The Crucible Rhetorical Analysis
RHETORIC
Throughout the Crucible, Arthur Miller uses many forms of rhetoric to progress and shape the plot. Miller exercises three significant forms of rhetoric to shape the play; symbolism, irony, and suspense. Although only a few instances of deep symbolism occur during the story, there are many important symbols. The title itself has two different meanings; a crucible is a melting metal to be forged into something new and different, which parallels the story to how it is a new society of forming upon change, and it is similar to the word crucify which is indisputably done to many people during the play. Rebellion to the Puritan society is one of the key symbolic meanings of the woods. The woods for the rebellious show …show more content…
how numerous people discharge their sexual wanting and also is the place where most of their witchcraft takes place, but for the Puritans woods are viewed as one of Satan's strongholds, as many people of the era believed (as shown in stories like "The Devil and Tom Walker"). In many tales the courthouse is supposed to represent justice and equality, but in The Crucible the courthouse is representative of inequality and injustice by its many crooked verdicts of the supposed witches. Due to Millers play format, dialogue is one of the most important factors for creating a successful tone and time period.
In preserving the 1692 dialect, Miller utilizes
Page 3
techniques such as dropping the "g" from the "ing" ending in words such as sleepin' or walkin'. Also, he uses outdated but understandable words such as harlot (meaning prostitute) to illustrate the time period of the characters' talk. Miller's use of biblical words such as gospel and lord help achieve a sense of the community's strict religious fundamentals. Irony shows up numerous times throughout the play, especially in the character Abigail Williams. Abigail is a very ironic hypocritical woman, she claims herself to be pure yet she has had an affair with the married John Procter and now out of lust plans to murder the his wife Elizabeth. Despite all of Abigail's effort to be with John Procter, he dies to keep his honor. The town was in desperate need of a way to test for witchcraft summons John Hale, however he ends up defending a lot of the supposed witches. Lastly and probably the largest and most ironic item is the town's name, Salem, which is a derived Indian name for peace, and certainly the one thing Salem doesn't have is itself,
peace.
Page 4
LITERARY CRITICISM #1
In Robert A. Martin's criticism towards The Crucible is very solemn and intellectual approach. He views it more as a "cultural and historical study rather than a political allegory". Martin feels as though the characters in the play symbolize certain things such as "hatred, fear, and hysteria. He explains how the trials went from those being accused being "old eccentric women like Sarah Good" to everyone and anyone giving the slightest hint of having the appearance of a witch. The central issue in the play was "the parallel between the witchcraft trials at Salem, Massachusetts in 1692 and the current Congressional hearings was the central issue of the play. Miller was able to have written The Crucible due to the "McCarthy era" and also because of the "creative process" where he learns to find a way "to the thematic center of a play". It is believed to be said a play must "speak to its own time" in order to be "successful. It is also believed to be said a play much "speak to new audiences in new times" in order for it to "endure". The Crucible inquired some research to be done and Miller indicates that he has completed that feat "completely and well". The events that take place in this play are not so much "invented" they are simple mere representations of the events that occurred during this period. Many instances the characters sense of doing is misinterpreted into something else for example: "Hale"s entrance at this particular point in the play is significant in that he interrupts an argument based on private and secular interests to bring authority to the
Page 5
question of witchcraft". That statement can be misinterpreted all into witchcraft and symbolize the devil. Martin seems to take a keen interest on "the historical Reverend Hale". Martin believes how "hale began to be tormented by doubts early in the proceedings. His uncertainty concerning the reliability of the witnesses and their testimony was considerably heightened when his own wife was also accused of being a witch. This proves he was struggling with him self about what is good and what is evil.
Page 6
LITERARY CRITICISM #2
John H. Ferres believes the play "moves beyond these historical events and explores universal issues that resonate with contemporary audiences". Ferres argues "that the play's appeal is founded on the concept that individuals must tear away the disguises", or costumes "that society foreves them to wear and confront the essential truth about themselves, no matter the odds or consequences".
