The Crucible – Rivalries Exposed in Act Three

The play is centred on the witch endeavors that actu all(prenominal)y took place in Salem, Massach enga cutts during 1692 and 1693. milling machine wrote ab surface(a) the event as an allegory for McCarthyism which occurred in the United States in the 1950s. McCarthyism was a judgment of conviction of prominent anti-communist suspicion in the late 1940s and 1950s. The call connections in the two occurrences were that numerous wad were accuse on little or no evidence and all of it was inconclusive.Also, useistic was the hysteria in all the places where the problems struck. The melting pot, is structured around four master(prenominal)(prenominal) themes which are, evil, feuding, revenge and conflict of authority. All these add tinge twists in the play. Hatred is a tight theme holdim the Salem Witch Trials. The strictness of puritan laws meant people were bound to break them, whether on purpose or by accident, and the strong religious views divided in Salem aro utilize suspicion for the most trivial of matters. As a turn out of this, feuding was inescapable.Petty rivalries caused many arguments in varying situations, and the resulting tense atmosphere in Salem resembled a rumbling vol squirto equitable waiting to erupt. The subsequent controversial tourist court hearings would bring out the worst in some people and possibly the best in others. Before the play began many rivalries were already in existence. Adultery had been attached and aggressive disputes over land had occurred. Personality clashes and ancestral feuds had set families at loggerheads with one a nonher.Consequently, when opportunities arose to define accusations, which could result in hangings, many villagers jumped at the chance with glee thus setting up the third main theme of the play revenge. The final main theme of The Crucible is conflict of authority. In Salem, Massachusetts, the people had no official, outright ruler of their lands so trials were bound to spark a dispu te about authority. Salems folk had a reclusive leader of their prude church, the high-fl give birth Parris. He called in the conditioned Reverend Hale to investigate the witchcraft accusations.t fritterher were many officials of the court as well, including Cheever and the overall judges of the court, Danforth and Hathorne. All these geeks had their own reasons to think themselves the deserved rulers of Salem. With many wise people living in the village, you could be sure that dozens of heated discussions about who should be leader would occur. In the play, many characters are revealed to the audience, except one character we are familiar with from the start, is the villages church leader, Reverend Parris.The whole chain of events could hand over easy been avoided had he been prepared to take a bit of criticism from the villagers, except Reverend Parris was too insane to allow that. This is ironic because the more he tried to stop trouble from arising, the more it actually happened. His main fear was that people were toilsome to uproot him and make him lose his place in their society. He was insecure. This is shown throughout the play, for typesetters case, in fiddle tether he says Parris in a sweat Excellency, you surely cannot think to allow so vile a lie be spread in open court This is an example of many different devices. The staging says he was in a sweat because he was worried and this shows he was not a strong character. Also this comment is the rootage example of salient derision in typify lead. It was ironic because he was remonstrateing about observe lying, and monitor wasnt lying, however Parris was. This was as well as an exclamatory line. It was meant to persuade Danforth to believe Parris and not follow. This was the first of many dramatic techniques used to highlight watch overs and Parris rivalry. Its demonstration of Parris insecurity remains a key feature for the duration of the play.An insecure leader would not exhib it strength, allowing bolder characters to be able to affect his decisions c at one timerning the community. It excessively means he was s guidanceed by others opinions. He didnt possess a definite mind of his own because of his paranoia of being uprooted. Before the start of the play, a strong dispute between Reverend Parris and fundament watch over already existed. Although the rivalry was a key part of the entire play, it was highlighted in venture Three, as I have already shown. Its the first rivalry to be opened in this act.The rivalry r distri stillivelyed its peak when John Proctor was falsely incriminate of compacting with the devil and Reverend Parris was leavening to condemn him. This caused consternation throughout the village since John Proctor was depicted as, and regarded as, a very intelligent man throughout The Crucible. He realised that the people accusive citizens of Salem of witchcraft were the guiltiest of all. This was one device Miller often used in t his play dramatic irony. When John Proctor was forced to defend himself he was quick to turn the accusations upon Abigail Williams and Reverend Parris.As Parris was so daunted about the familys best name, he could not