However, this runs up against Danforths desire to preserve his reputation as a strong judge. He says, I would to God it were not so, Excellency, but these people have great weight yet in the town (pg. Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you. Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com, allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. What are their strengths and personal flaws? No one even considers Mary's statement about sticking the needle in herself. In this act, we learn more details about the accused that paint a clearer picture of the influence of reputation and social standing on the patterns of accusations. Once the accusations begin, Parris initiates an ironic thought process that persists throughout The Crucible: You will confess yourself or I will take you out and whip you to your death, Tituba! (pg. There are numerous connections between the flaws of individual characters and the overarching themes of the play that could be brought into this discussion. The Crucible | 50 of the Most Important Quotes You Should Know In Act 2, John Proctors guilt over his affair with Abigail is demonstrated through an ironic exchange with Reverend Hale. Hale also makes some unintentionally ironic statements in Act 1 when he begins his investigation. When Hale asks him to recite his commandments, the only one he forgets is adultery. (Cheever pg. "ABIGAIL, in a temper: My name is good in the village! Think you to be so mighty that the power of Hell may not turn your wits? Why did Tituba confess to dancing with the Devil? Stephen Hendry criticised Mark Selby and Mark Allen for casting a 'dark cloud' over the Crucible after the second session of their World Championship semi-final was halted three frames earlier . In The Crucible, Miller gradually reveals Reverend Parris's persona as the play goes on. on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% Curious about more recent (20th-century) occult activity in the U.S.? Abigail accuses Tituba first because Tituba is the one person below her on the ladder of power, so she makes an easy scapegoat. Danforths image is extremely valuable to him, and he refuses to allow Parris concerns to disrupt his belief in the validity of his decisions. Essay On Power In The Crucible. In telling people they must confess to their crimes or be hanged, the officials show that they have already decided the person is guilty no matter what evidence is provided in their defense. Try your hand at explaining how each of them does so. Explain the irony of Hales position at the end of the play as compared to his actions at the beginning. Mary Warrens sense of self-importance has increased as a result of the perceived value of her participation in court. It is a providence, and no great change; we are only what we always were, but naked now. Some of the most important Crucible quotes relate to these ideas. 10. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. He believes there is a group of people in town determined to remove him from this position, and he will say and do whatever it takes to retain control. 129). Is the accuser always holy now? The judges cannot force her to commit herself to a lie, and her martyrdom severely damages their legitimacy and favor amongst the townspeople. The prisoners have lost all faith in earthly authority figures and look towards the judgment of God. 22). Beware, Goody Proctorcleave to no faith when faith brings blood. People in power continue to believe the accusers out of fear for their own safety, taking the hysteria to a point where no one is above condemnation. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. The Crucible remains a staple of high school English because it is rich in themes that are consistently relevant to human beings regardless of time period. In her conversation with John, Abigail claims that he helped her realize all the lies she was told by two-faced people in Salem who only publicly adhere to the conventions of respectable society (pg. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Danforth explains that witchcraft is an invisible crime and that only the victims are reliable. Goody Proctor is a gossiping liar!" The prisoners have lost all faith in earthly authority figures and look towards the judgment of God. Is the accuser always holy now? There is too much evidence now to deny it" (Hale, Act 2, p. 61). This is especially true with the reputation and hysteria themes. The judges cannot force her to commit herself to a lie, and her martyrdom severely damages their legitimacy and favor amongst the townspeople. Ask questions; get answers. It is an invisible craft, evidence is hard to consider. The town slips further and further into chaos and paranoia until it reaches a point of total devastation. Abigail's version of events is held to be true even after John confesses to their affair in a final effort to discredit her. She is clearly outspoken and dominant, but her initial position in society is one of very little influence and authority. "Now Hell and Heaven grapple on our backs, and all our old pretense is ripped awaymake your peace!Peace. One calls up witnesses to prove his innocence. To Danforth, anything that doesnt confirm that he was right all along is a lie. Life, woman, life is God's most precious gift; no principle, however glorious, may justify the taking of it . Nowhere is there any consideration of ulterior motives. She is cast as a villain. Learn about the story by reviewing quotes from Reverend Parris, one of the book's main characters. Abigail's presence is always rife with irony in The Crucible, as she constantly chastises others for sins she herself has committed. Need some context to make these quotations make sense? Get the latest articles and test prep tips! He believes that Postponement now speaks a floundering on my part; reprieve or pardon must cast doubt upon the guilt of them that died till now. