The Crucible External Conflict Essay

The play The Crucible is a historical fiction written by Arthur Miller and is set in Salem, Massachusetts 1962. The play is about how a group of young girls lie about being under the devil 's influence to not only save themselves from being punished for dancing naked in the woods, but for one of the characters Abigail Williams it is a way for her to have revenge on Elizabeth Proctor for being between her and John Proctor. Since the town was very strict and religious the accusation that were said were believed without question landing innocent people in jail or in graves. In the final act of the play we read about how John Proctor tries and do the right thing, but ends up getting hanged. Throughout the play we see that the main theme

“Did you see anyone with the Devil?” (pg 991 Miller Act 4), “I did not” (pg 991 Miller Act 4), “Because it is my name! Because i cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on my feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” (pg 993 Miller Act 4).External conflict is a struggle between a character and a outside force or another character. Abigail Williams shows external conflict with her hatred for Elizabeth Proctor. When Abigail is asked why she was discharged from the Proctor household Abigail says that Elizabeth treated her like a slave and is a gossiping lier. “She hates me, uncle, she must for I would not be her slave. It’s a bitter woman, a lying, cold, sniveling woman, and i will not work for such a woman!” (pg 916 Miller Act 1), “My name is good in the village! I will not have it said my name is solied! Goody Proctor is a gossiping lier!” (pg 916 Miller Act 1). Abigail also shows her hatred for Elizabeth by putting a needle in the poppet that

Verbal irony is when someone says one thing but, means another. An example of verbal irony in the play is when Procter is in the courthouse and says that Elizabeth can not lie and then she does. “In her life, sir, she have never lied. There are them that cannot sing, and them that cannot weep, my wife cannot lie. I have paid much to learn it, sir” (pg 973 Miller Act 3), “Look at me! To your knowledge, has John Procter ever committed the crime of lechery? Answer my question! Is your husband a leacher!” (pg 974 Miller Act 3), “No, sir” (pg 974 Miller Act 3). Another example of verbal irony is when Abigail is in the court house and she is doing Gods work, but really she is doing the devils by getting all the girls to act like they see Mary’s spirit too. “Oh, Mary this is a black art to change your shape. No, I cannot, I cannot stop my mouth; it’s God’s work I do” (pg 975 Miller Act 3). Dramatic irony is when the readers know something that the characters do not. One example of dramatic irony is when Abigail acts like she sees Mary Warrens spirit, but she really does not. “Oh, Mary, this is a black art to change your shape. No, I cannot, I cannot stop my mouth; it’s God’s work I do” (pg 975 Miller Act 3), “Mary Warren! Draw back your spirit out of them!” (pg 975 Miller Act 3). Another example of dramatic irony is when Elizabeth was asked why she discharged Abigail she said that she did not satisfy