Interruptions and Delayed Explanations in Act III of The Crucible

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The Crucible Essay In act three opportunities constantly arise for the whole problem of the play to be cleared up satisfactorily, but these are always frustrated. Show how this act is one of interruptions and explanations which are tragically delayed. The crucible is a play written by Arthur miller and concerns the mass hysteria, which led to the 1692 Salem witchcraft trials in the U.S.A. At that time the people who lived in Salem believed in witches and the devil. They believed that the bible told them that witches should be hanged and they were required to live by strict puritan laws. The main characters of the play are Elizabeth Proctor and her husband John. John had an affair with their maid, Abigail, and it was her intention to destroy Elizabeth and marry John Proctor herself. After Elizabeth and other members of the community have been arrested on charges of witchcraft, the trial begins and there are many opportunities to show that the people arrested were innocent but the many interruptions make this impossible. At the start of act 1 Martha Corey is being questioned by judge Danforth and Hathorne to see if she had been involved in witchcraft. Her husband, Giles Corey interrupts to say that Putnam wants everyone’s land. “Thomas Putnam is reaching out for land.” Corey says that he has evidence to prove this. Then he is interrupted by Reverend Parris who undermines Corey’s evidence by saying he was a very argumentative person. Corey is interrupted again by Francis Nurse who says that the girls are all frauds “We have proof of it sir they are all deceiving you.” John Proctor arrives in the court with Mary Warren and the evidence as well but they are interrupted by Parris who tries to blacken Proctors name by say... ... middle of paper ... ...s a whore and she has a motive to kill his wife. Proctor’s wife is called in and Proctor has already told the court that she never lies, could never lie. Elizabeth Proctor is asked about Proctors relationship with Abigail and she said he had done nothing wrong. To save her husband, because committing adultery is a hanging offence, she tells that lie and condemns him. Proctor asks Mary to continue with her evidence but she turns against him and accuses him of being in league with the devil, “you’re the Devil’s man she points at him she says she will not hang with him and tells the court that he told her, “I’ll murder you, if my wife hangs.” Proctor tells Danforth “you are pulling heaven down, and raising up a whore!” If any of the people had been allowed to give their evidence without interruptions, the outcome of the court case might have been different.

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