Literary Analysis #3

The Crucible

Plot Summary:
The crucible is play about the witch trials in Salem, it begins with us finding out about a young girl who is unable to move in her bed. The villagers suspect witchcraft but they do not know that the night before all the girls in the village sneaked out to the woods where they made a potion, with the help of black slave, Tituba The potion was supposed to allow the girls to have the man they love. It was fine until one girl, Abigail, took things too far and wished death on the wife of John Proctor. The girls went crazy, dancing and stripping but then Abigail's uncle walks in and finds them. This is the real reason the girl is unable to move, she is just scared she is going to get into trouble. The girls turn on the rest of the village and blame them for the witchcraft. Which leads to everyone pointing fingers at each other. If you say you are not a witch you are killed, but if you say you are a witch you are sent to jail forever.


Theme: Lies and Deception 

Most of the characters in The Crucible are lying, if not to other people, then to themselves. Abigail lies about her ability to see spirits, as do the other girls. Proctor is deceitful first for cheating on his wife with Abigail and then for hiding it. The judge, lieutenant governor, and ministers lie to themselves and everybody else in saying that they serve the cause of God’s justice. The twist in the story is that by telling the truth (“I am not a witch”), you die, but you also gain your freedom, you retain your standing with God and you become a martyr.

Tone: Malicious

Excerpt 1: 
"ABIGAIL: She comes to me every night to go and drink blood!"
Abigail is telling the court that Tituba is a witch and that she has committed witch craft. I believe she chooses Tituba as her victim because she is essentially an "easy target", because she doesn't have any defense to the accusations.

Excerpt 2:
"ABIGAIL: smashes her across the face: Shut it! Now shut it!"
Abigail hits Betty because she is reminding Abigail that she drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor. Abigail hits her and tells her to be quiet because she doesn't want the court to find out that she is lying. Abigail will do anything to not get into trouble.

Excerpt 3:
"ABIGAIL:I am but God's finger, John. If he would condemn Elizabeth, she will be condemned."
This quote shows that Abigail has gone crazy with power because she knows the court will believe anything she tells them, no matter how crazy it sounds.


Literary Elements:

Imagery:
"sweated like a stallion" (p.29). Abigail describes the way in which Proctor enjoyed their affair. While also a simile, this gives the reader or audience an image which is animistic and vivid.

Metaphor:
"the magistrate sits in your heart that judges you" (p.55). Elizabeth says this to Proctor to suggest that she does not judge him for his actions, but he is judging himself.

Symbolism:
The poppet which Mary Warren makes for Elizabeth, which results in her being accused of witchcraft, is a key symbol in the play. Poppet's are seen as voodoo dolls, used to hurt others and therefore the tool of a witch. Abigail plays upon this, faking an injury in order to condemn Elizabeth.

Foil:
Abigail Williams is the foil of Elizabeth because Abigail lies about the accusations while Elizabeth is an “honest woman” who “cannot lie” (p.221).

Internal Conflict: 
An example of internal conflict would have to do with Mary Warren. She is a prime example of internal conflict because she doesn't know whose side to take during the trials. Either Abigail Williams or John Procter. Throughout the play she changes sides because Abigail has threatened her life if she tells the truth but then she wants to help save John’s life and her job.  She doesn't know to choice either the right choice or the wrong one and is in constant battle with herself.

External Conflict:
An example of external conflict within The Crucible would be person VS. Person.  The conflict happens between Abigail Williams and Elizabeth Procter.This conflict starts when Elizabeth’s husband John has an affair with Abigail. When Elizabeth finds out she fires Abigail and tells the town that she was not doing a proper job. Once Abigail wants to be with John she starts to make false accusations against Elizabeth to try to get her in jail so she can be with John. Her plan back fires when John is the one who ends up being hanged, then Abigail is forced out of  town because society has rejected her for all of the lying she has done.

Irony:
Proctor was asked to name the ten commandments, the one he "forgot" was adultery. This is the commandment that he broke earlier in the story.


Characterization:
Indirect Characterization:
Ex1) John Proctor is an example of direct characterization. “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. In Proctor’s presence a fool felt his foolishness instantly- and a Proctor is always marked for calumny therefore.” (p.19) This Quote from the story clearly describes Proctor.

Ex2)  "I must know it now, for surely my enemies will and they will ruin me with it” it shows that he more concerned with his ministry rather than his own daughters life. (p.10)  Miller indirectly characterizes Reverend Paris as being greedy based on his actions of demanding to have the deed in the house he lives in and more firewood.


Direct Characterization:
Ex1) "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." This lets us, as the readers know, that Rebecca Nurse is a good person.

Ex2) "It's her dearest hope, John I know it, there be a thousand names; why does she call mine? She thinks to take my place John" This quote shows that Abigail is crazy and will do anything to be with John.


Diction:
I noticed a change in diction as the author changed from character to character. He gave each character their own way of speaking, which makes sense because everyone has their own way of speaking.


Dynamic:
Proctor is a dynamic character, he does not want to be involved in the trials at first, but once his wife get brought into it he changes his mind.


Round:
John Proctor is clearly a round character because by the end of the story. He had gone through so many ups and downs. He was very well developed and characterized.


Do I Know the Character:
By the end of this story I felt like I knew Proctor as an actual person instead of a character in a book. His character was portrayed very well throughout this book which allowed me as the reader to picture and hear him in my head as i read along.