Proctor: If she is innocent! Why do you never wonder if Parris be innocent, or Abigail? Is the accuser always holy now? Were they born this morning as clean as God’s fingers? I’ll tell you what’s walking Salem - vengeance is walking Salem. 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! This warrant’s vengeance! I’ll not give my wife to vengeance! Elizabeth: I’ll go, John - Proctor: You will not go! Herrick: I have nine men outside. You cannot keep her. The lair binds me, John, I cannot budge. Proctor [to Hale, ready to break him] Will you see her taken? Hale: Proctor, the court is just - Proctor: Pontius Pilate! God will not let you wash your hands of this! Elizabeth: John - I think I must go with them. [He cannot bear to look at her.] Mary, there is bread enough for the morning; you will bake, in the afternoon. Help Mr. Proctor as you were his daughter - you owe me that, and much more. She is fighting her weeping. To Proctor: When the children wake, speak nothing of witchcraft - it will frighten them. [She cannot go on.] Proctor: I will bring you home. I will bring you soon. Elizabeth: Oh, John, bring me soon! Proctor: I will fall like an ocean on that court! Pear nothing, Elizabeth. Elizabeth,[with great fear]: I will fear nothing. [She looks about the room, as though to fix it in her mind]. Tell the children I have gone to visit someone sick. [She walks out the door, Herrick and Cheever behind her. For a moment, Proctor watches from the doorway. The clank of chain is heard.] Proctor: Herrick! Herrick, don’t chain her! [He rushes out the door. From outside] Damn you, man, you will not chain her! Off with them! I’ll not have it! I will not have her chained! [There are other men's voices against his. Hale, in a fever of guilt and uncertainty, turns from the door to avoid the sight; Mary Warren bursts into tears and sits weeping. Giles Corey calls to Hale.] Giles: And yet silent, minister? It is fraud, you know it is fraud! What keeps you, man? [Proctor is half braced, half pushed into the room by two deputies and Herrick.] Proctor: I’ll pay you, Herrick, I will surely pay you! Herrick [panting]: In God’s name, John, I cannot help myself. I must chain them all. Now let you keep inside this house till 1 am gone! [He goes out with his deputies. Proctor stands there, gulping air. Horses and a wagon creaking are heard.] Hale,[in great uncertainty]: Mr. Proctor - Proctor: Out of my sight! Hale: Charity, Proctor, charity. What I have heard in her favor, I will not fear to testify in court. God help me, I cannot judge her guilty or innocent - I know not. Only this consider: the world goes mad, and it profit nothing you should lay the cause to the vengeance of a little girl. Proctor: You are a coward! Though you be ordained in God’s own tears, you are a coward now! Hale: Proctor, I cannot think God be provoked so grandly by such a petty cause. The jails are packed - our greatest judges sit in Salem now - and hangin’s promised. Man, we must look to cause proportionate. Were there murder done, perhaps, and never brought to light? Abomination? Some secret blasphemy that stinks to Heaven? Think on cause, man, and let you help me to discover it. For there’s your way, believe it, there is your only way, when such confusion strikes upon the world. He goes to Giles and Francis. Let you counsel among yourselves; think on your village and what may have drawn from heaven such thundering wrath upon you all. I shall pray God open up our eyes. [ Hale goes out. ] Question: Explore the ways in which Miller makes this such a powerfully dramatic moment in the play.
