the crucible quotes about power

She believed she had seen spirits earlier because she was caught up in the delusions of those around her. Concern for reputation is a theme that looms large over most of the events in The Crucible. 130). What causes tension between John and Elizabeth Proctor? The Crucible Quotes Act 2 With Page Numbers "Some dream I had must have mistaken you for God that day. ." The authorities ignore any inconvenient logical objections to the proceedings because they, too, are swept up in the madness. . Abigail's version of events is held to be true even after John confesses to their affair in a final effort to discredit her. Mary Warrens sense of self-importance has increased as a result of the perceived value of her participation in court. You'll also receive an email with the link. Salem Massachusetts - Burying Point Cemetery/Used under CC BY 2.0/Resized from original. May 1, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 The Crucible is a 1953 historical fiction play by Arthur Miller, based on the real-life events of the Salem witch trials. Power in Salem flourished in 1962 at the beginning of the Salem Witch Trials. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? For clarity, the quotes are grouped into four themes: irony, fear and hysteria, pride and reputation, and power and authority. First, there is her jealousy of Elizabeth Proctor and her fantasy that if she could only dispose of Elizabeth, John would be hers. The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points, How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer. Why doesnt Danforth believe John Proctors confession of his infidelity with Abigail Williams? Abigail distracts the judges from any rational investigation in this act by playing into this hysteria. Abigails presence is always rife with irony in The Crucible, as she constantly chastises others for sins she herself has committed. Once the accusations begin, Parris initiates an ironic thought process that persists throughout The Crucible: You will confess yourself or I will take you out and whip you to your death, Tituba! (pg. For them that quail to bring men out of ignorance, as I have quailed, and as you quail now when you know in all your black hearts that this be fraud God damns our kind especially, and we will burn, we will burn together!, Oh,Elizabeth, your justice would freeze beer., PROCTOR, his mind wild, breathless: I say--I say--God is dead!, When it is recalled that until the Christian era the underworld was never regardded as a hostile area, that all gods were useful and essentially friendly to man despite occasional lapsesl when we see the steady methodical inculcation into humanity of the idea of man's worthlesseness - until redeemed - the necessity of the Devil may become evident as a weapon, a weapon designed and used time and time again in every age to whip men into a surrender to a particular church or church state., What work you do! (Cheever pg. The way to have power is to capture it. Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! It can be hard to pick out particular moments or quotes as being key since everything moves along so quickly. John has already confessed that the affair was the reason for Abigails dismissal. Proctor cannot bear to have his reputation be smeared with this confession of witchcraft, because if his reputation is damaged then he no longer can think well of himself. Salem is under attack from the hysteria that is encouraged by the same people who seek to keep imaginary supernatural demons at bay. No one even considers Mary's statement about sticking the needle in herself. "I have this morning signed away the soul of Rebecca Nurse, Your Honor. Though actions are often motivated by fear and desires for power and revenge, they are also propped up by underlying worries about how a loss of reputation will negatively affect characters' lives. He counters, the only evidence is the witch and victim's words. There's also foreshadowing in this quote because by the end of this act, Hale is full of qualms, and by the end of the play, Hale feels he has "blood on [his] head" (p. 121). Why does Mary Warren warn John about testifying against Abigail? Danforth, Hathorne, and Parris become even more rigid in their views when they feel they are under attack. Hale also makes some unintentionally ironic statements in Act 1 when he begins his investigation. 118). Elizabeth is defined by her relationship to John, and Mary is pushed around by other characters (mostly men) throughout the play. officials (like Danforth) unable or unwilling to listen to reason? Nurse?" This is irony of the same type that I discussed in the overview of this theme. SAT is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination BoardTM. Logic has no power to combat paranoia and superstition even when the claims of the girls are clearly fraudulent. What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For? We've got 50 quotes and 4 themes that will help you spark some great ideas. The final major theme is that of the power of society and authority in Puritan Salem. Here are few more quotes that show the concern of Salem residents with reputation and the pride they have in their names. The madness begins in earnest with Abigails claim that Tituba and Ruth were conjuring spirits in the woods. Mary Warren Quotes. Here are a few questions related to this theme that you can use to test your grasp of irony and its significance as a theme in The Crucible: Hale wrongly assumes that his academic mindset will save him from jumping to the wrong conclusions in the witchcraft investigation. Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. Why is Cheever both astonished and afraid when he finds the poppet with the needle in it? For Proctor, we quickly realize, Hale doesnt realize that his own fears and suspicions are the real powers of the dark. Hale demonstrates perfectly the mindset of the characters affected by the hysteria and fear. Like a struck beast, he says, and screamed a scream that a bull would weep to hear. A Comprehensive Guide. Why is Elizabeth Proctor accused of witchcraft? (Hale, Act 2, p. 68). It is mistaken law that leads you to sacrifice. This well-intentioned mistake seals both of their fates. The power of collective hysteria ultimately becomes insurmountable because it grows larger than the influence of the few rational voices in the community. Don't leave your college application to chance. Central Idea Essay: Who Is Actually on Trial in the Play? This vicious cycle continues to claim the lives of more and more people as the play progresses. I'll tell you what's walking Salem - vengeance is walking Salem. He is there to convene trials of the accused, so when he tells John and the others he'll "burn a hot fire,", he means it. He chooses to die instead of providing a false confession because he doesnt think life will be worth living after he is so disgraced. We are what we always were in Salem, but now the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance writes the law!" Anns extreme conclusions are gradually accepted because rational people are too afraid to challenge the consensus and risk bringing accusations upon themselves. For them that quail to bring men out of ignorance, as I have quailed, and as you quail now when you know in all your black hearts that this be fraudGod damns our kind especially, and we will burn, we will burn together! 71). A+ Student Essay: The Role of Sex & Sexual Repression in the Play, Arthur Miller and The Crucible Background. Therefore, we must rely upon her victimsand they do testify, the children certainly do testify. Abigail, on the other hand, has no such sense of closure, as this Ask questions; get answers. . Here are some discussion questions to consider after reading about the thematic role of the concepts of power and authority in the events of the play: Mary Warren when she comes back from Salem in Act 2. 'Near to four hundred are in the jails, and upon my signature" It is a mouse no more. Parris initially insists that there are no unnatural causes for Bettys illness because he fears that he will lose favor with the townspeople if witchcraft is discovered under his roof. "ABIGAIL: Don't lie! This all takes place in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. Insert commas where necessary. I'm a proper girl!" Explore our collection of motivational and famous quotes by authors you know and love. In steadfastly refusing to confess, Rebecca Nurse holds onto a great deal of power. Danforth also acts out of concern for his reputations here. 61). And the wind, God's icy wind, will blow!" This is ironic because, Once the accusations begin, Parris initiates an ironic thought process that persists throughout. Purchasing There's also a bit of foreshadowing with "as though I come into a court", since in Act 3 Proctor will do that very thing. It is a providence, and no great change; we are only what we always were, but naked now. He warns Elizabeth that nothing, not even one's pride or reputation, is worth throwing one's life away on. The irony is that, in the face of Johns rejection, Abigail turns around and creates her own lies soon after that give her increased control over the society she resents. By Act 4, many of the power structures that were firmly in place earlier in the play have disintegrated. Her jealousy of Elizabeth Proctors position as Johns wife has led her to attempted murder, first by the charm in the woods and now by accusing Elizabeth of witchcraft. Ann Putnam jumps at any opportunity to blame supernatural forces for the deaths of her children. Is the accuser always holy now? The Crucible's themes have lent the play artistic longevity because they're more or less universal to the human experience across time. This quote shows that even though John Proctor has signed the confession, Danforth won't give him his name, and will refuse for him to take his innocence. The seeds are planted in Act 1, when Abigail is questioned about her activities in the woods and ends up accusing Tituba of witchcraft to avoid punishment. No one even considers Mary's statement about sticking the needle in herself. They are extremely biased towards believing they have made the correct sentencing decisions in court thus far, so they are reluctant to accept new evidence that may prove them wrong. Normally, she is the one told what to do and told to obey; now, however, she has the power of life and death over others. Why do certain characters seem to be blind to the irony of their actions (Abigail, Danforth)? Other essay questions may not ask you directly about the themes listed in this article, but that doesn't mean that the themes are irrelevant to your writing. The depths of the hysteria that has gripped Salem are revealed in Act 3 when John finally confronts the court. Proctor, gently pressing her from him, with great sympathy but firmly: Child. 