.
Throughout the Crucible, Arthur Miller uses many forms of rhetoric to progress and shape the plot. Miller exercises three significant forms of rhetoric to shape the play; symbolism, irony, and suspense. Although only a few instances of deep symbolism occur during the story, there are many important symbols. The title itself has two different meanings; a crucible is a melting metal to be forged into something new and different, which parallels the story to how it is a new society of forming upon change, and it is similar to the word crucify which is indisputably done to many people during the play. Rebellion to the Puritan society is one of the key symbolic meanings of the woods. The woods for the rebellious show …show more content…
how numerous people discharge their sexual wanting and also is the place where most of their witchcraft takes place, but for the Puritans woods are viewed as one of Satan's strongholds, as many people of the era believed (as shown in stories like "The Devil and Tom Walker"). In many tales the courthouse is supposed to represent justice and equality, but in The Crucible the courthouse is representative of inequality and injustice by its many crooked verdicts of the supposed witches. Due to Millers play format, dialogue is one of the most important factors for creating a successful tone and time period.
In preserving the 1692 dialect, Miller utilizes
Page 3
techniques such as dropping the "g" from the "ing" ending in words such as sleepin' or walkin'. Also, he uses outdated but understandable words such as harlot (meaning prostitute) to illustrate the time period of the characters' talk. Miller's use of biblical words such as gospel and lord help achieve a sense of the community's strict religious fundamentals. Irony shows up numerous times throughout the play, especially in the character Abigail Williams. Abigail is a very ironic hypocritical woman, she claims herself to be pure yet she has had an affair with the married John Procter and now out of lust plans to murder the his wife Elizabeth. Despite all of Abigail's effort to be with John Procter, he dies to keep his honor. The town was in desperate need of a way to test for witchcraft summons John Hale, however he ends up defending a lot of the supposed witches. Lastly and probably the largest and most ironic item is the town's name, Salem, which is a derived Indian name for peace, and certainly the one thing Salem doesn't have is itself,
peace.
Page 4
LITERARY CRITICISM #1
In Robert A. Martin's criticism towards The Crucible is very solemn and intellectual approach. He views it more as a "cultural and historical study rather than a political allegory". Martin feels as though the characters in the play symbolize certain things such as "hatred, fear, and hysteria. He explains how the trials went from those being accused being "old eccentric women like Sarah Good" to everyone and anyone giving the slightest hint of having the appearance of a witch. The central issue in the play was "the parallel between the witchcraft trials at Salem, Massachusetts in 1692 and the current Congressional hearings was the central issue of the play. Miller was able to have written The Crucible due to the "McCarthy era" and also because of the "creative process" where he learns to find a way "to the thematic center of a play". It is believed to be said a play must "speak to its own time" in order to be "successful. It is also believed to be said a play much "speak to new audiences in new times" in order for it to "endure". The Crucible inquired some research to be done and Miller indicates that he has completed that feat "completely and well". The events that take place in this play are not so much "invented" they are simple mere representations of the events that occurred during this period. Many instances the characters sense of doing is misinterpreted into something else for example: "Hale"s entrance at this particular point in the play is significant in that he interrupts an argument based on private and secular interests to bring authority to the
Page 5
question of witchcraft". That statement can be misinterpreted all into witchcraft and symbolize the devil. Martin seems to take a keen interest on "the historical Reverend Hale". Martin believes how "hale began to be tormented by doubts early in the proceedings. His uncertainty concerning the reliability of the witnesses and their testimony was considerably heightened when his own wife was also accused of being a witch. This proves he was struggling with him self about what is good and what is evil.
Page 6
LITERARY CRITICISM #2
John H. Ferres believes the play "moves beyond these historical events and explores universal issues that resonate with contemporary audiences". Ferres argues "that the play's appeal is founded on the concept that individuals must tear away the disguises", or costumes "that society foreves them to wear and confront the essential truth about themselves, no matter the odds or consequences".
.