Discussion on pages 91-95 of 'The Crucible' By Arthur Miller.

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Discussion on pages 91-95 of ‘The Crucible’

By Arthur Miller

‘The Crucible’ is a very clever and fascinating play; primarily what makes the play so interesting is the fact that it can be interpreted on two levels. On a more basic stage it is a very dramatic, theatrical and emotional story full of unexpected twists, however on a higher point it is full of both political and religious messages. Miller wrote The Crucible in the 1950’s almost 300 years after the Salem witch-hunt, although he did have an extremely good motive for writing the play. Arthur Miller recognised the similarities between the persecution of the witches in the seventeenth century and the persecution of communists in the mid twentieth century.

The play despite its political inspiration has some spectacular scenes be it Abigail accusing the majority of Salem of being witches, or John Proctor dying to save his name. The passage while reading the play I found most intriguing and motivating, was pages 91-95. A brief summary of this scene is John Proctor, with evidence from Mary Warren is trying to prove to the court that his wife is innocent of witchcraft, and that Abigail (a sixteen year old girl who is accusing Elizabeth Proctor of this deed) is a liar.

Abigail is in a very powerful position in the town of Salem and has had many individuals hanged due to her accusing them of trafficking with the devil, the reason she has this sort of power for such a young girl is for two reasons, firstly Abigail realises that there is no evidence to prove otherwise if she indicts a member of Salem of trafficking with the devil, so effectively it is her word against no ones; secondly as the town of Salem is so strictly religious (Hale)“You have confessed yourself to witchcraft, and that speaks a wish to come to heaven’s side. And we will bless you”. At least once a page a character refers to God or the Devil, and John Proctor as he does not agree with the way that Reverend Parris preaches the Bible and sermons, he refuses to go to church because of this he is severely frowned upon. Due to this extremely strict religious community the town of Salem believe that God speaks through the young in this case Abigail; and if anyone dared to argue against God in Salem they would be hanged immediately. Her entrance in this scene is extraordinary as it is so unexpected. She begins by saying “You will not! Begone! Begone!” while she is saying this she appears to be staring at a ledge in the courtroom, the thing she is speaking to we later find out to be a yellow bird controlled by Mary or so Abigail says.  

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There are many reasons why this scene fascinates me, as there is one main argument going on in this scene between Abigail and Mary I find it so interesting the contrast between these two girls, both the same age and growing up in Salem. Abigail is very clever we can see this as she manipulates the town of Salem against people, she is extremely strong and the power she has enables her to get out of many difficult situations;(Abigail) “I want to open myself! I want the light of God; I want the sweet love of Jesus! I danced with ...

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