How effective are the closing scenes in the play at resolving the conflict presented in Arthur Miller(TM)s The Crucible?

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James Bradley 10S

The Crucible Coursework

How effective are the closing scenes in the play at resolving the conflict presented in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible?

After the high drama of Act 3, Act 4 begins in a subdued manner, which as the scene progresses it slowly builds up to the major climax of the play.

After the activities in the courtroom, you want Proctor saved and for the authority which controls Salem to become undone. But in reality only one can come true, as if Proctor confesses he is saved but Danforth has won as he got what he wanted and he still has his power. But if Proctor doesn’t confess he will be killed but Danforth will lose his power as a rebellion would arise due to the unneeded killings of Proctor as well as others such as Martha Corey and Rebecca Nurse. From the final Act I expected Proctor to confess and save his own life as he had a pregnant wife and a young family and also because he seemed to be a selfish man which is shown by his relationship with Abigail in which he was only in it for himself. I also expect to see Danforth stick to his principles even though if he was to change then it would be the right decision as Proctor would live and there would be less of a threat of a rebellion taking place and Danforth losing his job.

The setting of the scene is very effective in presenting the themes and representing the mood of the act (the scene is described on page 97). The scene is set in autumn, a cell in Salem jail, that fall (fall being the American word for autumn). This shows that the play has come along a lot since the beginning of the play. Evidence for this is in Act 2 as Proctor says Massachusetts is a beauty in spring (page 42). This shows that the play began in spring and the witchcraft saga continues until autumn. As well as that death can relate to autumn, as it’s the time of year when plants die. And of course the final act is a matter of life and death.

The cell in which the final act is acted out in is an important part of the setting as it links in with the other rooms in which the play is acted out in which are all linked in with the theme of private acts having public consequences. As what happens in Act 1 with Betty and Abigail shouting out names (page 39-40) happens in a private room but the aftermath involves the whole community. Also in Act 2 when Elizabeth is summoned by the courts, she is summoned by the courts in a private place, her home, but this leads to public consequences as it leads eventually to the deaths of Proctor and Giles Corey too. The same can be said for Act 3 in which Proctor is arrested in a private place, the courtroom, but the consequences will be public as it affects the whole community and also Danforth, Parris and the rest of the authority. What happens in the Cell will affect the whole community as they will either lose three of the more prominent members of the community or they will react to their deaths if eventually sentenced badly and rebel against the men in charge. Therefore linking in with the rest of the play with private rooms having public consequences.

In the setting of the play a high barred window is also mentioned, as well as showing that there is no escape for the prisoners it also shows the imprisonment of the people of Salem and how everyone is under control and without any say of what is done there.

The setting also clarifies its dark, this gives the idea that Salem is in the darkness as the events that are ongoing are dark which links in with death. It may also link in with the people who are in the cell as they are the people who confessed showing that they have no principles meaning that they are dark people.

Another important part of the setting is the furnishing in the cell. It’s important because the people who are in the cell are the ones who confessed. You would expect the people who confessed to have better living standards than two benches to sleep on. This results in the question of whether it was worth it to confess and live rather than not confess and die, as the way they are living is practically torture. When the scene then begins Tituba says that the devil is speaking to her when a cow is bellowing (page 98). Although there is a comical aspect as it’s leading up to the final dramatic climax of the play, there is also a serious aspect as the cow bellowing shows us that there is no one to look after it as the owner may be in prison or one of the people who have already been hanged.

Our knowledge of the Salem community before the witch-hunt is important for the setting as we understand why people are being accused even though the reasons are no were near a valid enough reason to wish death upon a person. Martha Corey is an example as Walcott the person to accuse her wants vengeance for something that happened 5 years ago (page 59). He knew that Martha Corey wasn’t a witch but to get his own back for what happened beforehand. He accused her making it a repression through the witchcraft saga that was happening.

The characters involved with the climax at the end of the play have all been involved in conflict in previous stages of the play.  Reverend Hale is in conflict with Danforth and Hale showing that he is the middleman as Danforth and Proctor are on opposite sides and Danforth sees him as threat so he wants his support so he doesn’t feel threatened and Proctor sees him as someone who can actually make a difference as he is a well-respected man not only with he community but also with the authority. When Hale arrives he is a completely different man to the one that is represented in the final stages of the play. This is shown as when he arrives there is no doubt in his mind that there is witchcraft, tracking down the old boy (page 30).  He also seemed pleased to help with the Salem witch-hunt as he finally has the chance to show his skills. Due to his reputation he believes that he is better than everyone else and in a way their saviour pray you someone take these (page 30) backs up the point. But as we move into Act 2 he seems to be more humble, asking questions of Proctor and Elizabeth and also being shocked at the scale of the crisis. Although this is the case he is still suspicious of the Proctors asking about the children being baptized (page 54) and asking John whether he knows the 10 commandments (page 55). Within two pages when Giles and Francis arrive telling them of how their much-respected wives have been arrested, Hale changes his tone and is quite different compared to when he arrived as he says there is a misty plot afoot (page 59) basically saying that it may not be witchcraft it may be a plot against selected people lead by the girls and especially Abigail Williams. In Act 3 he puts full faith in Proctor which is completely different to what he was like in the Act beforehand when he was very suspicious of him. I say he has faith in Proctor as he asks Danforth for more time and to allow the argument Proctor, Giles and Francis are putting forward to be handled by a lawyer showing that he believes in what they are saying but to get the point across it should be handled by a lawyer. Also he shows he’s changed from the beginning of the play as he says Abigail is lying about the witchcraft (page 90) when in Act 2 he says the Devil is alive in Salem showing the sudden change of heart. Then in Act 4 he is desperate for John to confess, as he believes he’s innocent, again showing a change of heart from Act 2 when he was very suspicious of him. This is a contradiction as he says the girls are lying and implies that its wrong (page 91) but if John confesses like he wants him to then he will also be lying. You can also see the change in his attitude when he says I denounce these proceedings! Showing that he is against the court due to them arresting Proctor. But at the start of the play Hale was a strong supporter of the court and says if Elizabeth is innocent then the court will say so as it’s just (page 63) this continues to show his change. His speech on page 106 also shows the difference in him at the end of the play as he asks Elizabeth to get John to confess even though it’s a lie which he is totally against before like when the he says the girls are lying in Act 3. Also his confidence from the beginning of the plays seems to have been washed away as the play has went on as he says and what I touched with my bright confidence, it died showing that he no longer believed in himself as the situation has worsened since he has came to help. You also see a change in him as at the beginning he brought a scientific approach to Salem using his books as his knowledge they are weighted with authority (page 30) but his approach differs at the end as what he says in his speech is from the heart and no science or books are involved.

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When Hale arrived in Act 1 he came across as a man of high religion and a man who demanded respect due to the confidence that came across in his speech tracking down the old boy (page 30). In Act 2 Hale seems arrogant about his faith despite the fact that he knows in his heart that Elizabeth being innocent saying that it’s down to the court to decide and will agree with the decision right or wrong.

Hale isn’t a likable man in Act 2, as he doesn’t stick up for the Proctor’s even though it’s an injustice ...

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