Summary

This document provides a detailed analysis of quotes from the play "The Crucible.". The document includes a quote table with analysis of quotes related to the play's characters. It also discusses techniques used within the play, characters, and context.

Full Transcript

PARAGRAPH 1: Dramatic convention, context intro In The Crucible, Arthur Miller explores how a culture of surveillance and fear can lead to widespread hysteria, as the individual’s fear of exclusion prompts them to accept even irrational collective ideas. Influenced by Brecht, Miller’s play serves...

PARAGRAPH 1: Dramatic convention, context intro In The Crucible, Arthur Miller explores how a culture of surveillance and fear can lead to widespread hysteria, as the individual’s fear of exclusion prompts them to accept even irrational collective ideas. Influenced by Brecht, Miller’s play serves as an “Instrument of instruction,” allegorically paralleling Salem to the Red Scare, revealing humanity’s enduring vulnerability to the manipulations of a corrupt collective. Technique: Quote Analysis: The narration “two-man patrol,” establishes a panoptic culture of surveillance, as individuals are motivated to suspect the corruption of others, a direct product of a society that pursues Manichean moral ideals. The juxtaposition “either obedience or the church highlights the power of fear to will burn like hell” motivate individuals towards conformity for the sake of security At the same time, Miller’s “no ritual for the washing away suggests that excessive didascalie of sin,” repression will always produce hypocrisy, as even the anomalous individual Proctor initially fears collective moral judgement. This creates a paradoxical “hard proof” and hypocritical individuals situation, where individuals are hide their immorality at any cowed into utter moral cost. conformity due to their naive belief in the ironic Thus, Miller invites responders to critically reflect on the complexities of human behaviour and the severe consequences of societal pressures driven by fear and surveillance. Point: Subsequently, this widespread hysteria is exacerbated by selfish individuals prioritising themselves over the collective good. Miller examines how individuals' moral compasses are corrupted for their desires due to the collapse of the social contract leading them to take advantage of the corrupt system. Technique: Quote: Analysis: Miller uses diction associated “Gold candlesticks” Here, Miller showcases how the with wealth, highlighting Reverand Parris’s selfish nature of those materialistic and self-centred prioritising their desires over desires. social morals leads to the corruption of the collective's moral compass. This selfish nature, leads to a “mouse no more” while the Through this, Miller explores dramatic change in Salem’s metaphorical “brick and mortar the decline of the social contract spower dynamics, as formerly of the church” Rebecca Nurse is as a result of morally corrupt low-status characters such as imprisoned and accused. actions, which then incentivises Mary Warren are elevated further manipulation of a corrupt through the metaphor social hierarchy. This is showcased in Abigail’s “Sarah good”, “Goody Osborn”, results in Salem returning to the quantitative listing, stating that “Bridget Bishop” all “with the Hobbesian State of Nature, she saw devil”, highlighting how the where each individual prioritises narration of Abigail’s “endless their interest over the moral capacity for dissembling” health of the collective. This is further illustrated in “Let either of you breathe a revealing the lengths she is Abigail’s threatening tone, word… and I will bring a pointy willing to go to protect her lies reckoning that will shudder and maintain control, Miller you.” utilises this to critique how unchecked personal ambition, coupled with societal fear, can destabilise communities and erode trust. Thus, declining trust decays the social contract, aggravating existing tensions. Miller reveals the power of self-interested individuals to manipulate the collective for personal benefit. Dramatic convection and context: In response to such widespread disorder, anomalous individuals can promote the restoration of the collective, as their idiosyncratic morality allows them to resist collective manipulation, inspiring others in the process. Subverting Aristotle's conventions of tragedy, Miller chooses a common protagonist, John Proctor, positioning the audience to understand the eventual power of the individual to resist and change the collective. Technique: Quote: Analysis: Miller establishes Proctor’s “ his vision of decent conduct” as his flawed nature ironically anomalous character through indicates his potential to morally authorial intrusion reform and influence others. His refusal to confess places “I cannot pardon these… it is suggests the eventual pressure on the court to maintain not just,” vulnerability of previously legitimacy, as Danforth’s high unquestionable authority, as modality hysterical moral binaries eventually lose their persuasive power. In response, Proctor’s “I cannot mount the gibbet like ironically proves his moral anagnorisis, a saint,” redemption, as his refusal to judge inspires others to share his integrity, motivating the eventual rejection of the court. Proctor discovers a metaphorical “shred of goodness,” as this departure from the Brechtian convention elicits pathos to epitomise Miller’s political reaction to McCarthyism. Thus, Miller reflects on the complexities of human behaviour, as Proctor’s resistance invites the readers to reflect on how personal integrity can both clash with and transcend communal oppression.

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