Examine miller's presentation of the marriage of John and Elizabeth proctor in the crucible. What relevance does this have to the theme of witchcraft?

Authors Avatar

Examine miller’s presentation of the marriage of John and Elizabeth proctor in the crucible. What relevance does this have to the theme of witchcraft?

Write a very brief summary of what the crucible is about.

The crucible is a fictional retelling of events in American history surrounding the Salem witch trials of the seventeenth century. The crucible is a description of Puritan society in the early 1950’s. The Salem witch trials took place from June through to September of 1692 during which time nineteen men and women were hanged at Gallows Hill near Salem, while another man named Giles Corey, was pressed to death for refusing to submit to a trial on witch craft charges. Hundreds of people faced accusations of witchcraft and dozens more languished in jail without trials. The witchcraft trials began because of the illness of Betty Parris, the daughter of the Salem minister, reverend Samuel Parris.

When young girls begin to fall sick, suspicions of witchcraft begin to circulate in the nosy Puritan town. Soon the girls confess to seeing the devil, and begin pointing out others that they have allegedly seen with the devil. The courts begin to investigate the charges. Charged witches could escape prosecution if they “came to God” and not only admitted that they were a witch, but also accused others that were witches. Those that proclaimed their innocence however were hanged.

The play begins in the home of Reverend Samuel Parris, whose daughter Betty Parris lays unconscious on her bed. Parries lives with his daughter and seventeen year old niece, Abigail Williams. Parris has sent for Reverend Hale of Beverly, as he believes his daughter’s illness stems from supernatural explanations. Betty became ill when her father discovered her dancing in the woods with Abigail, Tituba and several other local girls. Tituba is said to be the leader of the occultic activities that took place in the forest. Parris caught them and jumped from a bush startling the girls. Betty fainted and had not recovered. Already there are rumours that Betty’s illness is due to witchcraft, but Parris tells Abigail that he cannot admit that he found his daughter and niece dancing like heathen in the forest. During this session, Abigail drank chicken blood to kill Elizabeth Proctor. Abigail says she will admit to dancing and accept the punishment, but will not admit to witch craft. Abigail and Parris discuss rumours about the girls: when they were dancing one of the girls was naked and Tituba was screeching gibberish. Parris also brings up rumours that Abigail’s former employer, Elizabeth Proctor, believes that Abby is immoral (corrupt, dishonest). John Proctor enters the room where Betty lies faint. Abigail is still in there and she tries to seduce him but he sternly refuses her. Proctor is a farmer who has had an affair with Abigail a while ago, but now he wants to forget it. Elizabeth proctor fired Abigail because she had an affair. Reverend John Hale is summoned to look upon Betty and research the incident. He is an expert in occultic phenomena and he is eager to show his knowledge. He questions Abigail who accuses Tituba of being a witch. Tituba afraid of being hanged confesses faith in God and accuses Goody Good and Goody Osborne of witchcraft. Abigail and Betty who has woken up claim to have been bewitched and confess faith in God. They name several other people whom they claim they have seen with the devil. Thomas and Ann Putnam arrive and tell Parris that their daughter Ruth is sick. Ann Putnam admits that she sent Ruth to Tituba, as Tituba knows how to speak to the dead and could find out who murdered her seven children, each of whom died during infancy.

The second act takes place a week later. Between acts, one and two, Dansforth came to Salem to oversee the court proceedings. Fourteen people have been arrested for witchcraft, and there is talk of hanging. In the Proctors home, John returns home late after a long day planting in the fields, and Elizabeth suspects that he has been in the village. Mary warren has been there as an official of the court for the witchcraft trials, even after Elizabeth forbid her to. Elizabeth asks John to go to the court to testify against Abigail and the other girls. John doesn’t want to get involved. There is tension between Elizabeth and John since Elizabeth had not forgiven John for his affair with Abigail. Mary Warren enters; she was in court testifying against the townspeople. She gives Elizabeth a doll/puppet that she made in court. Mary tells them that thirty-nine people have been arrested and that Sarah Osborne will be hanged but not Sarah Good, who confessed. Hale then enters to question John and Elizabeth as they were under suspicion of witchcraft. Later Giles Corey and Francis Nurse enter to seek advice after both their wives had been arrested. Next, the marshal arrives with a warrant for Elizabeth’s arrest. Elizabeth was accused by Abigail for stabbing her with a needle through the doll, Proctor protests but Elizabeth is taken away in chains as she is arrested on the charge that she sent her spirit out to Abigail and stuck a needle in her. Proctor demands that Mary Warren go to the court and testify against the girls. John vows that he will fight the proceedings, even if it means confessing his own adultery.

Act three takes place in court. Francis Nurse, Giles Corey and John Proctor present their case against the girls to Deputy Governor Dansforth and Judge Hathorne. Proctor presents a petition signed by ninety-one people testifying to the good character of their wives, and Dansforth issues warrants for the questioning of all of them. Corey charges Putnam on inciting his daughter to accuse Corey of witchcraft to get his land. Corey has a witness but will not name him for fear of getting the man arrested.  Corey is arrested because of contempt of the court. Proctor presents his case and a deposition by Mary Warren saying that she never saw the devil or any spirits.  Abigail says that Mary is lying and she and the girls pretend to be bewitched by Mary. Proctor, frustrated at the gullibility of the court, grabs Abigail by the hair and exclaims to everyone that she is a whore confessing that he had an affair with Abigail.  Elizabeth is brought in to be questioned about whether this is true. Elizabeth tells the court that John Proctor never had an affair with Abigail in order to save his name, however, this destroys Proctor’s testimony.  Mary crumbles under the peer pressure and returns to Abigail’s side, accusing Proctor of being a witch.  The girls pretend to be bewitched by Proctor by pretending to faint and faking fits.

Join now!

Proctor accuses Danforth of being afraid to reveal the truth.  Danforth acts more to keep the reputation of the court rather than for justice.  Reverend Hale now sees the evil in the court and denounces the proceedings.  Proctor is arrested.

The fourth act takes places several months later in the autumn at the Salem jail cell. Marshal Herrick arrives at the cell drunk and wakes up Sarah Good and Tituba, who talk about how the devil will take them to Barbados soon. Danforth arrives with Hathorne, and they discuss whether it is wise to allow Parris to meet with ...

This is a preview of the whole essay