The Crucible: Act Four In The Crucible by Arthur Miller the Salem witch trials in Northeast Massachusetts in 1692 is a big event which also causes a lot of conflict. This act takes place in a Salem prison jail cell during fall a few months after act three. There are several hangs scheduled during this act resulting after the whole story. These hangs are scheduled whether the people are accused or guilty with no exceptions. While this act takes place in a Salem prison jail cell Sarah Good and Tituba think that the devil has come to take them both back to Barbados. When the “devil” enters they realize that it is just Marshal Herrick who has only come to move place them into a different cell. When Hathorne and Danforth …show more content…
arrive they are looking for Paris and are upset to hear from Herrick that he is with Hale seeing the ones that are scheduled to be hanged that morning which included Proctor and Rebecca Nurse.
When Paris returns he answers Hathorne and Danforth’s question about Hale. His answer was that Hale had returned to convince the ones convicted of witchcraft that if they confess to their crimes that it will save their lives which Danforth is surprised and pleased about. Parris then reveals that Abigail robbed him of thirty one pounds and then left with Mercy Lewis. He then thinks they left after hearing about a revolt against the witch trials in the nearby town of Andover. Parris fears a similar problem in Salem now that people with social influence, like Rebecca and Proctor, are scheduled to hang. He begs them to postpone the hangings but Danforth refuses. After Danforth refused to postpone the hangings he receives threats regarding his position in the trials and is then scared for his safety. Hale returns and he demands pardons for those that are convicted. Danforth states how twelve others have been hanged for the same charges and the pardons for those remaining would crack the God’s voice “whimpering”. Though Hale thinks that a week postponement would seem like mercy to the public and not weakness, Danforth simply disagrees. Danforth then tries to get Proctor to confess
since Elizabeth is now pregnant and is pretty far along. Once Elizabeth gets there Hale tells her that he will consider himself the murderer of Proctor if he is hanged. Hale then begs Elizabeth to convince Proctor to lie and to give a false confession, in order to save his life. He also says that life is God's great gift and no belief or religion should be followed if it harms one’s life. Danforth and Hathorne greatly disagree and Hale yells that the confession must be a lie if Proctor is innocent. Elizabeth agrees to talk to Proctor and is brought to his cell with no one else in his cell. She begins to tell him that hundreds have confessed and Rebecca has not. She also adds that Corey refused to speak at all due to a legal loophole that if he was silent his sons would receive his farm. Corey was killed while being pressed as stone after stone was laid on him to make him speak but all he said was "More weight." Proctor asks Elizabeth what she would think if he confessed. But unlike Rebecca and Martha Corey who refuse to lie and ruin their reputation Proctor considers himself a liar already because of his affair with Abigail. Elizabeth says she cannot judge him and no matter what he will be a good man. She explains how she herself has sins and that drove him to his adultery which he should then forgive himself. Proctor decides to confess even though he knows he shouldn't. When Danforth, Hathorne, and Parris find out that he will confess they are filled with joy. They ask Cheever to write down Proctor's confession and Proctor asks why it must be written down. They answer with “To post on the church door”. Then they ask Proctor if he's seen the devil and he says yes. They brought in Rebecca to hope that Proctors Confession would sway her to confess as well. Though Proctor has not seen the devil with anyone they accept the confession anyways. As Proctor was under pressure he signed the confession but then refuses to hand it over. Danforth says the village must have proof and Proctor shouts that God has the proof which is enough. When Danforth persists Proctor shouts that he cannot bear to sign his name to lies or ruin his reputation. Proctor rips the confession to pieces and Danforth orders Herrick to take Proctor to the gallows. Parris and Hale beg Elizabeth to speak to Proctor but she says Proctor has his goodness back now, and refuses. Proctor is then hanged. In conclusion the witch trials in Northeast Massachusetts in 1692 were a big event which also causes a lot of conflict. This act takes place in a Salem prison jail cell during fall. There are several hangs whether the people are accused or guilty with no exceptions. Though Hale tried to make the people convicted confess to save their own lives Proctor and others still went with their own belief even if they were hanged anyways. They stated that they would rather be hanged knowing what they did was right to them than to lie and ruin their own reputation in front of everyone.
James Otis Jr, a lawyer, was very angry because his father was rejected the post of chief justice of Massachusetts by the royal governor.
Salem 's way of life is disrupted when a group of girls is caught by Reverend Paris, dancing in the forest with Tituba, a black slave. One of the girls, Betty, shrieks and falls into a coma like state. Not knowing what to do and suspecting witchcraft Reverend Paris calls on Reverend Hale, an expert in witchcraft, to come get to the bottom of things. Paris furiously questions his niece Abigail who led the girls into the forest about what happened and she insists that it was just dancing.
Analysis of The Crucible by Arthur Miller ‘You have made your magic now, for now I do think I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor.’ Assess the developments in John Proctor’s character that validate this statement. How does Miller create a sense of tension and suspense in the build up to this climatic moment in Act 4? In Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible he has used many dramatic devices in order to create tension and build up to the climaxes of the story.
Arguing with Hale, Proctor uses common logic to point out the flaw in Hale's argument when he states, "Why do you never wonder if Parris be innocent, or Abigail? Is the accuser always holy now? Were they born this morning as clean as God's fingers?" (1283). Proctor is still using more logical questions to turn Hale, for the most part Proctor is correct just because Abigail is acusing does not make her the holy or devine one it only makes her the accuser. Some of the people in the town starts to notice that refer to the scene in court from Francise's view " Excellency, we have proof for your eyes; God forbid you shut them to it. The girls, sir, the girls are frauds. Danforth goes on to say "What's that!?" Francis "Excellency, I have never thought to say it to such a weighty judge, but you are decieved". This clearly starts to chop down on Abigails roll as an honest accuser. after Abigail's acusings continue the town is scared
The first scene opens as Tituba, Reverend Parris’s slave, enters the bedroom. Reverend Parris is praying over his daughter Betty’s bed. Tituba is concerned for Betty's health, but Reverend Parris dismisses her. The door opens and Abigail Williams, the Reverend’s niece, enters with Susanna Walcott. Susanna tells Reverend Parris that the Doctor can't find a cure for Betty’s soporific sickness. He thinks there might be an unnatural cause, but Reverend Parris denies the possibility. Reverend Parris tells Susanna to leave and not to spread this information throughout the village.
