Another method used to convey truth via dialogue is adjacency pairs. Adjacency means next to A question suggests the next turn will be an answer, a greeting suggests the next turn will be a greeting. Many things people say could have several meanings; the next turn shows what the people take it to mean, for now. So if someone insults you, and you respond "Thank you," you are taking the insult as a compliment. This is used a lot to dismiss an idea or statement given to a character. For instance Proctor says, “ We never touched, Abby” Abagail follows with “ Aye, but we did.” Proctor follows with “ Aye, but we did not”. Proctors immediate dismissal is a shock for Abagail as it was not the expected response. The word ‘Aye’ is a positive response that substitutes ‘yes’. At the end of the response the word ‘not’ is used this is negative and quickly changes the conversation from agreeing ang positive to negative and dissagreening. This is used to shock the audience and Abagail on stage. It conveys truth as it does not agree with Abagail and so the audience know one of them is not telling the truth, they either did or they did not touch. From the previous scenes they realise Proc
Imagery is used a lot in the play. It is used on natural and items with symbols like the church. Imagery is good as it allows the audience to get a view of the truth and more of an understanding of what is going on. The imagery used in The Crucible is mostly natural objects such as stone, light and fire, this could be because og the purtinsm and they belived in living naturaly. “Hard as rock” and “Where I stone” give images of a stone. Stone is linked to the truth because it is a natural strong material. It is tough on the outside and hard to break into. Truth can be hard to reach or get the exact truth and so is linked to rock. Another way rock is linked to truth is that they are made in a cycle. Truth is changed in a cycle or a ring of people as people give others their opinion of the truth and rocks are made in a cycle and are changed during it. Another image related to truth is a book once a book has been written and finished it cannot be tampered with. It can be written over like the lies made up by people hiding the truth. The book as it was meant to be written can never be changed just like the truth. The cover of a book is strong and holds the book together along with its spine. Again this is like the truth it is held together and made by what has happened. “The light of God is in him”, this shows he is pure not evil and the audience can imagine it. If God is in you, you cannot be evil. ”Wheel inside Wheel” this is meant as an image of Salem, the people of Salem influence or move others inside Salem to do things they wouldn’t normally do. This shows truth, as it is Salem as a whole pushing people on.
Dramatic Irony is used in The Crucible. The audience see what is going on and then they see the characters lie about what the audience know is true. The audience see Paris praying next to Betty and the audience realise something is wrong, later on Paris denies any thing has happened and the audience know this is not true. Dramatic Irony represents truth and is used when the audience know some of the characters are lying to others. This makes the audience feel more powerful and raises the level of excitement and suspense. The audiences learn more about a character and their personality. They gain a personal view on whether to believe what they say later or not to. This shows truth very well as the audience know exactly who knows what information and who is truthful and who is not. Dramatic irony shows the truth on which characters trust which and who they are willing to tell the truth. When characters have information that others don’t, they feel they have more power and so decide to different things with the power. Tituba's lies reveal the truth, Tituba pretended to be possessed in a way to get back at Paris. Tituba says “He says Mr Parris must be kill! Mr Parris no goodly man, Mr Parris mean man and no gentle man,”Parris is the victim of dramatic irony. The audience are against Parris because of the character summary, it was heavily biased against Parris.
The staging in The Crucible can be linked and represent the truth. It was set in Salem Massachusetts USA in 1692. In act 1 it is spring the start of new beginning, which is a good place to start a play. Parris has a sparsely decorated house. It contains a chest, a chair and a small table in one room. All the furniture is natural wood and the rafters are un-mellowed. The light shines in from outside. All this seems very clean and bare because of their Puritanism. Clean represents truth as if not to hide any thing it is all in place. In scene 4 though the entire truthful ness of Parris house disappears and at the start it is set in a jail. The jails represent confinement and death; the death is because of the so-called’ truth’ of witches. In the jail it is dark and evil but quiet. Darkness disguises the truth and makes it hard to see and find. It is Autumn 1692. There are 2 people in a small cramped jail where there is not enough room to move freely. Arthur Miller creates a bleak, miserable atmosphere and because it is autumn the audience recognise it may be cold and wet. At the end of Act 4 a “new sun” pours in, this is a big change from the start and represents John Proctors Death as the end of it all and Salem is now free and new. This shows a degree of truth as John Proctor died to save the town and his dignity.
John Proctor represents the most truth in the play as he dies for his name and has such a high level of importance in the town of Salem. John Procter is a complex character. He is respected in the town of Salem when he signs his confession Parris says “It is a weighty name it will strike the village that Procter confess”, This shows that the people of Salem see him as a good citizen, however he is independent he has a strong opinion about Parris the minister, which he demonstrates many times, ”Can you speak one minute before we land in hell again I am sick of hell Procter is also very honest, speaking the truth no matter what, “your father had a habit of willing land that never belonged to him, if I may say it plain. Although Procter is seen as a good man he is racked with guilt after having an affair with his wife’s servant, Abigail .He is very remorseful and wishes to do right by his wife from now on although he is still tempted Abigail I may think of you softly from time to time. But I will cut off my hand before I reach for you again. Wipe it out of mind. We never touched Abby.” His emotional scene with Elizabeth shows how he tries to do the best by her but fails: ” 'I'll not have your suspicion any more” Elizabeth says “then let you earn it”.
Miller believes that society is never an excuse for our failings, and that we are responsible for ourselves, and Procter is constantly willing to stand up and be counted, to live up to his name except that human weakness and guilt sometimes drag him down. This weakness and guilt make him easier to identify with, he is not perfect, but flawed In the final act Procter struggles with his final decision he makes up his mind with difficulty but believes his final decision is correct.
What happens in the play The Crucible can be linked to September the 11th in America. Religion was used in a bad way to kill harmless and innocent human beings in The World Trade Centre. Lies were told by Relgous people to make others belive them about how America was so bad. This is clearly an abuse if over power. "Whenever you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth” This is a quote by . This says that if you clear away all the lies and decivement of other what inevitably remains is the truth
By
Jason
Defreitas
(A.K.A)
J Dufray