let anything stand that might affect his reputation, and as Abigail was part of his family, he had to start defending her too. At this point in the play, both characters were seek to make the other look seriously. A lot of occurrences were revealed to the court about both Proctor and Parris. As Proctor was being questioned about compacting with the devil, he was quick to point out that Parris had not mentioned the fact that he caught the girls bound naked in the forest at the start of the play.Proctor Taking it right up Abigail leads the girls to the woods, Your Honour, and they have danced there naked - Parris Your Honour, this - Proctor at one time Mr Parris discovered them himself in the dead of night Theres the child she is At this point in the play, Rever end Parris was forced to be very defensive. The fact that Proctor interrupted Parris showed how desperate each character was to get their point across first. With the staging saying at once it conveyed the fact that Proctor did not want Parris to be given the chance to speak.Also, Proctor was very impolite in saying child in the way he did since this would certainly offend Abigail. In the same act, Proctor also admitted the strength of his hatred for Parris. Parris once again questioned him on his attendance and Proctor was very truthful in his reply. The language Arthur Miller used at this point in the play revealed the degree of the mutual loathing and the putting of child in inverted commas showed Proctors disgust at the trust being invested in Abigail whom Parris regarded as modern and innocent.Parris Such a Christian that will not come to church but once in a month Danforth restrained he is curious Not come to church? Proctor I-I have no fare for Mr. Parris. It is no secre t. But God I surely love. Parris was the first person to come out with an exclamatory line. He accused Proctor of not being a true Christian because of his measly attendance at church, but this only provoked Proctor to come back with an honest heretofore harsh reply, and he couldnt be clearer in what he was saying.Even though throughout the play, their hatred for each other was made clear, this line was still key because it showed that Proctor was not afraid to admit, in court, that he did not like the clerical leader of Salem. I think this provides evidence that their rivalry was based on hatred. Proctor may have felt that Parris should rightfully be Salems church leader, but he did not agree with his policies and he did not believe he would be a good leader. Whilst their rivalry reached its peak in Act Three, their argument had, as melodyd, been ongoing throughout the play.For instance, in Act Two, as soon as Reverend Hale arrived, he was told to investigate the accused people s household and it was clear that Parris was extremely quick to inform him that John Proctor attended church seldom compared to most. Proctor once again expressed his opinion in full and did not water it blast. He was very truthful. Hale Good, then. He makes himself a bit more comfortable. In the book of record that Mr. Parris keeps, I note that you are rarely in the church on Sabbath Day. Proctor No, sir, you are mistaken. Hale Twenty-six time in seventeen month, sir.I must call that rare. Will you tell me why you are absent? .. This forthwith showed that Parris had asked Hale to enquire about Proctors lack of attendance at church. Later in the conversation Proctor gave his foremost reason. Hale Mr. Proctor, your house is not a church surely your piety must tell you that. Proctor It does, sir, it does and it tells me that a Minister may pray to God without he have golden candlesticks upon the altar. This made it clear why Proctor disagreed with Parris power, as he did not believe he was managementsed on God.It was ironic that Proctor just wanted to simply praise the Puritan way, whereas, the Puritan Minister had controversial ideas that went against a key part of his faith of keeping things simplistic. This was again a use of dramatic irony a technique continued throughout the play. It was not spoken dramatic irony but its effect was nonetheless profound. Not only did Proctor and Parris have a rivalry, but so to did Proctor and Parris niece, Abigail. This rivalry was also set-up before the play began. Before the beginning of the play Abigail and John Proctor had had an skirmish. This all happened whilst Proctor had a wife.We discover in the play that only Abigail, John Proctor and Elizabeth knew of the affair and Elizabeth had found it in her heart to forgive John for his wrong-doing. Although, John Proctor sincerely regretted the affair, there remained a complication in that Abigail still loved him. Abigail was blind to Proctors feelings so she k ept trying to rekindle their relationship, with no regard for Elizabeth. She wanted John for herself. Her desperation became so great that she stabbed herself in the can with a needle and tried to frame Elizabeth Proctor for witchcraft. She says Abigail Goody Proctor always kept Poppets In reality, Abigail had planted the poppet on Elizabeth Proctor to try and get her arrested and hanged. This exclamatory line was aimed at the court, and say thus