The third and final play is St. Joan, written by George Bernard Shaw in 1923 and was based upon Joan of Arc who lived from 1412 to her death in 1431. St. Joan was involved in a long trial and was found guilty of heresy. She did not feel that the kingdom was being run properly and decided to oppose this by setting up an army and sending it into demise, she was then caught by a group of French civilians, tried and later burnt at the stake. St. Joan confessed to the charge of being a heretic but later decided to change her mind and insist that she was innocent, this meant that she was indeed burnt at the stake. This is an historical play that is based on facts that had happened in the past. Although these three plays were centuries apart, all three had contemporary themes that are still relevant today. All three show the authors own views on what was happening at that time.
The main character of ‘The Crucible’, John Proctor, is similar to the character of Antigone. On-stage there is a scene where Antigone is having an argument with Creon “ What sort of game are you playing”, at which Antigone replies, “I am not playing games”. This chapter of the play shows us that Creon does not understand what kind of point Antigone is trying to prove as he wants her to live, and that Antigone has a determination and good opinion to want to give her brother a proper burial. On-stage John Proctor portrays his character similar to Antigone, as on-stage the audience are able to see two isolated characters in a society that is venting its anger to the two individual characters. John Procter is determined to do something that he views as being morally correct and is willing to stand up to the mightiest of judges who oppose him or get in his way.
Antigone, while on- stage, states, “I know all that, I know it. But that much, at least, I can do. And what a person can do, a person ought to do”. These similar feelings and opinions can be related to John Proctor, he portrays his emotions and executes his feelings on-stage in the same way to Antigone. Proctor only has to sign the documents, and the rest of the remaining accused will be saved, but instead, changes his mind as he feels that not lying to God would be the better thing to do as he will save his name.
St. Joan is characteristically similar to John Proctor and the theme of the play has also striking similarities between it and ‘The Crucible’, “Give me that writing (tears the paper), light your fire: Do you think I dread it as much as the life of a rat in a hole? My voices were right”. These actions of St. Joan are exactly what Proctor did, he would be given his life if he only signs the paper but instead he decides to tear it, for the fact that in his mind, (at this stage he is mentally distraught in the play, as he shows to the rest of the audience in the way he patrols the stage and is the centre of attention), he would be blackening the accused, who have been hanged, names.
On stage, Antigone is being portrayed as an isolated figure, this has been deliberately decided so to get the audience on her side and so that they would feel sympathy for her. The main character and those around her are used to get across the social feelings and opinions of that time. With John Proctor, the villagers are used to portray the social feelings at that time across to the audience.
St. Joan is similar to Antigone and John Proctor in trying to fight for opinions they feel is right even knowing that death will be acted upon unless they decide to do different. On all three occasions there are totally different themes, but higher authorities such as King Creon, Judge Danforth, Burundians (a powerful group of French protesters), all want to stop the main characters actions or else they will face death.