The Crucible
"The Crucible" Choose a play in which the dramatist explores conflict between two opposing forces. Show how the dramatist makes you aware of the conflict and discuss the extent to which you find the resolution of the conflict satisfying. "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller is set during the times of the infamous Salem witch trials. The play shows how a small Christian community is overcome with fear and resentment when accusations of witchcraft arise. Soon a battle between two completely different forces, honesty and falsification up rises. The play opens with a group of girls being caught whilst sporting in the forest. Suspicious eyes turn towards the girls and they attempt to shift the blame. Abigail Williams is the eldest and the leader of the girls. After an affair with the protagonist John Proctor, Abigail tries to place an incantation on Proctor's wife Elizabeth. During Abigail's attempts to shift the blame she draws a significant amount of the innocent population of Salem into her games. Due to the accusations the ones caught in this shambles have no option but to give up their soul and name accomplices of the devil. However, Proctor fights against this to save his own soul and those close to him. From the off it is clear corruption has a hold on the Salem community and as the play progresses its grasp tightens. The people of Salem follow their given laws at first
The Crucible
'The Crucible ' By Arthur Miller In the complex and interesting play ' The Crucible' by American playwright Arthur Miller the ending is very successful in both tying up the plot and sorting out the characters problems. Most notably John Proctor's. The final scene reaches its climax when Proctor reluctantly confesses to compacting with the devil and to doing his work. Proctor verbally confesses but this is not enough for Danforth who wants more in the form of a written ad signed confession which he plans to pin on the church door for the good instruction of the village. When Proctor realises this must be done or he will hang in a moment of rage he tears up his confession and secures his destiny to hang that morning with all the other upstanding, honest, innocent, members of the community. This final scene is expertly written by Miller and conveys the emotions of especially Elizabeth and John Proctor perfectly as thy try to come to an agreement to save John's life. Of course all this talking and emotion is brought to an abrupt end with Proctor walking towards the gallows and to his death with his name and reputation in tact but his life in tatters. John Proctor appears on the surface to be big, strong and well respected in his community. He is the sort of man that teenagers like Abigail often like but who is envied by other men for the above properties. This is evident most
The crucible
The crucible The trumped-up witch hysteria in Salem, Massachusetts, deteriorated the rational, and emotional stability of its citizens. This exploited the populations weakest qualities, and insecurities. The obvious breakdown in Salem's social order led to the tragedy which saw twenty innocent people hung on the accusation of witchcraft. Arthur Miller, author of The Crucible, used hysteria to introduce personality flaws in vulnerable characters. A rigid social system, fear, and confusion were evident conditions that became prevalent before and during the witchtrials. These conditions only contributed to the tragedy in Salem.The isolation of the Puritan society created a rigid social system that did not allow for any variation in lifestyle. The strict society that was employed at this time had a detrimental effect on the Proctor family. John Proctor, a hard working farmer who had a bad season the year before and struggling this year was occasionally absent at Sunday service. This was due to the fact he needed to tend to his crops. Also, Proctor did not agree with the appointment of Mr. Parris as the newest minister, and therefore did not have his last child baptized. With the latest craze of witchery and swirling accusations, John Proctor was easily indicted of being a messenger for the devil by the testimony of his disillusioned servant Mary Warren, who in the past committed
The Crucible
The Crucible The Crucible is largely concerned with the abuse and misuse of power in Salem. Discuss this with references to any three characters. In this essay I intend to explore the abuse and misuse of power in Salem with references to three characters. The three characters that I will refer to are Reverend Parris, Thomas Putnam and Abigail Williams. Reverend Parris is the pastor of the church in Salem. He is the father of Betty and the uncle of Abigail Williams. He believes that he is being persecuted and that the townspeople do not respect his position as a man of God. Examples to support these claims are when Parris is asking about his wood, and arguing over his salary, he then goes to say "I am not used to this poverty;..Why am I being persecuted here?" Reverend Parris also believes there is a faction and a party in the church which makes him seem very paranoid about the people around him. The towns people also do not respect him as a man of God because Proctor says "to hear him preach only hellfire and bloody damnation" about the services that are held in Salem where Parris preaches. Many of the other towns people say that they 'quail to bring their children' because of the content of what is said during services. Parris is a materialistic and selfish person. He secures his desires in the town by preaching fire and brimstone until the people give in. An
"Much Ado About Nothing"
"Much Ado About Nothing" AS English Literature Coursework * Extract from Act 2 Scene 1 * Line Antonio: Well, niece I trust you'll be ruled 43 by your father. 44 Beatrice: Yes faith, it is my cousin's duty to make 45 curtsy, and say, father as it please you. 46 Does this extract reflect Shakespeare's presentation of women in the play, and what is your response to this presentation 400 years later? Shakespeare's presentation of the main female characters in "Much Ado About Nothing" is insightfully conveyed in Act 2, scene 1. "Well niece, I trust you'll be ruled by your father". The dominant nature of the male characters in the play is expressed with reference to being "ruled", which suggests the oppression of women in Elizabethan society. In the context of the quotation, this implication of patriarchy is in regards to the act of marriage. However, deeper meaning may be established in assuming this ascendancy in terms of all aspects of an Elizabethan woman's life. To a modern audience, such patriarchy would seem irrational and unacceptable. However, the context in terms of time period to which this play was written must be considered. With reference to the use of the word "father", it may be construed that father figures determined the decisions of Elizabethan women
Is Macbeth a Tragic Hero?