Answer- Arthur Asher Miller's "The Crucible" is a play that focusses on the hysteria that is based on man's fear of authorities and religion.He conveys the consequences of blind faith through this particular extract hence making it an intense moment in the play.Miller effectively builds up the tension by utilising religious images, relationships along with dialogues.Additionally he uses character dynamics to dramatise this particular moment in the play. Miller's play revolves around the notion of theocracy which he enhances by painting religious images to convey key ideas.As Cheever says "In God's name" he can't help but fulfil his duties reiterates the importance of God that is established in the previous parts of the play.The reference to the "accuser being holy" illustrates the widespread hysteria and lack of justice based on logical reasoning.Hence allows the readers to paint a picture of a biased and narrow-minded court.The irony evoked by Hale saying "God be provoked so grandly by such a petty cause" reveals to us the change in Hale through his monologue(50-55).This explicates how matters are not taken care of efficiently but are based on baseless evidence like verbal accusations.This furthermore highlights the hysteria making this moment very dramatic.Subsequently the moment when Proctor refers to "Pontious pilate!" it helps redefine his character's religious inclinations which was questioned previously.The emphasis on hysteria and the tension developed through the religious images in this excerpt helps dramatise this particular extract. John and Elizabeth's relationship comes into play in order to intensify Proctor's guilt which furthermore dramatises this event.The portrayal of John in this manner helps develop. his character as the tragic hero.John's dialogues "she is innocent","I will not give my wife to vengeance","Is the accuser always holy now?" portrays his love for Elizabeth.It also encourages the readers to wonder whether his frustration stems from his love for her or the guilt of "turning away" from her.A sense of hopelessness is borne as John "cannot bear to look at her" as she gives in to Cheever.This being followed by Proctor's attempt to bribe Cheever along the lines "I will pay you" portrays the extant to which Proctor is stooping to.The images combined together paints a pathetic image of Proctor and the situation.Miller effectively invokes empathy within the readers as the only way Proctor can redeem himself is by making a "bell of his honour".Towards the end of the extract, Elizabeth is chained and taken away highlighting all attempts of Proctor to be futile despite his desperate pleadings.All these forces successfully develops Proctor's character hence intensifies the events transpiring within this extract. Additionally, Miller uses minor characters such as Giles and Cheever to re-establish various themes and augment the tension within this excerpt.Cheever fulfilling his duties despite his friends and colleagues being part of the arrest helps reiterate the power religion and authorities pose over the community of Salem.Furthermore Giles putting forth that these witchcraft accusations are "fraud" helps convey that there are other people like Proctor who reach out for logical reasoning instead of jumping to conclusions.The helps sew in a moment of relief in between the highly intense act as Proctor is no longer fighting the battle against blind faith alone.This effectively captures the situation of 1960's anti-communist America and how there were some who believed in substantial evidence other than baseless accusations.This particular part could be interpreted as Miller's criticism to the lack of understanding during those times.The parallel to the real life event subsequently makes this a very captivating and interesting scene. Literary techniques involving those of tone, diction and simile used by Miller play an integral role in making this scene extremely powerful.The tone of anger is sensed on Proctor's part as he says the dialogues "were....they fingers?","vengeance writes the law","Pontious pilate!","Out of my Sight!","Dam,you man!","you are a coward".This helps reiterate the boiling anger within Proctor as he has a moral battle with himself.It also draws a parallel to the title of the play "The Crucible" in order to elucidate the intense heat in this extract.The calm yet frightened tone in Elizabeth's dialogues contrast with Proctor's encapsulating the differences in their relationship helps maintain the rhythm of the play.The use of the simile "I will fall like an ocean on the court" explicates the height of the motivation Proctor has to amend his mistakes and how determined he is to do it.It reinforces the goodness and Proctor and paints him in a positive light.Hence making his struggle with guilt and his helpLessness very captivating this part.The various devices help contribute in making this a dramatic moment in the play. Overall,Miller has strategically used his knowledge about the witch hunts and the anti-communist hunts in order to paint a picture of the hysteria prevalent.He furthermore dramatises it by using religious imagery and various characters in order to build up to the climax of the play which emerges after this scene.
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Explore the ways in which Arthur Miller makes the relationship between Proctor and Abigail so scandalous? In his play, ‘The Crucible’, Arthur Miller has depicted the Salem witch trials as an allegory to McCarthyism. Here he clearly depicts the hysteria and chaos that occurred in Salem due to a few children who were willing to accuse others and take their lives just for their own personal vengeance. The relationship between John Proctor and Abigail plays an important role in the entire witch trials as its scandalous nature is evidently brought out. The constant referencing of the affair Proctor had with Abigail is the main cause of the entire trial. Along with that, The close effect of that sin can be seen in Proctor’s personal life, as he becomes distant from his wife and begins to question his morality.