because it had a greater dramatic effect. No other information was given to lend focus to that single point. The court took this very seriously as Abigail, ironically, had become the most trusted person in all Salem and effectively directed the court proceedings. Returning to the important exclamatory line spoken, in Act Three, by Proctor regarding Parris and Abigail, his two biggest rivals Proctor at once Mr. Parris discovered them himself in the dead of nightTheres the child she is Proctors exclamation aimed an attack at Abigail by re ferring to her as a child. This language exposed Proctor and Abigails rivalry. He said this because children were seen as innocent and tried and knew Abigail was regarded as such by most of Salem. The exclamatory line was intended to put in bad light Abigails pretence of child-like innocence as a mask for her manipulative behaviour. It also reflected mischievously upon Reverend Parris since he was part of the same family. Child is put in inverted commas in the record to emphasize its pejorative use as the main point of his exclamation.Throughout the play, Proctor wanted Abigail to be exposed for the whore she truly was. In doing this he was even willing to ruin the excellent reputation that he had in Salem. When he admits to having an affair with Abigail, he loses the peoples respect, because he is considered to have sinned in spite of appearance a Puritan community. But, as we see during the entire play, John is not afraid to address unpalatable truths. John Proctor also physica lly attacks Abigail in the court, unable to keep a level head when he sees the trouble her lies are causing.The staging says, Without warning or hesitation, Proctor leaps at Abigail and, grabbing her by the hair, pulls her to her feet. She screams in pain. . . . and out of it all comes Proctors roaring congresswoman. Proctor How do you call Heaven Whore Whore As we testify throughout the whole play, Proctor kept his temper well and for him to physically attack someone comes as a shock to the audience. It really shows how much he hated Abigail and how enraged she has managed to make him. His roaring voice shouts Whore Whore He is saying this because of their affair. It is in fact an accusation.Abigail actions seem to be motivated by a desire to seek revenge on John Proctor because he doesnt love her. This is pathetic, for in doing this, she makes John Proctors feelings of loathing for her only the stronger. In the same act Proctor exclaims She thinks to dance with me on my wifes grave He knows Abigails wish but does not agree with it and this exclamatory line lets everyone know he is against her. Abigail effectively takes the lead in making accusations although it is an unsanctioned role. She can accuse whoever she wants and the blind people of Salem are hooked on her every word.They neer question her judgments or decisions until Proctor provokes Danforth to do so. Even then she avoids the question by quickly faking the espial of a spirit, a device she frequently employs to get out of awkward situations especially when bloody shame warren finally stands up to her. But bloody shame is not at all confident in her accusations against Abigail. She has a really strong case, but as she doesnt really want to accuse Abigail aware of her strong character, she weakens and Proctor does more talking than Mary. Mary and Abigails is the shortest-lived rivalry. It actually only appears in Act Three and no other.Mary is acting as Proctors puppet and in the end the ri valry affects secret code except John Proctor who eventually is accused of compacting with the devil Mary warren terrified, pleading Abby Mary at this point is pleading. The staging shows she is terrified of Abigail. She is screaming Abigails name. It is not only the staging that shows Mary Warrens fear but also the use of the exclamation mark. This reveals it is an exclamatory line and so adds to the tenseness because it is screamed. Act Three is a point in the play where Abigail has to be defensive.She does as she usually does and accuses Mary Warren of sending her spirit on the girls. You can see by the staging how fearful Mary is, not just of the court, but also of Abby. She screams Abbys name, begging her not to accuse her and to stop lying, but Abigails character is too uncaring, too cruel, too persistent, too determined and too deeply affiliated to back out at this stage. She, Abigail, is such an amoral person, that she will see people hang rather than be told off for th e dancing that occurs at the beginning of Act One. Another rivalry that centres on Act Three is that between Reverend Hale and Danforth.Throughout the Act, there is a clear conflict of authority. Reverend Hale, being a learned Church leader, knows Abigail is lying, and that the court is corrupt. We see Hale introduced in the first Act because Parris feels that such a clever man will put his village to rest. However, being a member of the church, Hale believes strongly in witchcraft and so it takes him a while to work out what is actually going on. When he eventually discovers the truth, the town has gone into hysteria, and with no official standing, he is powerless to stop