50). This is a lesson in how fear can twist perceptions of reality even for those who consider themselves reasonable under normal circumstances. Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now: hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(360031, 'f20994d3-fd87-4c1e-988d-22ad8d920c1a', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); This final section is devoted to The Crucible quotes that don't relate to one of the themes listed above, but still mark an important moment in the play. (Act 2, p. 59). 10. Danforth insists that John must know more about the Devil's dealings than he has revealed. We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Before I get into the nitty-gritty of howThe Cruciblethemes are expressed, let's do a quick overview of what themes are and why they matter. She is able to use threats of physical violence to cow other girls into doing her bidding, but that's about as far as her influence extends. The authorities ignore any inconvenient logical objections to the proceedings because they, too, are swept up in the madness. "And mark this. By Act 2, there are nearly 40 people in jail accused of witchcraft. And it is my face, and yours, Danforth! What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For? The Devil is precise; the marks of his presence are definite as stone, and I must tell you all that I shall not proceed unless you are prepared to believe me if I should find no bruise of Hell upon her." Beware of it!" - Act Three. Danforth also acts out of concern for his reputations here. John and Rebeccas solid reputations lead to pushback against their executions even though people were too scared to stand up for them in the midst of the trials. Wed love your help. . In this quote, Danforth shows the terrible effect of the logical extension of belief in witchcraft. 73), meaning the girls are testing out the extent of the chaos they can create with their newfound power. As Reverend Hale says to Danforth, Excellency, there are orphans wandering from house to house; abandoned cattle bellow on the highroads, the stink of rotting crops hangs everywhere, and no man knows when the harlots cry will end his life - and you wonder yet if rebellions spoke? (Act 4, pg. "Think you to be so mighty that the power of Hell may not turn your wits? I will not have it said my name is soiled! One example of this is when Mary Warren accuses John Proctor of being the Devil's man: when push comes to shove, she is not strong enough to tell the truth (Act 3, p. 110). Here are a few questions about hysteria to consider now that you've read a summary of how this theme was expressed throughout the plot of the play: Even though there is significant reason to believe Abigail is lying about Elizabeth's familiar spirit stabbing her, the frenzied investigators ignore testimony that challenges their chosen witchy narrative. "PROCTOR, with a cry of his whole soul: Because it is my name! When the petition testifying to the good character of the accused women is presented, the reaction from Danforth, Hathorne, and Parris is to arrest the people who signed it rather than considering that this might indicate that the women are innocent. In Act 1 he jumped on board with the hysteria to preserve his power, but he ended up losing what little authority he had in the first place (and, according to Miller's afterward, was voted out of office soon after the end of the play). Suppose you are a historian at some future time studying this famous bird attack. "You are God's instrument put in our hands to discover the Devil's agents among us. The town, already primed with rumors of black magic, is quickly willing to accept that the first few women who are accused are involved in black magic because theyre beggars and slaves. Parris asks Danforth to postpone Proctor and Rebecca's executions in Act IV after Abigail and Mercy run away, which casts doubt on the entire trial. . The most substantial female character is Abigail, who is portrayed as a devious and highly sexualized young woman. (Proctor, Act 3, p. 111). 130). How do outside forces contribute to the character's flaws and eventual downfall?". The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points, How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer, Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests. Hales involvement is taken to mean that there must be a supernatural element to Bettys illness. Reverend Parris, Act 1 (Betty Is Bewitched) Reverend Parris questions Abigail Williams about the girls' dancing in the forest. