To write about the scene we must understand the historical and social background of the play. The characters in the play lived in a puritan society, where adultery was a very serious matter, Proctors decision to admit would have made himself become a social outcast, what’s more, to commit adultery/lechery was breaking one of the ten commandments, and was severely frowned in the strict religious society of Salem 1692. Abigail would have been totally shunned from society, and branded a whore. Also in puritan times women played a different role in marriage, so it would have been very hard for Elizabeth to leave Proctor. Honour and reputation was exceedingly important to the community in a puritan town, so it must have been very hard for proctor to have admitted adultery.
The government in Salem, 1692 was theocratic and laws would have been closely related to the church and we see Danforth as a typical example of this government – religion mix, which explains why purgery was so important to the community, and for Elizabeth it would have been extremely hard to go against her faith and swear on the bible, then lie.
During the scene there is much drama, with many conflicts, outbursts, pauses, and the language is very tense. In the play there are many stage directions indicating this tension. Danforths tone of voice is very commanding, and there are lots of short, snappy lines. In the scene Elizabeth and Danforth are the only characters to have speaking parts for a time. The positioning of the characters has much significance as well, as Danforth places them in a triangle, facing the walls, so they are unable to communicate. This is another demonstration of his power in the court, as he is able to say “you here, you there”
Abigails presence makes this scene emotionally charged, with two small words… “No sir” giving the scene a climax and this is further added to by the fact that the audience knows more than Elizabeth does.
This scene uses only two characters in direct conversation. This means the audience is kept focuses throughout the scenes entirety. From the stage directions we can see that Proctor and Elizabeth would have been overwhelmingly excited because Elizabeth had been imprisoned for months and was in a fragile state. To see each other after such a long time apart. This helped us understand and comprehend the reality of what was going on in the play. Physical contact was evident in this scene in the form of Cheever, ( the prison officer ) accompanied by short, aggressive bursts of speech, this enhances the scene greatly. Elizabeth who had been imprisoned for months, was in a fragile state.
It is at this point in the play that hale realises that in the accusations being passed around, there is very little if any truth. He saw that people were settling old scores, and paying each other back, it was nothing more than “private vengeance.” This shows great courage on Hales part, to stand up to the court; it is however unfortunate for him that nobody else shares the same view. Most of the time the town folk in 1692 would have lead very dull, boring, monotonous lives so the trials, for those not being accused would have been a great social event, with discussions and gossip running throughout the town like wildfire.
Finally Arthur Miller has created parallels between the play and his own experience, this is evident from the McCarthy witch hunts in 1960 and the witch hunts in 1692, Salem. So in conclusion; this scene is one of the most significant in the whole play because of the downfall of Proctor ( mainly due to his wives condemnation, and his admission of adultery ) Hales mistakes in court along with Danforths actions and the rest of the cast, allow the audience to really be involved with the play.
By Daniel Rogers
945 words
