Relationships Between Men And Women In The Crucible

A play in which relationship between a male and female is a significant factor is the Crucible by Arthur Miller. Set within a puritan community-based upon the ten commandments, Salem, 1692, This is an allegory for exploring the impact of McCarthyism on cold war America. Arthur Miller conveys the nature of the relationship and discusses how techniques such as conflict and retribution to represent the central concerns which enhance our understanding of the play as a whole.

Vengeance is explored throughout Arthur Miller's tale of individual conscience and social tyranny, The Crucible. It takes a journey through a small community where gossip, hysteria, and simple misunderstanding spreads like a plague across the town of Salem: Until no one is

safe from accusation. A man who has committed the sin of adultery with a girl, Abigail Williams and is forced to prove to his wife and to himself that he is a good man, which leads him to ruin.

Arthur Miller uses characterization to convey the relationship between a male and female which helps us understand the central concern.

This is suggested through John Procter's sympathetic role as the tragic hero, who is in conflict with his own desires "I will cut off my hand before I ever reach for you again". Referring to his adultery with Abigail Williams. John Procter is a straight-forward man of common sense and is impatient with foolishness with others. This leads him into conflict with people who have a different view such as Reverend Parris who enrages honest men like John Procter. " In my house? In my house, Thomas? They will topple me with this" these words reveal to us a man who only cares about himself. He considers any dissension from his views as an attack on him personally and the church and the court itself " This is a clear attack upon the court". Parris also represents an anxious man with little self-confidence which is revealed by Stage directions, " nervously moves." However, a character who represents society is reverend John Hale who shows himself to be more rational and conscientious by considering the evidence. Even though this is a different a stance he had, to begin with as he represented himself as a self-regarding

figure.

Furthermore, Arthur Miller explores the theme of relationship, conveyed by John Proctor and his wife, Elisabeth Proctor. This is represented throughout the second act were their attitude to one another is formal. For example, "Are you well today?" from John Proctor and Elizabeth is blunter with short answers such as " I am " or "Aye". This suggests a distance between them as it's not a typical profile for a married couple. Later on, their relationship becomes more prominent, revealed by Reverend Hales question. "Adultery , John" this collection is significant that the single commandment John Proctor can't recall is the one of which he is guilty of having broken. Arthur Miller injects a sense of place within this act by exploring the values of the puritans. For example, they were expected to know the ten commandments shown by Reverend Hale, "Do you know your ten commandments".

The central concerns are evident throughout the climax of the Crucible as Arthur Miller emphasized that every decision John Proctor has made throughout the play has led him down the path to the tragic but unavoidable ending.

For example, "I-I think I cannot" and," These are my friends, their wives are also accused". Despite being given a chance to give up and offered his wife's life, Proctor cannot back down. He feels a responsibility towards his neighbors because his sin of adultery has caused these events. Such choices are what lead him to the climax where he refuses to give up his name, " I have given you my soul; leave me my name!" this suggests that names are the essence of a person which must be held on to by any individual who wishes to maintain a sense of his own selfhood. Also, is conveying the concerns of the people of Salem, caring about their names more that their

lives.

As the play as a whole, Arthur Miller has given us a glimpse of the outcome when the central concerns, vengeance, and hysteria, goes wild through a relationship between a male and a female.