Act 2 has a hostile and dreadful atmosphere. This is mainly due to the fact that Abigail and the girls and the accusers named people whom they did not like and wanted to harm them, calming ought to seen the devil. They happen to accuse innocent people in Salem of witchcraft. Abigail for revenge accuses Elizabeth for attempted murder. However, we know Elizabeth is innocent and guiltless. John Proctor tries to help her rightly so as his wife has been accused showing a husbands loyalty. Perhaps he is been selfish and trying his guilt of committing lechery with Abigail. ‘I cannot they’ll turn on me-‘. Marry Warren feels dreadful to utter the truth has she is fearful of Abigail’s power. This suggests to the audience that even in a patriarchal society a particular women had more control and influence against a dominate male such as John Proctor.
We know as an audience that Mary Warren knows the truth and is the only witness who could help save Elizabeth- this builds dramatic tension within the audience. ‘Turn on me’ this suggests that previously she was with them in their group but if she speaks against she would have enemies who will kill her. ‘They’ll’ this implies that she is fearful from the group, she knows their threat. It tells us that she is not fearing her own master, and God as she is refraining herself from speaking out the truth to save an innocent persons life. This creates tension as she is the only one who could save John Proctor’s wife. ‘(In great uncertainty) Mr Proctor- this tells us that reverent Hale has been interrupted therefore he appears to be weak when clearly not. The stage direction shows us that he had been given an investigation to be solved and if he’s showed too been inferior he is failing. He was especially called to Salem from out of town to resolve the truth. But if is authority has been questioned or his presence is mere, unsure of what to say, gets interrupted then he is not doing his job to its full proper authority.
Miller reveals John Proctor’s loyalty and affection for Elizabeth- this is goes suits with his guilt though that he had committed adultery with Abigail. ‘I will fall like an ocean on that court! Fear nothing, Elizabeth.’ His vow is very urging and potent because he feels he has betrayed her and now however will redeem himself by saving her. ‘Ocean’ has connotations of natural human mass destruction and allegiance something that is untamed. This simile signifying the fact that John thinks he can wipe clean his conscience and sins in the court and no one can stop him, just like no one can stop the lethal force on an ‘ocean’. It could also highlight that he ponders and thinks that the court itself should be cleansed from wrong doings, and maybe he should metaphorically himself cleanse in the court with repent too. The word ‘ocean’ could also imply that he trusts him ability and argument to be strong just like an ocean and suggesting that no one could impede it. ‘Fear nothing’ this shows assurance to Elizabeth and shows Johns determination for Elizabeth. It also implies who’s ‘righteous has no fear’ this will make Elizabeth think that John would be telling the truth and there is hope for her.
Miller makes a similar contrast again to the times in Salem and McCarthyism where justice was not prevalent. John Proctor lashes out and says to say Hale: ‘you’re a broken minster.’ The use of this makes us feel that the laws and regulations of the church is incorrect, they are oblivious from their actions and who they appoint. Since he lashes out and says this manifests his wrath and frustration that he is fed up of the church and the laws therefore challenges it. ‘Broken’ has the connotation of something lost and her refers to the minster’s position and power and shows that he has the control to act with honesty but fails to do so. Miller here could also be implying that in McCarthyism, bundles of people happened to be broken by jealousy and this builds up dramatic tension within the audience and a sense of foreboding. Miller’s comparison linked with Salem to McCarthyism highlights injustice in both periods and ‘The Crucible’ can and would make people and audience aware of the reality.
Salem had not been the best place for some people now; especially John Proctor after his wife had been accused and taken away. John reveals his ideas and judgments about the way that Salem is running: ‘we are what we always were in Salem but now the little crazy children are jangling the keys to the kingdom and common vengeance writes the law!’ This phrase shows that Salem is in complete tatters because now everything is merely run by children and only crazy obscure ideas fill the mind of the town’s people and control them. He suggests that Abigail and her group have the whole villagers ‘wrapped around their fingers’. ‘Jangling the keys’ implies that the villagers are been mislead and foolish as to trust these girls- ‘crazy children’. This connotes that the people of Salem are been controlled by immature kids, their actions, reactions and thoughts. ‘Kingdom’ this highlights that the girls are fooling the community and taking control with full authority as how the kingdom is run. He is finding this hard to believe and manifests his anger towards this by: ‘common vengeance now writes the law!’ John says that all the accusations put on people were the result of revenge and malice acts.
‘Her breath knocked out’ the stage direction shows how stupefied Elizabeth feels because of Abigail. The metaphor highlights how puzzled she feels as if so her ‘breath knocked out’. ‘Knocked out’ this inflicts pain and suffering caused by someone. ‘Why- the is murder’ she must be ripped out of this world!’ Elizabeth tries to imply that Abigail is symbolically sinister like that of a murder therefore should seize to exist in Puritan society. Elizabeth suggests that she is unpredictable because she is a ‘murder’ as murder brings emotional and physical suffering. ‘Ripped’ this connotes that Abigail should be detached from the community. The metaphor builds up dramatic tension as it shows the extent to her been perplexed and how swiftly a character can change for the wrong. But however, the audience are fully alert of the fact that Abigail put forward murder accusations on Elizabeth, and if she uses such horrific and vicious phrases, it ruins her and raises doubts because she wouldn’t spare another chance if she tried to kill her.