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% Most Important Quotes From The Crucible, Analyzed - PrepScholar I'll go over the most important quotes from The Crucible, explaining both their literal meaning and why they're important. In this lesson are important quotes from The Crucible. She is able to use threats of physical violence to cow other girls into doing her bidding, but that's about as far as her influence extends. Got an essay to write on 'The Crucible', but aren't too sure about which quotes you should be analysing?. (Act 1, p. 41). This new power is exciting and very dangerous because it encourages the girls to make additional accusations in order to preserve their value in the eyes of the court. Most Important Themes in The Crucible, Analyzed. "DANFORTH, conciliatory: You misunderstand, sir; I cannot pardon these when twelve are already hanged for the same crime. In this environment, whoever yells the loudest seems to get the most credibility. Mrs. Putnam intends her exclamation to refer to the fact that there are witchy plots afoot, but it holds true even outside of that context things are not what they seem in Salem, and there are complex cause-and-effect chains. Each new false confession is thrown onto the pile of evidence of a grand Satanic plot, and as the pile grows larger, the hysteria surrounding it is fed generously. John has already confessed that the affair was the reason for Abigails dismissal. While I speak Gods law, I will not crack its voice with whimpering (pg. Puritan Minister, Reverend Parris . The seeds are planted in Act 1, when Abigail is questioned about her activities in the woods and ends up accusing Tituba of witchcraft to avoid punishment. This is also the commandment that he has violated most explicitly, so youd think it would be the first one to spring to mind. Elizabeth is defined by her relationship to John, and Mary is pushed around by other characters (mostly men) throughout the play. "I cannot speak but I am doubted, every moment judged for lies, as though I come into a court when I come into this house!" Were they born this morning as clean as God's fingers? While touting his holy credentials, he claims that he dare not take a life without there be a proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of my conscience may doubt it (pg. Abigail distracts the judges from any rational investigation in this act by playing into this hysteria. Now, by God's grace, the shining sun is up, and them that fear not light will surely praise it. Here are a few questions related to this theme that you can use to test your grasp of irony and its significance as a theme in The Crucible: Hale wrongly assumes that his academic mindset will save him from jumping to the wrong conclusions in the witchcraft investigation. hbspt.cta.load(360031, '4efd5fbd-40d7-4b12-8674-6c4f312edd05', {}); Have any questions about this article or other topics? I think I have made my point. Act 1 Characters: Mrs. Putnam (Speaker), Parris, Proctor Techniques: Repetition, conduplicatio, symbolism #2: I'll tell you what's walking Salemvengeance is walking Salem. And well she might, for I thought of her softly. By Act 2, there are nearly 40 people in jail accused of witchcraft. Abigail is concerned about her reputation and her "name;" this is no doubt what motivates her, at least initially, to put the blame for the dancing in the woods on Tituba. He questions Abigail aggressively because hes worried his enemies will learn the full story of what happened in the woods first and use it to discredit him. Where before she was just an orphaned teenager, now, in the midst of the trials, she becomes the main witness to the inner workings of a Satanic plot. Abigail, in particular, has quickly risen from a nobody to one of the most influential people in Salem. Ask below and we'll reply! This confess or die mindset is one of the central ironies of the play. This is a sharp time, now, a precise timewe live no longer in the dusky afternoon when evil mixed itself with good and befuddled the world. The faces that people present to the public are designed to garner respect in the community, but the witch trials have thrown this system into disarray. Is there any character besides John Proctor that represents the voice of common sense amidst the madness? It is a marvellous sign, Mr Parris!" (pg.24) . This well-intentioned mistake seals both of their fates. 22). "There are wheels within wheels in the village, and fires within fires!" In The Crucible, the reputation of the church, the government, and the individual is called into question. Even before the witch trials, the people of Salem are doing lots of little magic tricks to make all their unholy thoughts and actions disappear. The real "powers of dark" affecting Salem are suspicion and fear, not anything demonic. 