How does Miller create tension and drama in the courtroom scene of Act Three?
Laura Pidding Twentieth Century Drama-The Crucible By Arthur Miller
English 11k2
Miss Stiles
How does Miller create tension and drama in the courtroom scene of Act Three?
The crucible is about a mass hysteria which led to the 1692 Salem witchcraft trials. A group of young girls are caught dancing in the woods and are suspected to of been calling out to the devil. Strange things begin to happen around the local village which are then suspected to be the work of the devil. Everyone in the village is to appear in court and faced with a death sentence. This fantastic and extremely tense play is written by Arthur Miller.
Throughout Act Three Danforth; the deputy governor, who is in his sixties and plays an important part, is introduced. He is very sophisticated and respectful. Danforth plays the part of a very loyal man in which he makes antagonising decisions. However he is a very strong character and has his own opinions without being easily persuaded. Danforth has high expectations of both himself and his people.
' I judge nothing of no one'
This tells the audience what Danforth's character is like; a strong and noble man, and he will be looked upon as loyal man who has pride in which he can make his mind up for himself without listening to what others have to say.
During Act Three Mary Warren plays a main part of a quiet girl who is made to confess by John Proctor that they girls are faking it and being over powered by the devil. Mary Warren who works for the Proctors has a good reputation. She has never done wrong, and is a hard working quiet girl. Mary is forced into court by Proctor to confess the truth. She speaks short words which shows fear.
' it were pretence sir' ' aye, sir.'
Mary's weakness causes tension as she is a weak character being forced to speak out by Proctor. Proctor mainly speaks out for Mary who is eager for her to confess as his wife had been convicted of witchcraft. He believes she can save her and the rest of the innocent villagers who has wrongly been convicted. However things turn nasty for Mary, she is a weak young girl who is only trying to be honest, until things turn wrong for her and the rest of the girls pretend she is playing tricks on them. Tension is brought here as Mary is such a feeble character and its Mary's word against the girls, therefore she cant handle it all so changes her mind and decides that if she doesn't act with the girls she will be hanged. Mary then confesses that Proctor is being possessed by the devil
' ( screaming at him) you're the devils man'
This shows Mary to be unstable and unsure, she results in blaming it all on Proctor, who she knows is innocent, but has to play this act to save herself. She knows to blame this on Proctor as he has no proof that he's not the devil himself. Mary has clearly used her initiative here which creates tension for the audience.
The community of Salem is very a hatred place between neighbours where vengeance is taken, despite the Bible's charitable injunctions. Land-lust which had been expressed before constant bickering over boundaries and deeds, are elevated to the arena of mortality, where they cry witch against one's neighbour and feel perfectly justified in the bargain.
Act three is a extremely tense scene which is dramatic through all of it. This is a great build up for the ending and is prepared well for the ending scene. Throughout act three several exciting dramatic scenes are raised and constant tension is built up.
The crucible was written in the 1950's. The fact that during the time in America suspected communists were being haunted and persecuted may have influenced Miller to write this fantastic play. The play is set in Massachusetts in 1692 when suspected witches were hunted, punished and even executed.
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Act three is a extremely tense scene which is dramatic through all of it. This is a great build up for the ending and is prepared well for the ending scene. Throughout act three several exciting dramatic scenes are raised and constant tension is built up.
The crucible was written in the 1950's. The fact that during the time in America suspected communists were being haunted and persecuted may have influenced Miller to write this fantastic play. The play is set in Massachusetts in 1692 when suspected witches were hunted, punished and even executed.
McCarthyism in America in the 1950's played an important part of this play. Joseph McCarthy led un-American Activities Committee of the house of representatives and hunted down communist threats. No- one was ever safe. He was not interested in imprisoning people but ' naming names'. He wanted names of the people who were involved in communism. Those who refused were not allowed to word and faced imprisonment.
McCarthyism influenced Miller a lot as he discovered his close friend agreed to ' name names'. Miller was disappointed and angry. However Miller in 1956 was accused himself of ' naming names' he was fined for disobedience.
The Salem witch trials came about before the crucible was written. The Salem community was insecure and isolated. Arguments were raised with native Indians over land and rights. The town was ruled by Chureh and Christian rules were important. Accusations of witch trials were unusual but became common and rose to an epidemic. People were accused of being witches based of rumours and Salem witch trials in particular went out for months with no compensation to innocent people.