it. In Act Three, he is treated by the court as a superfluous character.No-one wishes to listen to his point of view, and he holds no authority. Danforth is prominent in the court proceedings. He is only introduced in person in Act Three for the trials. His character is a very officious one. He is seemingly uncon cerned by the fact that he is killing innocent people. He is just interested in following official court proceedings. He hates his trials being interrupted and so, he seeks to dismiss any inconvenient information likely to chop off his foregone conclusions and therefore, ends up executing unfair trials. Hale notices this and is bitterly annoyed.The two of them have many arguments. In the arguments, they are always interrupting each other and shouting each other down. Each one of them always wants to get their point across first and though Hale has the more valid arguments, the fact that he has no power shows. Hale But this child claims the girls are not truthful, and if they are not Danforth That is on the nose what I am about to consider, sir. What more may you ask of me? Unless you doubt my probity? Hale defeated I surely do not. Sir. There are many examples of dramatic techniques that are used in this section.One can see how Danforth interrupts Hale. He also asks Hale rheto rical questions. He knows Hale cannot express his doubts about him in court without the likelihood that Danforth would try him for contempt. Hale knows that ultimately Danforth is in power. Additionally, Hale makes his final remark in a defeated way realising there is no point in his arguing any further. Elizabeth Proctor and Abigail Williams have a very indirect rivalry. They dont have any face-to-face arguments, but they talk about each other, or carry out actions to hurt the other.As already noted, Elizabeths husband antecedently had an affair with Abigail. Naturally she is bitter and possibly jealous of the girl. But that is not shown in the play. Abigails hatred for Elizabeth is a lot clearer. She accuses Elizabeth Proctor of being a witch, and of harming her. When she sees Mary Warren, Elizabeth Proctors maid, putting a needle in a poppet she is going to give Elizabeth, Abigail stabs herself in the stomach just to get Elizabeth into trouble. This reveals her determination to b e rid of Elizabeth. Giles Corey and Putnam have an enduring rivalry between.Their hatred for each other has been passed down through generations. Their disputes are always concerned with ownership of land. Giles over Proctors shoulder at Putnam Ill cut your throat, Putnam, Ill kill you yet This quote shows Coreys hatred for Putnam. The staging shows Corey was about to hit Putnam but Proctor restrains him. His exclamatory line says that Corey wants to kill Putnam. There is resentment between these characters because they cant settle who owns what land. The dispute carries on into court and Corey is eventually tried for contempt of court.At the time in which The Crucible was set if a man was condemned to death by law his family had no rights to his possessions. As Giles was a learned man, who had been to court many times, he knew that if he was pressed to death without pleading innocent or guilty, the trial would not have been complete. This would prevent his land from being taken fr om his family by Putnam. So, when he is having stones laid upon him to try and force him to plead innocent or guilty, he says nothing but more weight and then dies.So, although Giles Corey loses his life, he keeps his land in within his family and thus succeeds in his aim to prevent it falling into Putnams grasp. In conclusion, Arthur Millers play The Crucible has many dramatic devices used throughout its duration, but these become particularly prominent in Act Three. They are very effective in transferral the sense of hatred and tension between many of the characters. There are clear parallels to the society in which Arthur Miller found himself and through the vehicle f the play he expresses his disagreement with the court procedures, adopt by McCarthyism, which were in many ways similar to the Salem Witch Trials. There was a grand amount of paranoia within 1950s American Government, causing members to believe that innumerable communist people were trying to undermine their pol itical ideas and destroy the American way of life by introducing communism. This paranoia and obsession grew, leading Senator Joe McCarthy to pass laws to restrict the activities of communists. This led to trials which resembled in many aspects the witch hunts which proceeded in Salem.Indeed the McCarthy era trials came to be known as witch hunts. Highly visible investigations were conducted with much publicity, supposedly to uncover subversive political activity and disloyalty, however, they were really to harass and weaken the entire political opposition. The witch hunts in The Crucible were similar in that they were also corrupt and werent really used to search for witches, but to accuse innocent people within Salem for ulterior motives, e. g. long-standing rivalries and feuds. Although set in the past, Arthur Millers play is a poignant facial expression on the times in which he lived.