123). If you argued that John Proctor was the central tragic character, you could say that his flaws were an excessive concern for his reputation and overconfidence in the power of reason to overcome hysteria. He. Reverend Parris' concerns about his reputation are immediately evident in Act 1. The way to have power is to capture it. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. Concern for reputation is a theme that looms large over most of the events in. He is completely oblivious to the fact that the victims might be lying. The girls are essentially given permission by authority figures to continue their act because they are made to feel special and important for their participation. Abigail insists that she did nothing to deserve it and tries to put all the blame on Elizabeth Proctor. "I am a minister of the Lord, and I dare not take a life without there be a proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of conscience may doubt it." This act also sees the irony of Hale discussing the powers of the dark that are attacking Salem (pg. Theme Religion Quote "The parochial snobbery of these people was partly responsible for their failure to convert the . "For how else is she struck dumb now except some power of darkness would stop her mouth? This is irony of the same type that I discussed in the overview of this theme. Giles Corey provided evidence against his wife, Martha (reading book), on accident; but he got kicked out. I pay you, sir, this argument, let lawyers present to you." Essay On Power In The Crucible - 520 Words - Internet Public Library John attempts to crush his guilt instead of facing it, which only ends up making it an even more destructive factor in his life. This act also sees the irony of Hale discussing the powers of the dark that are attacking Salem (pg. These are themes that could be considered subsets of the topics detailed in the previous sections, but there's also room to discuss them as topics in their own right. The Crucible Quotes - eNotes.com The Crucible Quotes | Course Hero The Crucible | 50 of the Most Important Quotes You Should Know 'Near to four hundred are in the jails, and upon my signature" It is a mouse no more. She is a sensible, saintly old woman who chooses to martyr herself rather than lie and confess to witchcraft. What is a crucible? Subscribe now. Power Quotes From The Crucible. QuotesGram "PROCTOR, with a cry of his whole soul: Because it is my name! The Crucible: Deputy Governor Danforth Quotes | SparkNotes In the next few sections,I'll take a look at a group of broad themes inThe Crucible, including irony, hysteria, reputation, and power. This pair of quotes both demonstrate the ironic concept: as far as the audience understands it, the only person who seems to be judging Proctor is not Elizabeth, but Proctor himself. In Act 2, the value of reputation in Salem starts to butt heads with the power of hysteria and fear to sway peoples opinions (and vengeance to dictate their actions). Even in cases when the girls display symptoms (going cold and clammy or having needles stuck in them), there's never any physical evidence directly linking the accused witches to their supposed crimes. for a group? Now that you've read about the most important themes in The Crucible, check out ourlist of every single character in the play, including brief analyses of their relationships and motivations. She is enraged when Parris questions her suspicious dismissal from the Proctor household. Danforth makes a shocking argument defending the way the trials have been conducted, insisting that only the victims testimony can serve as reliable evidence in this type of trial. As mentioned in the overview, religion holds significant power over the people of Salem. I beg you, woman, prevail upon your husband to confess. The madness begins in earnest with Abigails claim that Tituba and Ruth were conjuring spirits in the woods. This all takes place in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. Du Maurier tells us that the birds are trying to destroy human life, but we never know what is making them do it. ZgZx-the-crucible-quotes.docx - Theme Religion Quote "The The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points, How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer. Proctor is the voice of common sense here, as a counterpoint to Hale's "don't question the process" stance. This quote shows that even though John Proctor has signed the confession, Danforth won't give him his name, and will refuse for him to take his innocence. Lie/Used under CC BY 2.0/Cropped from original. 705 Words3 Pages. We profile Aleister Crowley and analyze some of his key quotes in this article. He questions Abigail aggressively because hes worried his enemies will learn the full story of what happened in the woods first and use it to discredit him. . The ruthlessness with which the suspected witches are treated is aimed at purifying Salem, but it achieves the opposite outcome. You can view our. A Comprehensive Guide. If retaliation is your fear, know thisI should hang ten thousand that dared to rise against the law, and an ocean of salt tears could not melt the resolution of the statute." By Act 2, there are nearly 40 people in jail accused of witchcraft. hbspt.cta.load(360031, '4efd5fbd-40d7-4b12-8674-6c4f312edd05', {}); Have any questions about this article or other topics? The Crucible by Arthur Miller: Act 1 | Quotes, Overview & Analysis This hysteria-based evidence of witchcraft includes the discovery of the poppet in the Proctor household with a needle in it. (Proctor, Act 2 p. 52), "PROCTOR: Because it speaks deceit, and I am honest! makes them feel the best about themselves. Why is everyone so quick to believe Abigails story? 