“How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” Says the character John Proctor in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible. Probably the most powerful line the entire play‚ it is apparent that the idea of the importance of “names” is the central theme of this great classic. The author begins to develop this idea early in the play beginning with the conversation between Reverend Parris (a fearful reverend who instigates the witchcraft panic when he finds his daughter‚ Betty
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Feminism criticism is how women are portrayed through literature. When viewed in The Crucible several women played out a major role on whether they are a good or bad role model. Through the lens of feminism Abigail Williams is seen as a negative female character‚ Elizabeth Proctor portrayed a positive female character‚ and Mary Warren actions demonstrate she is not good or bad but a neutral character. Abigail Williams could be considered as a bad role model for sleeping with a married man‚ but in
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satisfy his desires to feel valued. Abigail tries to win back Proctor once he tells her he will never reach for her again. Abigail William’s depravation of someone who cares for her creates the jealous‚ violent‚ and vindictive protagonist of The Crucible. Abigail agonizes from her vindictive nature. Abigail seeks revenge on Elizabeth Proctor for “blackening her name in the village” (Miller 23). Abigail calls Elizabeth a “gossiping liar” but by saying this‚ Abigail proves herself jealous of Elizabeth’s
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What methods does Arthur Miller use to establish the character of Proctor in Act 1 of the Crucible? Proctor’s character is established initially through stage directions‚ and the initial view is not a beaming beacon of warmth as Mary Warren ‘leaps in fright’ at the mere sight of him‚ however we discover this is due to the fact that she is not where she should be‚ not because he is a man of evil actions. Then the stage direction that Miller uses merely for the actor and director to get a true sense
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fear or excess. The process of hysteria is initiated by an event which brings fear‚ and will eventually cause social unrest‚ chaos‚ and distrust. This event usually involves a group of people and an issue that concerns the whole community. In the Crucible this can be seen when Abi and the other girls of Salem are found dancing in the woods. The dancing strikes fear of witchcraft‚ and the process of hysteria begins. The American Communist scare in the 1950’s was initiated by the increased popularity
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Several characters show heroism in Arthur Miller’s book the crucible but the one that shows the most heroism is John Procter. He is the one that causes the witch trials to start because he was having an affair with Abigail. Abigail wants him to leave his wife for her. And when he refuses to leave his wife for Abigail. Abigail gets hurt and will do anything to be with John Procter. One of the first places where John Procter shows heroism is when he tells Abigail “Abby‚ I may think of you softly from
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the cost of living is losing all pride. In the Arthur Miller’s The Crucible‚ John Proctor chooses death of over living without pride. Some people say that living without pride is better than dying with pride. The truth is that John Proctor did the right thing dying with pride because he died by staying true to his morals. The main point that most readers would make is that lying is alright if the result is life. In The Crucible‚ John Proctor did not lie. Proctor had the choice to say that he had
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inevitability of human flaw - these factors are archetypal of the classical tragedies‚ first made popular by notable Sophocles‚ Euripides‚ and Aeschylus. Arthur Miller adopts this structure in his play‚ The Crucible: a tragedy‚ in which John Proctor is the epitome of an Aristotelian tragic hero. The Crucible is presented in a superstitious village‚ located in Salem‚ Massachusetts‚ in 1692. The time frame is compressed‚ and the action a fast pace. There is thus an unifying
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The Crucible Ashley Mizuno In a time when God ruled the world‚ those who dissented faced a certain end. Some hold secrets that if discovered‚ will destroy the very center of all they hold dear. Dancing in the forest‚ girls who will not wake‚ secret relationships‚ and claims of witchcraft all lead to the destruction of a community. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller‚ written during the McCarthy Era‚ this is exactly what happens. Reverend Parris catches a group of girls dancing in the forest‚ and
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SHORT ANSWER STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS - The Crucible Act One 1. "So now they and their church found it necessary to deny any other sect its freedom‚ lest their New Jerusalem be defiled and corrupted by wrong and deceitful ideas." What is the irony in that statement? 2. Explain how the witch-hunt years were a time of "general revenge." 3. Identify Tituba‚ Abigail‚ and Betty. 4. Why does Mrs. Putnam believe there are witches in Salem? 5. Why is Thomas Putnam bitter? 6. Parris says‚ "Oh‚ Abigail
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