationship with a man that she has never
been taught about 3 now that she knows about
mutual passion2 love making and that someone
like John can have an affair it makes all the things
she has been taught a lie. ;he adults must know
these things go on but as children they would
never be told these things as it would be
unchristian and seen as evil7dirty7against ,ods
will etc etc
0 never sold myself! 0m a good
girl! 0m a proper girl!
1 :ale $esperately trying to find a way out of the
situation and of being accused herself.
She made me do it! She made
@etty do it!
1 :ale ?(8 moment. ;he start of the accusations and
the hysteria
0 want to open myself! 0 want the
light of ,od2 0 want the sweet love
of Jesus! 0 danced for the $evilA 0
saw himA 0 wrote my name in his
book90 saw Sarah ,ood with the
$evil! 0 saw ,oody Gsburn with
the $evil!...
1 :ale Fsing religious language to increase the
intensity and persuade :ale and &arris and the
rest of those there that she is sincere ' using
language that refers to ,od and :is love would be
taken very seriously and not #uestioned. :ere she
is abusing that knowledge to get herself out of her
predicament.
;he start of the very hysterical accusations.
Eo 0 cannot2 0 cannot stop my
mouthC its ,ods work 0 do.
> Mary
/arren7court
Fsing God!s name 9religious language*to
reinforce the impression she wants to give that
she is good.
8ou will not! @egone! @egone > ;o the bird Just as :ale has said he has always thought
bigail false she starts to become H343,R5CA1
again to divert attention away from the truth.
buse of her P./,R.
2anforth Act To who? Relevance
;his is the highest
court of the
supreme
government of
this province
4 ,iles Characterisation. Fsing his status and
position to ensure he gets the respect
he feels he deserves.
Mary /arren
draw back your
spirit out of them!
> Mary /arren <learly believes in the witching of
bigail by MaryC shows belief in bigail
and in evil spiritsC drawn in by bigails
and the girls H34T,R5AC $emands
she do this as if she has control and as
if anything he asks must be done.
/e burn a hot fire
hereC it melts
down all
concealment
> &roctor Fse of imagery 3 the crucible 3 to give
the claim more power. $ramatic ironyas
they have a huge amount of power to
find the truth but this is not what is
happening and the audience and some
characters know this which creates
tension .
,rowing
hysterical
> Millers stage directions (ven $anforth is drawn into the
H34T,R5A. Shows how powerful
it7bigail was.
nd seventy two
hang by that
signature
> "rancis Eurse &roud of the fact he has hung these
people accused of witchcraft
$o you know2 Mr
&roctor2 that the
entire contention
of the state in
these trials is that
the voice of
:eaven is
speaking through
the children%
> &roctor <annot believe that &roctor would
#uestion the girls and their accusations
3 ironic that the court and proceedings
have been dominated and led by
children who are so much more guilty
than anyone can imagine.
8ou are combined
with anti'<hrist. 0
have seen your
powerC you will
not deny it!
> &roctor Fsing the power of religious language
to make the moment more intense and
give his statement more credibility.
8ou must
understand sir
that a person is
either with us or
he must be
counted against it
> &roctor Fnderlines the stress and pressure that
people were under to be seen to be on
the court 3 ,ods' side and not be
accused.
;here is a fear in
the country
because there is
a moving plot to
topple <hrist in
the country!
> :ale ;he fear that those in authority have
that the communities and the country
will disintegrate without the law of ,od
to keep everyone law abiding and keep
them scared of #uestioning the
authorities. ;he abuse of this $ower is
what continues to fuel the accusations
and the hysteria.
2anforth Act To who? Relevance
<hildren2 a very
augur bit will now
be turned into
your souls until
your honesty is
proved2
> Mary /arren and bigail Powerful and visual language to
reinforce the threat.
;o ,od every
soul is precious
and :is
vengeance is
terrible on them
that take life
without cause
> bigail &owerful and religious language to
reinforce the importance of the
damnation 3 and also ironic as it is
$anforth that is taking innocent lives
even though he is noes not know it
She spoke
nothing of lechery
and this man has
lied!
> ;o those present in the
ante room off the court
room
?(8 moment as $anforth decides that
(li6abeth has told the truth and that
&roctor has lied about his affair 3 the
irony!!
.8ou will confess
yourself or you
will hang!
.$o you confess
this power!
Speak!
./ill you speak!
> bigail "ueling the hysteria and the panic
which ensures she will not admit to
lying.
/ill you confess
yourself befouled
with :ell2 or do
you keep that
black allegiance
yet%
> &roctor &owerful religious language to create
intensity and fear in everyone not 1ust
&roctor.
8ou
misunderstand2
sir2 0 cannot
pardon those
when twelve are
already hanged
for the same
crime. 0t is not
1ust.
4 :ale :e is admitting that if he stops now he
will look as if he has been mistaken in
the other hangings so he cannot do
this. 0rony again as nothing about these
trials has been 1ust and this least of all.
0 am not
empowered to
trade your life for
a lie
4 &roctor ;his is e-actly what he has been doing
all along and is not aware of it.
0t is the same is it
not% 0f 0 report it
or you sign to it%
$o you mean to
deny this
confession when
you are free%
4 &roctor $oes not see the significance of
&roctors demand not to sign his name
3 that &roctor does not want any
evidence of his betrayal of his family
and values that he2 &roctor2 holds dear.
:ang them high
over the town!
/ho weeps for
these weeps for
corruption!
4 ;o all those present "ueling the hysteria at the end of the
ct and the play.
(rs Putnam and
other community
Act /ho to who? Relevance
8ou think it ,ods
work you should
never lose a child9
and 0 bury all but
one% ;here are
wheels within wheels
in this village and
fires within fires
1 Mrs & to +ebecca Hysteria
Shows the revenge
and the need for
people to blame
others for their
misfortune as they
could not blame ,od
=isual image 3
cruciblefires within
fires
0t is a providence2 the
thing is out now! 0t is
a providence!
1 Mr &utnam to &arris "ueling the hysteria
in the village from the
start.