41). The Crucible Power Analysis 705 Words | 3 Pages. The Crucible . Parris asks Danforth to postpone Proctor and Rebecca's executions in Act IV after Abigail and Mercy run away, which casts doubt on the entire trial. "I came into this village like a bridegroom to his beloved, bearing gifts of high religion; the very crowns of holy law I brought, and what I touched with my bright confidence, it died; and where I turned the eye of my great faith, blood flowed up. Many people are under the impression that irony is just when something happens that you don't expect (or that you really hoped wouldn't happen). In Act 1 he jumped on board with the hysteria to preserve his power, but he ended up losing what little authority he had in the first place (and, according to Miller's afterward, was voted out of office soon after the end of the play). Giles Corey provided evidence against his wife, Martha (reading book), on accident; but he got kicked out. This is ironic becausesearching for "the Devil's marks" as the potential cause of an ailment is inherently superstitious. Proctor slept with Abigail, which led to her being fired by his wife, which led to her accusing his wife of witchcraft, which led to Proctor being accused of witchcraft and ultimately hanged for it. Why does Mary Warren warn John about testifying against Abigail? Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here: PrepScholar 2013-2018. Though Danforth is the most powerful official figure in court, Abigail manipulates him easily with her performance as a victim of witchcraft. Throughout the play, there is evidence that many characters, power rises while it falls for others . Interested in getting even deeper into the themes of The Crucible? Download it for free now: hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(360031, '688715d6-bf92-47d7-8526-4c53d1f5fe7d', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(360031, '03a85984-6dfd-4a19-93c8-5f46091f5e2b', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); Samantha is a blog content writer for PrepScholar. this quotation a fierce loathing of the entire townI never knew Power in Salem flourished in 1962 at the beginning of the Salem Witch Trials. Insert commas where necessary. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. overflows, and we see the roots of what becomes her targeted, destructive "I am a minister of the Lord, and I dare not take a life without there be a proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of conscience may doubt it" (Hale, Act 3, p. 92). View ZgZx-the-crucible-quotes.docx from ENGL 122 at San Jose State University. Hales involvement is taken to mean that there must be a supernatural element to Bettys illness. While I speak God's law, I will not crack its voice with whimpering. Reverend Hale (speaker), Elizabeth Proctor. ann putnam quotes the crucible - weeteneet.be (Abigail, Act 1 p. 11), "A man will not cast away his good name. She openly threatens Danforth for even entertaining Mary and John's accusations of fraud against her. A good example of just how multi-layered events in The Crucible are can be found by breaking down why John Proctor is hanged for witchcraft. We are what we always were in Salem, but now the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance writes the law!" 67). Significant Quotations Acts 2-3 . Research/Science. But I'll plead no more! At the end this act, John Proctor delivers a short monologue anticipating the imminent loss of the disguises of propriety worn by himself and other members of the Salem community. These connections will bolster your responses by positioning them in relation to the most important concepts discussed throughout the play. 25+ Significant 'The Crucible' Quotes Explained | Kidadl (pg. But it is a whore's vengeance 41). Abigail, the one character who breaks from this mold slightly, is portrayed extremely unsympathetically despite the fact that the power dynamic between her and John makes him far more culpable in their illicit relationship. Get the latest articles and test prep tips! In the final events of Act 4, John Proctor has a tough choice to make between losing his dignity and losing his life. Hale also makes some unintentionally ironic statements in Act 1 when he begins his investigation. How do the actions of authority figures encourage the girls to continue their accusations and even genuinely believe the lies theyre telling? John feels incredibly ashamed of his affair with Abigail, so he tries to bury it and pretend it never happened. God help me, I lusted and there is a promise in such sweat. Well, it's not. Please wait while we process your payment. Rational explanations are ground up by the drama of the rumor mill, and people see only what they want to see (whatever keeps them in the good graces of society andmakes them feel the best about themselves) in situations that don't appear to have easy explanations. He manages to make himself confess and signs the confession, but when the court officials try to take the confession away to show to the whole town, that is the sticking point. The Crucible: Important Quotes Explained | SparkNotes Miller's portrayal of women in The Crucible is a