The tension between the husband and wife shows the grave impact the affair has had on their relationship. The moments of silence in their conversation when Proctor comes back home from the field shows that the two have become distant. Furthermore, the fact that they are talking about Abigail in their own house shows that even though she is physically present there, Abigail has indeed infringed their relationship. The distance between Proctor and Elizabeth is also evident when Elizabeth asks Proctor to confess and he wants to think before he acts. Elizabeth does not recognize the logic behind this, instead says, ‘If it were not Abigail that you must go to hurt, would you falter now? I think not’,showing that she thinks that Proctor still has feelings for Abigail. This shows miscommunication, highlighting the fault in their relationship. Proctor’s constant need to prove to his wife that he has ‘forgot(ten) Abigail’ and that the time he spent with her, the ‘promise’ that he made to her was merely a ‘promise that a stallion gives a mare’, highlights the negative effect the affair has had on the relationship between Proctor and Elizabeth. Additionally, the use of the phrase ‘Oh, Elizabeth, your justice would freeze breeze’ adds to their detachment from each other. Proctor and Abigail’s relationship can evidently be seen to be scandalous in the manner in which it can be seen as the cause of the entire trials. Throughout the play it is revealed to the audience that Abigail’s desire to replace Elizabeth as Proctor’s wife and the mistress of the land and property is what fuelled the entire trial. When Proctor refuses to accept Abigail as a lover, and decides to end their relationship in order to have a better marriage with his wife, Abigail is disappointed at the fact that she is the one being rejected. This fuels her anger for which she is willing to go to various different lengths to condemn Elizabeth Proctor, such that she can become Proctor’s wife. Her eagerness to get her way, is shown right from the point where it is revealed to the audience that Abigail had convinced Tituba to use her dark magic skills that she received from her upbringing in Barbados, which would in turn harm Elizabeth. The fact that Abigail concocted the plan of convincing the court that Elizabeth has a relation to witchcraft by stabbing herself when she saw Mary Warren insert a needle in the poppet, depicts her mindset which has developed due to the relation she had with Proctor. The fact that Elizabeth is the one to face the false accusation and condemnation all due to Abigail’s own personal vengeance against her due to the relationship she had with Proctor, evokes pity in the audience, while highlighting that relationship to be a scandalous one. Proctor has been shown to be conflicted about his morality as a result of the relationship he had with Abigail. Proctor is seen to be feeling guilty regarding the death of the numerous people who had been condemned of witchcraft, as he understands that it was his relationship with Abigail that caused the trials, which then led to the death of these people. The audience can see that he is too burdened by guilt that he becomes delusional to think that there is no goodness in him. His affair with Abigail, which is seen to be a sinful act has made him to believe that he is “no good man” and that he should just lie and confess to witchcraft. He believes that by doing so he is not sacrificing his morality as he is already an immoral man. The conflict shown here, between Proctor’s want to give up and confess, with the part of him who wants to stand up for morality depicts the harsh effect the relationship had on him that such a moral man was conflicted about his own morality, highlighting the scandalous nature of the relation. Proctor’s having a romantic relationship with Abigail, despite being married to Elizabeth is proof of him committing adultery which is seen as a serious sin in the theocratic government of Salem at that time. The fact that they had to have a conversation with each other when they were alone, such that people would not hear them shows that their relationship was not something that the society would accept. Even when Proctor is unable to tell his wife about the conversation he had with Abigail, shown through the moment where Elizabeth asks “why then, it is not as you told me?” show the hesitancy experienced by Proctor when conveying this information as he is aware that this is a sinful act and that Elizabeth would not perceive it to be a normal conversation, which is depicted through “his anger rising” and the “violent undertone” with which he explains the situation. Elizabeth’s lack of understanding as to why Proctor is taking time to decide on how to act on the knowledge he has against Abigail, mimics how the court is going to react to the news of his affair with Abigail. They would not be willing to understand Proctor’s reasoning and the information he is sharing, but will be too focussed on the sinful act he has committed, which also foreshadows future events in the play. Furthermore, the fact that not knowing the commandments, out of which one of them includes ‘thou shalt not commit adultery’, which is ironically the one that he forgot, displays the importance of maintaining a proper profile and highlights the sinful nature of the relationship between Proctor and Abigail. Therefore, through the various instances mentioned distinctively throughout the play, showcasing how their relationship was a sinful act, becoming the cause of the entire witch trials, the playwright, Arthur Miller has been able to showcase the scandalous nature of the relationship between John Proctor and Abigail. The numerous conflicts that were brought out due to their relationship, including the conflict between Proctor and his wife, between his own thoughts and sense of morality, prove that their affair was a scandalous one. Q) How does Hansberry make the difference between George Murchison and Joseph Asagai so fascinating?