Miller chose the Salem witch trials to discuss McCarthyism because Salem trials and McCarthy people were convicted on little evidence. A chance for people to get their own back on people who annoyed them or accused harm in the past. This is what happens in the crucible. These two similarities combine well in the play.
John Proctor appears in court to justify that his wife who has innocently been convicted of witchcraft is innocent after finding out that the truth about the girls. Proctor brought Mary with him as evidence. Other members of the court think of Proctor as a low man. This is because he doesn't often go to church and ploughs on Sundays. Proctor also didn't baptise his children. Proctor has a good reputation however is not liked by many around the village.
' Beware this man your honour, he is mischief '
At this point the audience may have a bad opinion against Proctor. They have heard that he's mischief, and have no proof at this stage that he is as guilty as the rest. This creates confusion and tension, as the different characters all have different opinions of the villagers, this creates a sense of hate and unsure ness.
Proctor treats Mary Warren in Act Three better than the previous scenes. This is because he wants her to speak the truth therefore he is being nice to her. In act two he's was quite unrespectful towards her.
' as soon as he sees her he grabs her by the cloak'
This shows a dark side to Proctor, that he has no respect for others.
However during Act Three Proctor he acts differently towards her, a more gentle way with her, this is because Mary Warren is in a unstable situation with lots of pressure.
' Gently holding her chin up'
This shows Proctor to be selfish, this is because now he wants something from Mary, she is the only one who can help him therefore he is treating her better, this creates suspense and unsure ness of who Proctor and what Proctor really is.
Mary acts as though Proctor does have power over her, when she is asked to faint.
' ( looking at Proctor) I -cannot faint now sir. '
This again shows the audience, that Mary is scared of Proctor. She looks up to Proctor when asked to faint. This shows she is scared of him and he's got power over her. This creates tension as this innocent girl is put into a unstable situation.
Proctors feelings and actions towards Abigail changes throughout scene three. He used to care a bit for her
' Abby I may think of you softly from time to time'
Proctor was not interested in Abigail although they spoke to each other. However during Act Three Proctors feelings for Abigail became more strong, knowing that she was faking witchcraft, and was the reason why his wife was being convicted. He acts harshly towards Abigail:
' it is a whore'
Proctor speaks quite disrespectfully towards Abigail, by calling her and ' it' this suggests that she means nothing and is so low and non important. This is because she is accusing Proctor of being the devils man. This shows Proctor to be a nasty man by resulting to calling Abigail nasty names. This makes the audience feel a sense of hate going on between Abigail and Proctor which then causes tension as he is accused of lechery.
Proctor decides to tell the court about his affair to show them what Abigail is really like. He feels like there is no other solution that he is prepared to give up his good name to save himself and his wife.
' I have made a bell of my honour! I have rung the doom of my good name.'
This creates drama as it creates more tension between the court and is another situation to be solved.
Proctor forces Mary Warren to attend court to justify that the girls are lying and she was faking. Mary doesn't particularly want to be in court, she is a young innocent girl who only wants the truth to be told but cant face the fight on her own, however Proctor is there on her side, but cant help her at this time. Causing tension between Mary and the girls, is the fact that its Mary's word against theirs. The girls together are much stronger than Mary who fails to speak out for herself.
Mary: It were pretence sir
Danforth; I cannot here you
Proctor: It were pretence, she says
Tension is built up as Abigail makes up stories to get herself out of trouble. She does this because she knows the truth is about to be found out. However Abigail cant give in now, because she will get into serious trouble for lying. So she continues the accusations against both Proctor and Mary and pretends Mary is hurting them through the spirits. She does this at a tense stage where Danforth is starting to realise the truth that Abigail is lying. Abigail makes this scene very dramatic, and like usual the girls follow her lead
'I- I know not. A wind a cold wind has come ( her eyes falling on Mary)'
Abigail is showing Mary that she is stronger than her and will not give in. Mary pleads to Abigail to stop
' ( terrified pleading) Abby stop it'
Throughout this scene, short sharp sentences are used and spoken by several different characters, this creates confusion and tension.
