Historical
In the Crucible, this religious figure commonly tries to help people confess for their witchcraft, believing he is doing right; however, he only worsens the problem.
Who is Reverend Hale?
Arthur Miller wrote the play to these Americans that were afraid of Communism during the McCarthy Era.
Who is the audience?
The emotion evoked by this quote:
“If Rebecca Nurse be tainted, then nothing’s left to stop the whole green world from burning.” (Hale, Act 2)
What is Hopelessness?
Hale: “I cannot say he [John Proctor] is an honest man; I know him little. But in all justice, sir, a claim so weighty cannot be argued by a farmer. In God’s name, sir, stop here; send him home and let him come again with a lawyer -”
The bolded sentence represents a type of clause.
What is an Independent Clause?
This famous American playwright is well known for his works such as The Crucible and A View from the Bridge.
Who is Arthur Miller?
This real life pastor initially supported the Salem witch trials, but then wrote works such as A Modest Enquiry Into the Nature of Witchcraft, which in 1697 criticized the trials
Who is John Hale?
The point of view that the play is narrated.
What is the Third Person Limited?
The emotion evoked by this quote:
“Let you not mistake your duty as I mistook my own...a bridegroom to his beloved, bearing gifts of high religion…and what I touched with my bright confidence, it died” (Hale, Act 4)
What is Sympathy?
Hale:"...Tituba; the Devil is out and preying on her like a beast upon the mesh of the pure lamb. God will bless you for your help."
(A type of figurative language)
What is a Simile?
This show opened the presentation
What is Pots and Pans?
Named after a US Senator, this time period/movement in the 1950’s depicts the “Red Scare” and Communist accusation.
What is McCarthyism?
A form of ironic rhetorical strategy that displays an understanding of the audiences beliefs based on the situation of the play, but breaks their expectations.
What is Situational Irony?
The use of sophisticated language and proper grammatical rules
What is Formal Diction?
Danforth: Mr. Hale, believe me; for a man of such terrible learning you are most bewildered - I hope you will forgive me. I have been thirty-two year at the bar, sir, and I should be con-founded were I called upon to defend these people. Let you consider, now - To Proctor and the others: And I bid you all do likewise. In an ordinary crime, how does one defend the accused? One calls up witnesses to prove his innocence. But witchcraft is ipso facto, on its face and by its nature, an invisible crime, is it not? Therefore, who may possibly be witness to it? The witch and the victim. None other. Now we cannot hope the witch will accuse herself; granted? Therefore, we must rely upon her victims - and they do testify, the children certainly do testify. As for the witches, none will deny that we are most eager for all their confessions. Therefore, what is left for a lawyer to bring out? I think I have made my point. Have I not?
It is commonly found throughout this paragraph.
What is a Rhetorical Question?
An allegorical play for McCarthyism, when the United States government persecuted people accused of being communists.
What is The Crucible?
Similar to dictatorship, this form of government most infamously recognized in Russia was commonly used to describe how Stalin treated the country
What is totalitarianism?
In a rhetorical situation, the author's beliefs that define their form of influence that could or not coincide with the audience's.
What is a Warrant?
The use of words for their literal meanings and that are not open to interpretation
What is Abstract Diction?
When Reverend Hale went to the Proctors to ask if they knew anything about the situation between Abigail and Betty, Hale asked John Proctor to recite the Ten Commandments and when doing so he forgot to count the act of adultery.
(An example of which type of irony)
What is Situational Irony?
The literary genre of The Crucible
What Historical Drama?
During the 1950s, this female US senator rose up and spoke against McCarthyist ideals.
Who is Margaret Chase Smith?
Miller’s perception of the government officials state of law during the McCarthy era based on Reverend Hale's actions
What is Hypocritical?
Precision, formalism, accuracy, and minute details in order to make an arrogant and ostentatious show of learning is the description for a type of diction.
What is Pedantic Diction?
PROCTOR, with difficulty: I—I have no witness and cannot prove it except my word be taken. But I know the children's sickness had naught to do with witchcraft.
Hale, stopped, struck: Naught to do—?
PROCTOR: Mr. Parris discovered them sportin' in the woods. They were startled and took sick.
Pause.
HALE: Who told you this?
PROCTOR, hesitates, then: Abigail Williams.
HALE: Abigail!
PROCTOR: Aye.
HALE, his eyes wide: Abigail Williams told you it had naught to do with witchcraft!
PROCTOR: She told me the day you came, sir.
HALE, suspiciously: Why—why did you keep this?
PROCTOR: I never knew until tonight that the world is gone daft with this nonsense.
HALE: Nonsense! Mister, I have myself examined Tituba, Sarah Good, and numerous others that have confessed to dealing with the Devil. They have confessed it.
PROCTOR: And why not, if they must hang for denyin' it? There are them that will swear to anything before they'll hang; have you never thought of that?
HALE: I have. I—I have indeed. (It is his own suspicion, but he resists it. He glances at Elizabeth, then at John.) And you—would you testify to this in court?
PROCTOR: I—had not reckoned with goin' into court. But if I must I will.
HALE: Do you falter here?
PROCTOR: I falter nothing, but I may wonder if my story will be credited in such a court. I do wonder on it, when such a steady-minded minister as you will suspicion such a woman that never lied, and cannot, and the world knows she cannot! I may falter somewhat, Mister; I am no fool.
What Hale and Proctor's conversation is an example of.
What is Justice?
This important release was on January 22, 1953.
When was The Crucible Published?