The Crucible Quotes Analysis
Written by Arthur Miller, the Crucible is a reading filled with many significant and important quotes. One excerpt expresses the hidden dishonesty and deceit within the Puritan society. It says, “There are wheels within wheels in this village, and fires within fires” (28). At this part in the play, Mrs. Anne Putnam is having a dispute with Rebecca Nurse over the reasoning for her many miscarriages. Unlike Mrs. Putnam, Rebecca has been granted with plenty of children making her quite envious over Rebecca. She tries to suggest that maybe the Devil helped her have so many kids. This quote is therefore used by Mrs. Putnam to express her religious knowledge in order to help explain about this mysterious and puzzling event that has been occurring in their quaint village recently.
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Her claim does not only dig into the meaning behind her argument with Rebecca, but also towards the witch hunts in Salem. “Wheels within wheels” basically states how there are inner workings and intentions built up over time in their society in which reflects throughout each character.
Between secret motivations and selfish jealousies over the town, these are the true reasons behind the witchcraft and its trials. The "wheels" part of the quote could possibly be a biblical reference towards the Old Testament Hebrew Prophet, Ezekiel, and his vision of wheels within wheels. In comparison between Mrs. Anne Putnam’s quote and the Holy Scriptures, they both describe how God’s Word has plenty of levels and meanings. The wheels on the inside are what help produce the wheels on the outside. In order to understand the outside you need to depict the inner message. In my opinion, Mrs. Putnam is trying to say that there are many things going on in their Salem village behind closed doors. Although the people of Salem look God-fearing, they hide their sins within. This quote is well displayed In Act III, when Procter is begging and pleading to the court over his wife’s innocence. He drags Mary Warren into the chaotic mess as well for proof. As the wheels keep turning and complicating things more, Abigail of course convinces Mary to disregard Proctor’s plea in which creates more problems. With Mary then changing her mind and confessing to the court, Proctor looked even more
suspicious now. As you can see, Abigail can reflect along to a ‘wheel within a wheel’. Her hidden and evil intentions from inside reflect on her outer actions towards others in order for her to get what she wants. A wheel nor fire can turn or ignite on its own. Something has to trigger these two objects and very similarly to the Salem Witch Trials, you can only stop them by changing the path from beginning to end. The rumors that sparked throughout the village grew bigger and bigger as the wheels kept turning and more character got involved. Over all, this quote said by Mrs. Anne Putnam reviles the background message of ‘wheels within wheels’ and ‘fire within fire’ towards her village in Salem. She reflects the story as a message filled with hidden secrets, sins, and revenge.
Her claim does not only dig into the meaning behind her argument with Rebecca, but also towards the witch hunts in Salem. “Wheels within wheels” basically states how there are inner workings and intentions built up over time in their society in which reflects throughout each character.
Between secret motivations and selfish jealousies over the town, these are the true reasons behind the witchcraft and its trials. The "wheels" part of the quote could possibly be a biblical reference towards the Old Testament Hebrew Prophet, Ezekiel, and his vision of wheels within wheels. In comparison between Mrs. Anne Putnam’s quote and the Holy Scriptures, they both describe how God’s Word has plenty of levels and meanings. The wheels on the inside are what help produce the wheels on the outside. In order to understand the outside you need to depict the inner message. In my opinion, Mrs. Putnam is trying to say that there are many things going on in their Salem village behind closed doors. Although the people of Salem look God-fearing, they hide their sins within. This quote is well displayed In Act III, when Procter is begging and pleading to the court over his wife’s innocence. He drags Mary Warren into the chaotic mess as well for proof. As the wheels keep turning and complicating things more, Abigail of course convinces Mary to disregard Proctor’s plea in which creates more problems. With Mary then changing her mind and confessing to the court, Proctor looked even more
suspicious now. As you can see, Abigail can reflect along to a ‘wheel within a wheel’. Her hidden and evil intentions from inside reflect on her outer actions towards others in order for her to get what she wants. A wheel nor fire can turn or ignite on its own. Something has to trigger these two objects and very similarly to the Salem Witch Trials, you can only stop them by changing the path from beginning to end. The rumors that sparked throughout the village grew bigger and bigger as the wheels kept turning and more character got involved. Over all, this quote said by Mrs. Anne Putnam reviles the background message of ‘wheels within wheels’ and ‘fire within fire’ towards her village in Salem. She reflects the story as a message filled with hidden secrets, sins, and revenge.