Arthur Miller’s political allegory of McCarthyism, in the form of The Crucible, has been adapted into a faithful companion to the play that is able to incorporate the emotions and atmosphere that may not have been available to some in the play. Miller’s screenplay is very faithful to the book, having many of the same lines and situations the character in the play experience. Because of this, we are able to make an active connection to the play, thus expanding our understanding of the play. Lead by Daniel Day-Lewis, The Crucible’s plot is portrayed by a solid cast, who, for the most part, are able to engross the viewer into the story. The film contains many captivating scenes that exemplify hysteria meant to be depicted in the play, that demands the viewers attention while also immersing them in emotions. The film adaptation of The Crucible is a well produced version of the play that not only serves as a companion to the play, but an entertaining and though provoking experience.
The Crucible – Characters and Changes & nbsp; Change is good for the future. " We hear the catchy phrase everywhere. From company slogans to motivational speeches, our world seems to impose this idea that change is always a good thing. Assuming that the change is for the better, it is probably a true statement in most cases. The root of this idea seems to come from the notion that we are dissatisfied with the state that we are in, so, in order to create a more enjoyable environment, we adjust.
By the end, Proctor seems purified as he does what is good even if it
It was easier for them to blame the devil for the problems of society than fix the problems of their own strict way of life. So the girls involved with Abigail, like Mercy Lewis and Mary Warren, named many people in the town as witches. These people were put in jail and would be hanged if they did not confess to the crime of devil worship or witchcraft. Another part of the developing plot is that John Proctor knows Abigail and her friends are lying, but he is afraid to say anything because eight months before he had an affair with Abigail and did not want to be seen by the town as a lecher, which means wife cheater. So, Mr. Proctor has to fight with himself to come out and tell the truth, or his wife might die because of Abigail saying she was a witch.
...ecause it would be a lie to claim that he has never lied. Elizabeth says that she has her own sins, and only a bad wife would want lechery. Finally Proctor decides that he will confess himself, and then he asks if what he does is even evil. When Proctor agrees to save himself by admitting to witchcraft, Danforth demands a written confession and says that he must prove the purity of his soul to others, so he demands that Proctor accuse others. Hale says that it is good enough for Proctor to confess to God, but Danforth still wants a written statement. Proctor refuses, because he wants to keep his name good for the respect of his children. Danforth refuses to accept his confession, and orders that he be lynched. Hale begs Elizabeth to plead with Proctor to sign a confess, but Elizabeth claims that Proctor now has his goodness, and nobody should take it away from him.
The Crucible is a 1953 play by Arthur Miller. Initially, it was known as The Chronicles of Sarah Good. The Crucible was set in the Puritan town of Salem, Massachusetts. It talks of McCarthyism that happened in the late 1600’s whereby the general public and people like Arthur Miller were tried and persecuted. The Crucible exemplifies persecutions during the Salem Witch Trials. The people were convicted and hung without any tangible proof of committing any crime. Persecutions were the order of the day. When a finger was pointed at any individual as a witch, the Deputy Governor Danforth never looked for evidence against them or evidence that incriminated them; he ordered them to be hanged. This can be seen through his words “Hang them high over the town! Who weeps for those, weeps for corruption!” (1273), the people were persecuted aimlessly. The four main characters in the play, John Proctor, Abigail Adams, Reverend Hale and Reverend Parris, are caught in the middle of the witchcraft panic in the religious Salem, Massachusetts in late 1690’s. Persecution is the most important theme in the Crucible, the leaders and citizens of Salem attacks and persecutes one of their own without any tangible evidence against them.
says “I will fall like an ocean on that court” I think this means that
He turns on Abigail and confronts her and through the conversation between Reverend Parris and his niece Abigail, the audience learns that the town’s girls, including Abigail and Betty, had engaged in activities in the forest led by Tituba; Parris’ slave from Barbados. At this moment they are only provided with conflicting accou...
Hale tries to reason to Danforth in the quote. “Excellency, it is a natural lie to tell; I beg you, stop now before another is condemned!...From the beginning the man has struck me true.” (Miller 114) also “I believe him! Pointing at Abigail:This girl has always struck me false! She has-” (Miller 114). After Mary Warren tells about how John threatened Mary into signing the testimony, Danforth wants Proctor to confess: he doesn’t waive but, instead John says “A fire, a fire is burning!...the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face! And it is my face, and yours, Danforth! For them that quail to bring men out ignorance, as I have quailed, and as you quail now when you know your black hearts that this is fraud.” (Miller 199-120). John is saying that Danforth knows as well has him that this hearing is foolish and they know that the girls are lying. Danforth calls for Proctor’s arrest:he is detracted from the court and Hale finds this so outrageous that he quit the court in
The Crucible is an incredibly influential play no only in the fact that it displays many important themes, but it also portrays how a theocracy impacts societal actions. The Salem witch trials were the culmination of the problems with theocracy. The actions of society, not only are impacted by their personal thoughts, but also in religious undertones affect them. Act two in the play portrays not only all of these themes, but also some important events leading towards the witchcraft hysteria. Act two in the play portrays how theocracy ultimately leads to chaos.