Before the play even started, there was a strong dispute between Reverend Parris and John Proctor. Although the rivalry was a key part of the whole play, it was highlighted in Act Three, as I have already shown. It’s the first rivalry to be exposed in this act. The rivalry reached its peak when John Proctor was falsely accused of witchcraft and Reverent Parris was trying to condemn him. This caused friction because John Proctor came across as a very intelligent man throughout all of ‘The Crucible’. He realised that the people accusing citizens of Salem of witchcraft were the most guilty of all. This was one device Miller often used in this play – dramatic irony. When John Proctor was forced to defend himself he was quick to turn the accusations upon Abigail Williams and Reverent Parris. As Parris was so bothered about the family’s good 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 trying to make the other look bad. A lot of facts 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 dancing 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 once]: “Mr Parris discovered them himself in the dead of night! There’s the ‘child’ she is!”
At this point in the play, Reverend 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 which would certainly offend Abigail. In the very same act, Proctor admitted how strong his hatred for Parris was as well. 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 really heightened the moment of the argument and by putting child in inverted commas, it showed Proctor’s disgust at Abigail being trusted because she was ‘young’ 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 love for Mr. Parris. It is no secret. 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 poor attendance at church, but this only provoked Proctor to come back with an honest yet harsh reply, and he couldn’t be clearer in what he was saying. Even though throughout the duration of 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 Salem’s church leader, but he did not agree with his policies and he did not believe he would be a good leader.
Even though their rivalry reached its peak in Act Three, their argument had 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 rarely compared to most. Proctor once again expressed his opinion in full and did not water it down. 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 instantly showed that Parris had asked Hale to enquire about his 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 theology 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 focussed 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 a use of dramatic irony, a theme that continued throughout the play. It was not spoken dramatic irony but it still had a profound effect on the play.
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 affair. This all happened whilst Proctor had a wife. We discover in the play that only Abigail, John Proctor and Elizabeth knew about 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 Proctor’s feelings so she kept 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 stomach 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 line is an exclamatory line aimed at the court. She said it as an exclamatory line because it had a greater dramatic effect. No other information was given so that one is focussed on that single point. The court took this very seriously as Abigail ironically had become the most trusted person in all of Salem and effectively headed the court proceedings. Also in Act Three, a great exclamatory line was spoken by Proctor regarding Parris and Abigail, his two biggest rivals.
Proctor [at once]: “Mr. Parris discovered them himself in the dead of night! There’s the ‘child’ she is!”
Proctor aimed an attack at Abigail by referring to her as a child. This language exposed Proctor and Abigail’s rivalry. He said this because children were seen as innocent and reliable and knew Abigail was regarded as such by most of Salem. This exclamatory line shed bad light on Abigail’s part and reflected badly upon Reverend Parris since he was part of the same family. Child is put in inverted commas in the script to emphasize the word as it is the main point of his exclamatory line.
Throughout the play,’ The Crucible’, 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 all the people’s respect, theoretically because he had sinned within a Puritan community. But as we see throughout the whole play, John is not afraid of the truth.
John Proctor physically attacks Abigail in the court as well, 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 voice.]
Proctor: “How do you call Heaven! Whore! Whore!”
As we witness 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 get 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 doesn’t love her. This is pathetic, for in doing this, she makes John Proctor’s feelings of loathing for her only the stronger. In the same act Proctor exclaims:
“…She thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grave!…”
He knows Abigail’s wish but does not agree with it and this exclamatory line lets everyone know he is against her.
In ‘The Crucible’, Abigail effectively the takes the lead in making accusations although it is an unofficial role. She can accuse whoever she wants and the blind people of Salem are hooked on her every word. They never question her judgments or decisions until Proctor provokes Danforth to do so. Even then she avoids the question by quickly faking the sensing of a spirit, a device she frequently employs to get out of awkward situations, especially when Mary Warren finally stands up to her. But Mary is not at all confident in her accusations against Abigail. She has a really strong case, but as she doesn’t really want to accuse Abigail: aware of her strong character, she weakens and Proctor does more talking than Mary. Mary and Abigail’s rivalry 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 rivalry affects nobody except John Proctor who eventually is accused of being a witch:
Mary Warren [terrified, pleading]: “Abby!”
Mary at this point is pleading. The staging shows she is terrified of Abigail. She is screaming Abigail’s name. It is not only the staging that shows Mary Warren’s fear but also the use of the exclamation mark. This reveals it is an exclamatory line and so adds to the tension 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 Abby’s name, begging her not to accuse her and to stop lying, but Abigail’s character is too uncaring, too cruel, too persistent, too determined and too deeply committed to back out at this stage. She, Abigail, is such an amoral person, that she will see people hang instead of being told off for dancing right in the very beginning of Act One. Another rivalry that centres around 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 power, he is powerless to stop it. In Act Three, he is treated by the court as an unnecessary 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 unbothered 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 disrupt 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 precisely 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 rhetorical questions. He knows Hale cannot express his doubts of 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 don’t have any face-to-face arguments, but they talk about each other, or carry out actions to hurt the other. Elizabeth’s husband once had an affair with Abigail. Naturally she is bitter and possibly jealous of the girl. But that is not shown in the play. Abigail’s 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 Proctor’s 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 be rid of Elizabeth.
Giles Corey and Putnam have a rivalry between them throughout all of ‘The Crucible’. Their hatred for each other has been passed down through generations. Their disputes are always concerned with ownership of land.
Giles: [over Proctor’s shoulder at Putnam]: “I’ll cut your throat, Putnam, I’ll kill you yet!”
This quote shows Corey’s hatred for Putnam. The staging shows Corey was about to hit Putnam but Proctor stops him. His exclamatory line says that Corey wants to kill Putnam. There is resentment between these characters because they can’t settle who owns what land. The dispute carries on into court and Corey is 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 and so his family prevent his land from being taken 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 eventually 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 Putnam’s grasp.
In conclusion, Arthur Miller’s play ‘The Crucible’ has many dramatic devices used throughout its duration. These are very effective in getting across the sense of hatred and tension between many of the characters. The whole play has clear parallels to the society in which Arthur Miller found himself. Through the play he shows his disagreement with the court procedures adopted by McCarthyism. McCarthyism was in many ways similar to the ‘Salem Witch Trials’. Although set in the past, Arthur Miller’s play is a poignant reflection on the more modern times in which he lived.
By Adam Harrison