much-discussed topic. The importance placed on reputation helps perpetuate hysteria because it leads to inaction, inflexibility, and, in many cases, active sabotage of the reputations of others for selfish purposes. No one thinks a teenage orphan girl is capable of such extensive deception (or delusion), so she is consistently trusted. He believes there is a group of people in town determined to remove him from this position, and. Proctor explicitly states the subtext of the play the real devil of The Crucible is not Satan, but instead is people who don't step up to tell the truth (like Proctor) or who refuse to see the truth (like Danforth). Hysteria blinds the people of Salem to reason as they become convinced that there is a grand Satanic plot brewing in town, and they must not hesitate to condemn anyone who could be involved. They so fear the devilish consequences of challenging the accusers that theyre willing to take them at their word and ignore any defenses the accused have to offer. SAT is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination BoardTM. Reputation and Integrity Theme in The Crucible | LitCharts As John gives his confession, Danforth says to Rebecca Nurse Now, woman, you surely see it profit nothin to keep this conspiracy any further. He uses his reputation to assert his authority; he will not be told what to do. Anns extreme conclusions are gradually accepted because rational people are too afraid to challenge the consensus and risk bringing accusations upon themselves. 119). Here are a few discussion questions to consider after you've read my summary of how the theme of reputation motivates characters and plot developments in The Crucible: If you're an old beggar woman who sometimes takes shelter in this creepy shack, you better believe these jerks are gonna turn on you as soon as anyone says the word "witch.". Where before she was just an orphaned teenager, now, in the midst of the trials, she becomes the main witness to the inner workings of a Satanic plot. Other essay questions may not ask you directly about the themes listed in this article, but that doesn't mean that the themes are irrelevant to your writing. What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For? For example, Abigail went from being powerless to using the witch trials to become empowered. She believed she had seen spirits earlier because she was caught up in the delusions of those around her. Danforth, Hathorne, and Parris become even more rigid in their views when they feel they are under attack. This leads to Marys hysterical accusation of Proctor after she finds herself targeted by the other girls and about to be consumed by the hysteria herself if she doesnt contribute to it. In her conversation with John, Abigail claims that he helped her realize all the lies she was told by two-faced people in Salem who only publicly adhere to the conventions of respectable society (pg. "It is a mouse no more.she raises up her chin like the daughter of a prince and lays to me" "There are orphans "There are orphans wandering from house to house, abandoned cattle bellow on highroads, the stink of rotting crops hangs everywhere" Why does John decide to ruin his reputation in Act 3 by confessing to the affair? I'll give a short summary of how each plays a role in the events of The Crucible. AGAIN, Danforth takes this as an act against his authority. Some will be very direct. "Think you to be so mighty that the power of Hell may not turn your wits? The idea that a witch's familiar spirit is capable of stabbing people is too scary for the superstitious and now hysterical people of Salem to give Elizabeth the benefit of the doubt. May 1, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 Why doesnt John immediately tell the court that he knows Abigail is faking? And Mary is not the only one to benefit from the added respect accorded to the afflicted girls, as the next quote demonstrates. For them that quail to bring men out of ignorance, as I have quailed, and as you quail now when you know in all your black hearts that this be fraudGod damns our kind especially, and we will burn, we will burn together! Parris' need to remain powerful- "Do you know who I am, Mr. Nurse?" Danforth to Francis Nurse They are all in the meeting room at court. The Salem witch trials empowered several characters in the play who were previously marginalized in Salem society. "ABIGAIL, in an open threat: Let you beware, Mr. Danforth. Mary Warren in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Quotes & Character You'll also receive an email with the link. By the second act, the repercussions of the trials are starting to reverberate out of the courtroom. The witch and the victim. Like a struck beast, he says, and screamed a scream that a bull would weep to hear. The power of collective hysteria ultimately becomes insurmountable because it grows larger than the influence of the few rational voices in the community. There are several ironies in Act 1 that center around Abigail Williams. How are characters behaviors affected by concern for their reputations? Anns extreme conclusions are gradually accepted because rational people are too afraid to challenge the consensus and risk bringing accusations upon themselves. Elizabeth notes that Mary's demeanor is now like that of the daughter of a prince (pg. I may falter somewhat, Mister; I am no fool." And it is my face, and yours, Danforth!