Is Macbeth a Tragic Hero? Aristotle defined a tragic hero using a series of points, these points showed what characteristics or situations a tragic hero would define himself/herself by. The first point was 'A Hero whose status means that his downfall will be significant, affecting many people'. We know that Macbeth's downfall will affect the future of Scotland as he is a prominent person in Scotland's society; the King. 'Do we but find the tyrants power tonight, Let us be beaten, if we cannot fight?' This shows the tyrant - Macbeth - holds so much power within his hands. Macbeth also has a good name, 'This tyrant whose sole name blisters our tongues, was once thought honest; you have loved him well;' His climb to power has affected many people as his position heightened. Now at this point, when Macbeth has reached the top of the ladder, he has the lives of many people and his downfall will being freedom to those close to him. 'Those he commands move only in command, nothing in love.' The people around Macbeth feel forced to bow to him; this is an example of this power and status over people. The second of Aristotle's points is 'A tragic hero is one whose suffering reveals essential truths about humanity.' These truths show themselves within Macbeth throughout the play. One of these truths is greed. This develops throughout the play and his want for power gets greater.
Show how miller suggests a rising wave of hysteria though Hales interrogation methods, Tituba’s replies and the interventions of other characters.
Sam Clifft Show how miller suggests a rising wave of hysteria though Hales interrogation methods, Tituba's replies and the interventions of other characters. At the beginning we see Tituba "frightened at the coming process". From the proceeding scene with know hysteria is growing already, so Tituba tries to shift the blame "I do believe somebody else be witchin' these children". Reverend Hale asks Tituba "who" this is when Tituba answers that she doesn't know "but the devil got him numerous witches". Hale latches onto this as though it is a clue and exclaims "does he" this indicates growing tension because Tituba is now saying what Hale wants to hear, all this adding to the growing hysteria Hale begins his gentle questioning technique with Tituba he asks Tituba if she is a "good Christian woman" Tituba agrees she is Hale continues asking leading questions and trying to lead her to God. "And you love these little children?" "And you love God Tituba?" Tituba is harmonizing to these questions. As Titubais answering these questions "she is rocking on her knees, sobbing in terror". This indicates the intense moment for Tituba and reverend Hale. As Hale is gently leading Tituba into confessing with his concentrated interrogation methods in this intense and dramatic experience, he slyly slips in another question "when the devil comes to you does he ever come with another
Othello Coursework
Samuel Taylor Coleridge once wrote that Iago's soliloquies are the "motive - hunting of motiveless malignity." Do you think this is how Shakespeare wanted to portray or present Iago's character? Shakespeare's most controversial and intriguing tragedy was written in 1603 and named Othello. It is a cruel and malicious play with a limited supply of humour and wit present. The play is very precise and clear-cut yet it has elements of anticipation and excitement. It mainly focuses on domestic issues and exercises the audience's judgment by using the signified / signifier throughout the script. Critics such as Bradley have said in the past that "Othello is one of the most painfully exiting and the most terrible tragedy written by W. Shakespeare." This reinforces the audience's judgement after they familiarise with the play. By writing Othello, Shakespeare may have intended to shock and captivate his audience's attention with a play that is undemanding yet gripping. Shakespeare does not introduce any sub-plots in the play and keeps it at consistent scenery. This contrasts with the characters who change their personality traits repetitively. Desdemona contradicts the typical stereotypical role of a woman in the Elizabethan times as they were expected to be timid, well spoken and never defy or dispute their father's or husband's judgements. Desdemona opposes her father and
Our Day Out
Our Day Out By Willy Russell Looking particularly at scenes 21 and 31, explain the serious message that Willy Russell tries to give us about the education and social deprivation. How does he use key characters and settings in order to do this? "Our Day Out" is a funny play but it also has some serious points. It tells us the story of a group of students who are taken on a day trip to Conwy castle in Wales. This play was written in 1977 by Willy Russell. It was set outside a school in Liverpool. With a group of students going on a school trip to Conwy castle in Wales. Mrs Kay was in charge of this trip, she is easy -going and motherly person. The headmaster then sends Mr Briggs along with them who is a much stricter teacher. They set of to Conwy castle and on they way end up going to other places as well. The café, zoo, Conwy castle and the beach. Throughout the day Mr Briggs continues to battle between himself and Mrs Kay over the behaviour of the students. They finish of the trip by going to the funfair where Mr Briggs mood changes and everyone is surprised. Mrs Kay took pictures of this day, she wasn't going to let Mr Briggs forget the day he was happy. Education in the 1970's was different from now. In 1970 students were able to leave school at the age of fifteen and find a job. Students would do there 11+ exam to go onto secondary school. There was a class for
Analysis of the tempest.
Analysis of the tempest. The Tempest as a whole is influenced by the Masque, and hence the play may really be seen as a vehicle for stage spectacle, song and dance with a light underlying moral meaning, rather than a serious drama containing any real depth of plot and character" There is some truth in this criticism, but I believe that there is lot of hidden depth that can be explained in order to understand where Shakespeare's ideas really came from. In this essay I intend to prove that, through the Masque and through character detail, that this play has thematic depth and richness of character. The Masque originated from Italy and came to France and England in the late 16th century. It became formalised through the work of Ben Jonson and Inigo Jones. The Masque was dramatic and musical entertainment using elaborate and expensive properties and machinery, and was usually commissioned for Great State occasions. The debate to whether the Tempest was or even contained a Court Masque was argued by Orgel in 1987. His argument for disagreement was that, because of the time the play was written, Masques were a fluid genre, with no absolute lines between a dramatic performance and a revel. Even a less formal distinction between Masque and drama was becoming harder to see. This showing that maybe the Masque spectacle was just a piece of intricate artwork, collaborated by