When Abigail reacts in this way the other girls do the same, this shows that they are scared of her and are almost like over powered by her to do the same. They are scared, and don't want to get in trouble so stick by Abigail. They all join in and have there say
' Mercy: ( through shattering teeth) Mary, do you send this shadow on me'
This gives the audience a belief in the girls, that they really are being possessed by the devil. This is because so many of them are reacting to this devil and its powers, it would seem impossible for them to be lying and taking this matter so far. This also creates tension as the play is building up on several events. This also creates tension towards the audience as there not sure who is telling the truth and who is lying.
At the beginning of the scene people look up to Danforth as a very respectful and independent man. He is in his sixties and has a sense a good sense of humour and sophistication, however he doesn't interfere with an exact loyalty to his position and his cause.
' on his appearance silence falls'
Danforth is a very strong character and obeyed by all the local people.
Giles: ' your excellency we mean no disrespect for-'
Danforth: ' disrespect indeed!'
The villagers don't want to upset Danforth as he is such an important person. He is the one making the decisions therefore people don't want to get on the wrong side of him.
When proctor enters to have his say about the accusations, Danforth is not easily persuaded by his speech. This shows he is a strong man and has his own opinions. Even though Proctor had brought his own evidence Danforth was not easily led by this. Danforth was also not easily led by Abigail's performances. However he was confused.
Danforth: ' (wide- eyed) indeed ( pause. He is baffled by this)
Danforth's actions create tension, this is because he is hearing one thing from one person then another thing from another person, this creates confusion and you would think he would make a decision however he is taking this seriously and is not going to be persuaded so easily. This gives the audience an unsure feeling of what might happen next and what Danforth's next actions will be.
Reverend Parris, who is the uncle of Abigail, is a very cold hearted man, who is not particularly liked round the village. Through scene 3 Reverend Parris acts very bluntly and is harsh towards the villagers
Danforth: ' who is this man'
Parris: ' Giles Corey, sir, and a more contentious-'
Giles ' I am asked the question I am old enough to answer it'
He is very interfering and hasn't got a nice word to say about many people, he acts as if he owns the court, when he doesn't.
' Beware this man, your excellency, this man is mischief'
He tries very hard to make matters worse and to stir trouble through the court scene, in every answer, he has something to say for it. Always causing tension
' they've come to overthrow the court sir'
Parris thinks he's a very high man who should be shown a lot of respect when actually he's not particularly liked.
In scene three where Elizabeth is brought into court to justify the truth about the accusation against Proctor on Lechery, this is portrayed as a very tense scene. As Elizabeth enters the court she is told not to look at Proctor, this is very tense as it shows there can be no signs made to cheat so the truth be told. If this was to be played onstage I would place Proctor down the front with a worried and guilty face, and the same with Elizabeth as she walks into her position behind Proctor. Then Proctor should on several occasions try to turn round to look at his wife to show some kind of sign, and the same with Elizabeth by coughing. Then as the court are asking Elizabeth questions about if Proctor had a relationship with Abigail was true, as Elizabeth is unsure what to say Proctor should dramatically turn round and tell her the truth, and that he has told the court.
When Proctor tells the court about him being a lecher, its all too much for Abigail to handle so she then fakes another performance. Pretending there is a bird on the on the beam of the ceiling, Abigail dramatically acts this out , along with the rest of the girls. Screaming madly she makes this scene very tense
' her claws her claws, she's stretching her claws'
The whole court then gets involved and its all dramatic, everyone is confused on what's going on and who to believe.
On stage this should be portrayed as all the girls on one side of the room and the court on another, as its like them against the rest of the court. While Proctor is telling the court about him being a lecher, Abigail screams out along with the rest of the girls using strong facial expressions, while Proctor Hale, Danforth, all shout out at the same time different speeches about what's happening. E.g. Proctor is angry and confused, Danforth is confused. Therefore this would all look manic and tense!
Scene three of the Crucible, was by far the best scene. It dramatically built up to tense situations and was constantly leaving the reader in suspense. My favourite scene was when Elizabeth was called into the court to justify Proctors accusation of lechery against Abigail. It gave the reader an unsure feeling of what the turn out would be like and what was going to happen next, this created more tension in this particular scene. I thought the ending was good and Act 3 was a fantastic build up for this dramatic ending.
I think Miller's intention of scene 3 being so dramatic was to build of for the ending which was not what I would have expected to of been like. This is good because it makes the reader want to read on.
Miller was definatly successful in writing this play, he gave me the message, of what it was like back then, very strict and strong about there beliefs and witch craft. I think people would have definatly learnt from this story which is very strong.