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% Want to write the perfect college application essay? the peninsula chicago wedding; zachary knighton tattoo; road 96 security password stan and mitch; homes for rent in michigan with no . Ironically, he is the first to demand a confession from Tituba based on Abigail's dramatic but false testimony. in to her past affair with him. Continue to start your free trial. "But God made my face; you cannot want to tear my face. In Act 2, the value of reputation in Salem starts to butt heads with the power of hysteria and fear to sway peoples opinions (and vengeance to dictate their actions). First, his upstanding reputation is melted away (when he confesses to adultery) and Procto is revealed as a hypocrite; at the end of The Crucible, though, a second, stronger core is exposed when Proctor chooses to be hanged as a witch rather than falsely (and publicly) confess to witchcraft. Proctor's self-worth is entirely tied up in "his name" and how others perceive him. The town slips further and further into chaos and paranoia until it reaches a point of total devastation. "We burn a hot fire here; it melts down all concealment." John Proctor sabotages his own reputation in Act 3 after realizing it's the only way he can discredit Abigail. Mr. Nurse is now trying to prove the girls as frauds. Elizabeth notes that Mary's demeanor is now like that of the daughter of a prince (pg. The importance placed on reputation helps perpetuate hysteria because it leads to inaction, inflexibility, and, in many cases, active sabotage of the reputations of others for selfish purposes. Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you. She turns and starts for the door." (pg. Parris begs Danforth to postpone their hangings because he fears for his life if the executions proceed as planned. Though hysteria overpowered the reputations of the accused in the past two acts, in act 4 the sticking power of their original reputations becomes apparent. I hope you will be one of those." Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com, allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. In this act, we learn more details about the accused that paint a clearer picture of the influence of reputation and social standing on the patterns of accusations. When she is brought in for questioning and claims to see Marys familiar spirit, she says Envy is a deadly sin, Mary.Abigail herself has acted out of envy for the entire play. How are themes like hysteria, hunger for power, reputation, or any of a number of others functional in the drama? hbspt.cta.load(360031, '4efd5fbd-40d7-4b12-8674-6c4f312edd05', {}); Have any questions about this article or other topics? Du Maurier tells us that the birds are trying to destroy human life, but we never know what is making them do it. Power can change a person's whole life perspective. And he goes to save her, and, stuck two inches in the flesh of her belly, he draw a needle out." In her conversation with John, Abigail claims that he helped her realize all the lies she was told by two-faced people in Salem who only publicly adhere to the conventions of respectable society (pg. He claims that they must not jump to conclusions based on superstition in their investigation of Bettys affliction. Some sentences may be correct. And it is my face, and yours, Danforth! Danforth has extensive pride in his intelligence and perceptiveness. In one of the most well-known quotes in the play, John Proctor angrily insists that the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom (pg. John Proctor surrenders his agency at the end of Act 3 in despair at the determination of the court to pursue the accusations of witchcraft and ignore all evidence of their falsehood. God will not let you clean your hands of this!, If she is innocent! When Abigail accuses Elizabeth, a respected farmers wife, it shows that she is willing to take big risks to remove Elizabeth from the picture. The petition he presents to Danforth is used as a weapon against the signers rather than a proof of the innocence of Elizabeth, Martha, and Rebecca. He walks as though toward a great horror, facing the open sky. Act 1 Characters: Mrs. Putnam (Speaker), Parris, Proctor Techniques: Repetition, conduplicatio, symbolism #2: I'll tell you what's walking Salemvengeance is walking Salem. He uses his reputation to assert his authority; he will not be told what to do. The faces that people present to the public are designed to garner respect in the community, but the witch trials have thrown this system into disarray. Download it for free now: hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(360031, '688715d6-bf92-47d7-8526-4c53d1f5fe7d', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(360031, '03a85984-6dfd-4a19-93c8-5f46091f5e2b', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); Samantha is a blog content writer for PrepScholar. Each line, when completed, should have three words similar in meaning. In her conversation with John, Abigail claims that he helped her realize all the lies she was told by two-faced people in Salem who only publicly adhere to the conventions of respectable society (pg. Why is hypocrisy so common in repressive communities like Salem? (Act 2, p. 65), "It were only sport in the beginning, sir, but then the whole world cried spirits, spirits" (Mary Warren, Act 3, p. 100), "There be no blush about my name." He. