Characterization of the Crucible
“The Crucible”, Act One Paragraph
In “The Crucible”, by Arthur Miller, various techniques are used to characterize many of the different characters. Through “The Crucible” Miller indirectly characterizes the characters based on there actions and of what each character says throughout the play. Miller indirectly characterizes Reverend Paris as being greedy based on his actions of demanding to have the deed in the house he lives in and more firewood. Reverend Paris is also indirectly characterized as being selfish because Paris says “… I must know it now, for surely my enemies will and they will ruin me with it” it shows that he more concerned with his ministry rather than his own daughters life (Miller 10). Reverend Paris begs for Abigail to tell him the truth about what happened in the woods to protect his ministry. Reverend Paris is afraid of the thought that people might think there is witchcraft happening in his own household. Miller indirectly characterizes Abigail as being spiteful when Betty says “You did, you did! You drank the charm to kill John Procter’s wife! You drank a charm to kill Goody Procter” which shows that Abigail was spiteful of Elizabeth Proctor because she loved John Procter and wanted to be with him instead of her being with him. Miller indirectly characterizes Abigail as being manipulative the way she puts the blame of witchcraft on Tituba when she says “I never called him! Tituba, Tituba…” and then when she point at Tituba and says “She made me do it! She made Betty do it” (Miller 42, 43). Tituba is indirectly characterized as scapegoat because when Abigail puts the blame on Tituba for trying to bewitch them; finally Tituba gives in saying “Mister Reverend, I do believe somebody else be witchin’ these children” (Miller 45). Tituba becomes the scapegoat in her fear to be hanged when Mr. Putnam says “This woman must be hanged! She must be taken and hanged!” so she admits to being bewithed and blames Goody Osburn (Miller 44). Throughout act
In “The Crucible”, by Arthur Miller, various techniques are used to characterize many of the different characters. Through “The Crucible” Miller indirectly characterizes the characters based on there actions and of what each character says throughout the play. Miller indirectly characterizes Reverend Paris as being greedy based on his actions of demanding to have the deed in the house he lives in and more firewood. Reverend Paris is also indirectly characterized as being selfish because Paris says “… I must know it now, for surely my enemies will and they will ruin me with it” it shows that he more concerned with his ministry rather than his own daughters life (Miller 10). Reverend Paris begs for Abigail to tell him the truth about what happened in the woods to protect his ministry. Reverend Paris is afraid of the thought that people might think there is witchcraft happening in his own household. Miller indirectly characterizes Abigail as being spiteful when Betty says “You did, you did! You drank the charm to kill John Procter’s wife! You drank a charm to kill Goody Procter” which shows that Abigail was spiteful of Elizabeth Proctor because she loved John Procter and wanted to be with him instead of her being with him. Miller indirectly characterizes Abigail as being manipulative the way she puts the blame of witchcraft on Tituba when she says “I never called him! Tituba, Tituba…” and then when she point at Tituba and says “She made me do it! She made Betty do it” (Miller 42, 43). Tituba is indirectly characterized as scapegoat because when Abigail puts the blame on Tituba for trying to bewitch them; finally Tituba gives in saying “Mister Reverend, I do believe somebody else be witchin’ these children” (Miller 45). Tituba becomes the scapegoat in her fear to be hanged when Mr. Putnam says “This woman must be hanged! She must be taken and hanged!” so she admits to being bewithed and blames Goody Osburn (Miller 44). Throughout act