Irony In The Crucible
When bringing up The Crucible to another person, most people instantly know what piece of literature you're talking about, and there is a reason for that. Arthur Miller wrote a piece that took place during the Salem witch trials, which is filled with accusations, drama, lust, and so much more that caused this play to become widely known. Arthur Miller is the best author because of his excellent use of rhetorical devices such as symbolism, foreshadowing, and irony. Also his risky personality that provoked him to write this story as play instead of a novel. Writing a play is exceptionally harder to pull off, and Arthur Miller did just that.
To have this much success with a piece of literature, rhetorical devices are a must, and a huge one that …show more content…
When a writer uses irony it's normally for a humorous effect. An example of irony in The Crucible is when Abigail says [punctuation error] “She hates me, uncle, she must, for I would not be her slave. It's a bitter woman, a lying, cold, sniveling woman, and I will not work for such a woman!” (12). Abigail saying this is ironic because she acts as if she is innocent and has never done wrong. But we all know that Abigail is the biggest liar out of the whole village. To go along with this, irony is also seen when Hale asks Mr. Proctor to recite his commandments. Proctor begins, “Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors goods, nor make unto thee any graven image. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain; thou shalt have no other gods before me” (67). As he continues on he begins to slip up, and can’t remember the last commandment. Elizabeth then comes in and says, “Adultery, John” (67). We all know this situation is ironic because John couldn’t remember the one commandment that he broke. In this example, the use of this device gives a more dramatic feel to the piece since the audience knows of the affair, but Hale does not.
Arthur Miller’s The Crucible is not just any ordinary play. This piece of literature not only gives us a closer look into the Salem witch trials and the hysteria that ran through the town. But when looking deeper within the text, this play also is made to reflect on the Red Scare of the 1900’s. The use of symbolism, foreshadowing, and irony added a great deal of creativity and character that was needed to make this play
To have this much success with a piece of literature, rhetorical devices are a must, and a huge one that …show more content…
When a writer uses irony it's normally for a humorous effect. An example of irony in The Crucible is when Abigail says [punctuation error] “She hates me, uncle, she must, for I would not be her slave. It's a bitter woman, a lying, cold, sniveling woman, and I will not work for such a woman!” (12). Abigail saying this is ironic because she acts as if she is innocent and has never done wrong. But we all know that Abigail is the biggest liar out of the whole village. To go along with this, irony is also seen when Hale asks Mr. Proctor to recite his commandments. Proctor begins, “Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors goods, nor make unto thee any graven image. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain; thou shalt have no other gods before me” (67). As he continues on he begins to slip up, and can’t remember the last commandment. Elizabeth then comes in and says, “Adultery, John” (67). We all know this situation is ironic because John couldn’t remember the one commandment that he broke. In this example, the use of this device gives a more dramatic feel to the piece since the audience knows of the affair, but Hale does not.
Arthur Miller’s The Crucible is not just any ordinary play. This piece of literature not only gives us a closer look into the Salem witch trials and the hysteria that ran through the town. But when looking deeper within the text, this play also is made to reflect on the Red Scare of the 1900’s. The use of symbolism, foreshadowing, and irony added a great deal of creativity and character that was needed to make this play