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! In his 1953 play The Crucible, playwright Arthur Miller employs a fictionalized account of Massachusetts Bay colonists accused of witchcraft in 1692 as a metaphor for government persecution of suspected communists during the mid-20th century. Learn about the story by reviewing quotes from Reverend Parris, one of the book's main characters. Historical Context Essay: Arthur Miller and the Red Scare, Literary Context Essay: Political Theater and the Play. While touting his holy credentials, he claims that he dare not take a life without there be a proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of my conscience may doubt it (pg. Many of the Crucible quotes fall into the category of "dramatic irony", which is the irony that's created when there's a mismatch between what a character thinks or says and what the audience knows to be true. He covers his face, ashamed. In Act 3, Hale continues to make ironic statements about the existence of concrete proof for the accusations of witchcraft. Ann Putnam jumps at any opportunity to blame supernatural forces for the deaths of her children. In telling people they must confess to their crimes or be hanged, the officials show that they have already decided the person is guilty no matter what evidence is provided in their defense. In one of the most well-known quotes in the play, John Proctor angrily insists that the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom (pg. Act 4 is Danforths turn to shine in the irony department. (Danforth, Act 3, p. 83). Proctor, a score of people have already testified they saw [Rebecca Nurse] with the Devil (pg. Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! I have given you my soul; leave me my name! (pg. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. "It is a mouse no more.she raises up her chin like the daughter of a prince and lays to me" "There are orphans "There are orphans wandering from house to house, abandoned cattle bellow on highroads, the stink of rotting crops hangs everywhere" Significant Quotations Acts 2-3 . This confess or die mindset is one of the central ironies of the play. and her fantasy that if she could only dispose of Elizabeth, John Arthur Miller's story, ''The Crucible,'' explores the Salem witch trials. The College Entrance Examination BoardTM does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content of this site. Puritanism was a very strict and specific facet of . Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Score, list of every single character in the play, details on the history and thematic parallels behind this connection. It is a providence, and no great change; we are only what we always were, but naked now.. "I never had no wife that be so taken with books, and I thought to find the cause of it, d'y'see, but it were no witch I blamed her for. Mr. Hale, as God have not empowered me like Joshua to stop this sun from rising, so I cannot withhold from them the perfection of their punishment. They say he give them but two words. He believes there is a group of people in town determined to remove him from this position, and he will say and do whatever it takes to retain control. These connections will bolster your responses by positioning them in relation to the most important concepts discussed throughout the play. Theme Religion Quote "The parochial snobbery of these people was partly responsible for their failure to convert the . His only goal is to get on the good side of the community as a whole, even in the midst of this bout of collective hysteria. The fact that he forgets only this commandment shows that he is trying extremely hard to repress his guilt. This fact could destroy his credibility, so he is biased towards continuing to trust Abigail. Proctors good reputation is almost a burden for him at this point because he knows that he doesnt deserve it. The hysterical atmosphere and the dramatic performances of some of the accusers cause people to believe they have seen genuine proof of witchcraft. This hysteria-based evidence of witchcraft includes the discovery of the poppet in the Proctor household with a needle in it. This well-intentioned mistake seals both of their fates. When Hale asks him to recite his commandments, the only one he forgets is adultery. Since 1692 a great but superficial change has wiped out God's beard and the Devil's horns, but the world is still gripped between two diametrically opposed absolutes. They are all in the meeting room at court. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. Abigails low status and perceived innocence under normal circumstances allow her to claim even greater power in her current situation. Elizabeth is a victim of cruel irony in this Act when she is summoned to testify on the reasons why she dismissed Abigail from her household. We see Abigail's art of manipulation, Danforth's black-and-white worldview, and Proctor losing his initial restraint and admitting to what he did. Though Rebecca Nurse's involvement has already been corroborated by other confessors, Danforth demands to hear it from John to confirm that John is fully committed to renouncing his supposed ties to Satan. Set in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692, The Crucible centers on a small, Puritan community. Elizabeth notes that Mary's demeanor is now like that of the daughter of a prince (pg. These lines are said by Abigail Williams in court, and they are directed towards Danforth. None other. Lie/Used under CC BY 2.0/Cropped from original. Some of the quote are 'The Crucible' quotes about fear, accusation quotes, and different character quotes from 'The Crucible'. However, this runs up against Danforths desire to preserve his reputation as a strong judge. The petition he presents to Danforth is used as a weapon against the signers rather than a proof of the innocence of Elizabeth, Martha, and Rebecca.

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