Juxtaposing the imageries builds up dramatic tension by Miller. Miller shows Elizabeth’s character as very sedate, peaceful and affectionate person: ‘John- I think I must go. Mary there is bread enough for the morning…when the children wakes speak nothing of witchcraft.’ She resists arguing and is sensible, decides to go without any further delays because of her children’s sake. She is evidently a loving and soothing as she puts her priority for her children first, whereas John just shows his furiousness and seeks to prove his wife innocent as his guilt consciously takes over. Elizabeth’s calmness could also reflect the truth that she knows she is innocent therefore she has nothing to fear as the battle of truth always faces obstacles in the courses. Elizabeth would also recognize that everything happens for a reason and for the better.
‘I’ll go john’- Miller here shows us that Elizabeth is fearless and acting shrewd because she knows she is innocent, and would know it is pointless to stay and worsen her situation. The phrase implies that she is courageous as she alone bears this instead of her husband who’s retaliating and being rational; ‘she is a being the bigger man’. However, her tone is low because her children are awake and they certainly would not bear to watch her been arrested. She behaves accordingly to the situation and wouldn’t want to be watched dragged forcedly when arrested and this could also influence what she had said.
In comparison, Elizabeth words are spoken out with lighter tone and she is controlling her feelings and emotions. John however, to the contrary is more vocal and besotted for Elizabeth, says: ‘Pontius Pilate! God will not let your hands of this.’ This refers back to Pilate when he had the chance to save Jesus, but did not interfere with the will of the crowd who wanted Jesus to be dead although him been innocent. He had washed his hands to symbolize that had not condemned Jesus, but it was the fault of the crowd. He didn’t no let alone wanted to be accounted for Jesus’s death. Therefore John tries to imply here that if Hale’s responsible for his wife’s death although she was innocent, he would have to pay the price and that sin would be on his conscious. John rightly has faith in himself and believes that Herrick is a weakling without authority, and a traitor in reality, and this shows us that he doubts the authority in Salem and is challenging it. It would be a controversial issue if you happened to challenge the authority in Salem 1962. However, John’s character is dominant, alpha male, his character doesn’t seem him to fear or dread the law and is keen to save, prove his wife innocent.
‘Ripping the warrant’- this stage direction reinforces how courageous and valiant John Proctor. This connotes that he is not prepared to withstand no orders and instructions from anyone, and it’s not tolerant. The chaos which happens to be in Salem because of the hysteria and insanity implies that he needs to take power and authority to show truly his dominance. Tension also builds up within the audience because they audience are well aware that no one can just ‘rip’ a ‘warrant’ in literal sense. It highlights there would be consequences and a price that he might have to pay. The audience already know the danger Elizabeth has found herself in, but it also shows Proctor’s loyalty and affection he has for Elizabeth.
This use of stage direction for Marry Warren by Miller displays that Marry is to afraid to utter the truth, she is dreadfully scared from Abigail and her recruits therefore refuses to give in. ‘Frightened for herself, her voice very small.’ Although Abigail’s stature is not present during the Act, it’s pretty obvious that she has a lot of power and impact on Marry. Her light tone and voice could also highlight the fact she is also petrified and has respect for John- even if she can’ t tell the truth to John, to save his wife, she is ‘torn between the two’ which creates dramatic tension as a audience. As previously known, Abigail is conniving and tactile, she can manipulate things. The stage direction shows this phrase ‘what poppet’s that, sir’. This suggests that Marry will have to use something out of Abigail’s book- being devious and evading her by lying to her so not make her distressed and worried. The audience know Elizabeth’s life is at stake and only Mary can save her by merely telling a simple but huge vital truth, this creates a foreboding and tension for the audience.
This powerful stage direction used by Arthur Miller again vitally displays John Proctor’s dominance and charge. ‘He walks as trough toward a great horror, facing the open sky.’ Miller suggests that to the audience that John’s a powerful dominant man. The simile expresses that he is striding forward to gruesome, clearly showing he is fearless. As weak and coward people don’t have the ability to face their nightmares or horrors, and this evidently shows his superiority. ‘Facing’- this connotes that he is ready to face his own problems giving a metaphorical sense. The ‘sky’ connotes something that is elusive, unknown and obscure just like the weather. This could highlight his future that he is doubtful, hoping for the best when he looks up at the heavens. ‘Sky’ could also connote that he is staring down to God, challenging his force and destiny. It would be numinous wonder looking up at the heavens, questioning his fate and would have a presence of awe. At this stage the audience will share his feeling for unspecified tension.
Arthur Miller shows Hale’s furiousness as religious language is used to for emotive effect: ‘let you counsel among yourselves; think on your village and what may have drawn from heaven such thundering wrath upon you all. I shall pray God open up your eyes.’ Since the context of the language used is religious, this creates dramatic tension between the audiences because in Salem religion played a big role in people roles and belief, therefore this makes the speech much more potent and effective. What may have drawn from such thundering wrath upon you all.’ This implies that Hale is adamant and believes that Salem was guilty from committing sinister sins. He acquires them to comprehend that they have upset God, now rightfully deserve their consequences. Again there is dramatic tension between the audiences as they are conscious of Salem’s sins. Out of the all characters on the stage, only John Proctor is aware of this.
‘The Crucible’- was an allegory sending hidden messages that during both in McCarthyism and Salem, they key features were hysteria, suspicion, revenge and envy. The devil concepts and witch craft in Salem subjected innocent people to be prosecuted. Arthur Miller’s motive is to bring realisation to the people of America that ‘be hunted or hunt’ logic of Senator McCarthy was incorrect. By using an allegory in the play he was able to show the past, historical events and ensure the same mistakes don’t occur again, and history should be history, not repeated.