'A Raisin in the Sun' is a play written by Lorraine Hansberry that revolves around the struggles and hardships that an Afro-American family, the Youngers have to overcome in order to escape from the poverty in the ghetto of Southside Chicago. Throughout the play, Hansberry has created peculiar characters to portray the complex perspectives of the black community. Asagai and George, both at two ends of the spectrum, put forth their views to the readers and to Beneatha, their potential love interest. Thus, their disparity is brought out through their reaction to Beneatha's hair, their attitudes towards her and how these men converse with her family members. Beneatha, an independent and ambitious woman embraces her African heritage through Joseph Asagai, as seen in "I am looking for my identity!". Asagai, "a dramatic looking man" is interested in Beneatha for her intellectual capacity and sheer curiosity towards Africa, which urged him to gift her "the colorful robes of a Nigerian woman". Beneatha was delighted however offended when Asagai calls her hair, "mutilated", as if she has already submerged into the "oppressive" American culture. Asagai represents culture appreciation in the play and is disappointed to see Beneatha being an "assimilationist". Beneatha, thus heeds her heritage and Asagai, and "cut(s)" it off", allowing to be in its natural state ("unstraightened"). However, George's mindset completely differs from Asagai and represents the assimilationist perspective in the play and snidely remarks Beneatha's hair, "We're going to the theatre - we're not going to be in it... so go change, huh?" Additionally, he further comments negatively about his own heritage - "Your heritage is nothing but a bunch of raggedy assed spirituals and grass huts!", conveying how he has completely submerged into the American culture and has turned his back on his African roots unlike Asagai who reveres his culture. Thus, lighting a spark of disparity between Asagai and George's reactions. Subsequently, their attitudes differ when it comes to Beneatha. George, according to her is seen as a "fool", "snob", "shallow" man due to his privilege as a black man in society. Furthermore, George's interest solely lies in Beneatha's looks as seen in, "they're going for what they see." emphasizing his superficiality. Unlike Asagai, George does not like to talk about "the nature of quiet desperation", thus undermining Beneatha's sense of self and pride and she is an independent woman whose ideas are to be valued, which are recognized while talking to Asagai. He was the one who supported her when she lost the ambition to become a doctor and encouraged her to continue through the monologue "I LIVE THE ANSWER". Additionally, when Asagai suggested Beneatha "to come home with [her]", an implied marriage proposal which conveys how both of them could see a future with each other. However, with George, neither of them desired to engage a serious relationship with each other as seen in "I like him enough to go out with him and stuff." and through his previously mentioned emphasis on superficiality. Hence, aptly portraying the differences between the two men in terms of their attitude towards Beneatha. However, not only does their attitude differs towards Beneatha but also to her family members. George, an impolite and snobbish man who boasts about his social standing to Ruth and Walter, as seen in, "You get to New York a lot?" - Ruth (offhand) "Plenty of times" - George He gloats further in "The New York standard curtain time is eight forty." Through this dialogue, he uses his position in the social hierarchy to elevate himself from the stigma of his own racial identity. Subsequently, he treats Walter with "indifference" when he talks about his aspirations, and thus mocks him by calling him "Promethus". Through this allusion, George ridicules Walter's grand plans of business and reinforces the great knowledge he possesses. Conversely, when Asagai encountered Mama, he treats her with respect and kindness and is "moved" by her kind gestures. He is further shown in a positive light when he asks for forgiveness for "coming at such an outrageous hour". Hence, the contrast in their behaviors towards her family makes the disparity evident between George and Asagai. To conclude, the implementation of George and Asagai's reaction to Beneatha's hair, their attitudes towards her and her family brings out the fascinating distinction that persists between these two characters. |