Literature Analysis: The Crucible

1. The Crucible takes place in Salem, Massachusetts around the time of the Salem Witch Trials. It begins when a group of girls go dancing in the forest with a black slave, Tituba. The girls are caught by Reverend Parris, and one of the girls, his daughter, Betty, goes into a coma. A crowd gathers in the Parris home and rumors of witch-trials begin to unfold. Parris questions Abigail Williams, the ring-leader, but she admits to doing nothing but dancing. Abigail tells the girls not to admit anything. John Proctor, a farmer, talks to Abigail alone about ending everything with the girls. Abigail used to work for him but got fired by his wife, Elizabeth, because they were having an affair. Betty then wakes up screaming and the crowd begins to argue if she has been bewitched. Reverend Hale then questions Abigail and then wants to speak to Tituba. Tituba admits to communicating and accuses various people about consorting with the devil. Abigail and Betty join her in the accusations. Mary, a servant of John and Elizabeth have been accused, and then Giles Corey and Francis Nurse come over and say that their wives have been arrested as well. Elizabeth gets been arrested too. Proctor tells Mary to expose Abigail and the others as frauds. In court, Mary testifies and says the girls are lying, but they accuse her of bewitching them. Proctor then steps in and says he had an affair with Mary, but Elizabeth denies it, and then Mary breaks down and accuses him as a witch and he gets arrested. A summer passes, and Abigail has run away with Parris' money. Hale tells the accused witches to confess falsely but they refuse. John does confess, but when he is told that he has to say it in public, he retracts and they all go to the gallows.


2. One of the main themes in The Crucible is reputation. The town is focused on who is getting accused and being accused wrongly and that therefore puts a damper on everyone's view of them. For example, in court, when Elizabeth is asked if her husband did have an affair, she denies it so his reputation is not lowered. And once John is told he has to share his confession of guilt to the public he takes it back so his reputation is not ruined, costing all of the falsely accused lives to be taken.


3. Arthur Miller's tone changes based on the character being talked about. For example, he is sympathetic to those who have been falsely accused like the Proctors. He also has a serious tone because of the Salem witch trials and the toll it is taking on the town.


4. Falling Action- From John Proctor attempt to expose Abigail to his decision to die rather than confess. (Act IV)
Antagonist- Elizabeth Williams because she works against John Proctor.
Climax- John tells the court that he had an affair with Mary. (pg. 94)
Symbolism: The puppet that Mary makes for Elizabeth, because puppets were seen as voodoo dolls and basically Mary tricked everyone into thinking Elizabeth was a witch.
Metaphor: "the magistrate sits in your heart that judges you." Elizabeth says this to Proctor to suggest that she does not judge him for his actions, but he is judging himself. (pg. 55)
Allegory: The Salem Trials were meant to show how unfair the McCarthy Trials were.
Tragic Hero: John Proctor was an honorable man but he made one mistake and that led him to his tragic death. (pg. 144)
Biblical allusion: "I want to open myself! . . . I want the light of God, I want the sweet love of Jesus! I danced for the Devil; I saw him, I wrote in his book; I go back to Jesus; I kiss His hand. I saw Sarah Good with the Devil! I saw Goody Osburn with the Devil! I saw Bridget Bishop with the Devil!" (pg.48)
Irony: This quote from Mary Warren shows how serious society takes witchcraft. “Abby, we’ve got to tell. Witchery’s a hangin’ error, a hangin’ like they done in Boston two year ago! We must tell the truth, Abby! You’ll only be whipped for dancin’ and the other things!” Through this irony, we see the unjustness of witch trials. (pg. 19)
Simile: "His eyes were like coals." (pg. 107)

CHARACTERIZATION
1. Direct:
-Proctor was a farmer in his middle thirties. He need not have been a partisan of any faction in the town, but there is evidence to suggest that he had a sharp and biting way with hypocrites.(pg. 20)
-He was the kind of man- powerful of body, even-tempered, and not easily led- who cannot refuse support to partisans without drawing their deepest resentment. (pg. 20)
Indirect:
-In Proctor’s presence, a fool felt his foolishness instantly- and proctor is always marked for false statements therefore. But as we shall see, the steady manner he displays does not spring from an untroubled soul.
- "It's strange how I knew you, but I suppose you look as such a good soul should.  We have all heard of your great charities in Beverly."

2. Arthur Miller changes his syntax and diction when talking about certain characters. Like I said above, he is more sympathetic of those being accused for witchcraft than those who are actually committing the crime. By doing this, he is able to get the readers on the side he wants them on.

3. John Proctor is the protagonist in the story and he is a dynamic and round character. At the beginning of the play he did not think he was a good man but over the course of the play, he developed integrity and died feeling like a good man.

4. No, not as much as I had with others books. I haven't dealt with witchcraft and affairs so it didn't really "fit" with me, but I enjoyed reading it and gave me a new perspective on something.