The Crucible

Year 12 Common Module – Texts and Human Experiences

In this common module students deepen their understanding of how texts represent individual and collective human
experiences. They examine how texts represent human qualities and emotions associated with, or arising from, these
experiences. Students appreciate, explore, interpret, analyse and evaluate the ways language is used to shape these representations
in a range of texts in a variety of forms, modes and media.

Students explore how texts may give insight into the anomalies, paradoxes and inconsistencies in human behaviour and
motivations, inviting the responder to see the world differently, to challenge assumptions, ignite new ideas or reflect personally.
They may also consider the role of storytelling throughout time to express and reflect particular lives and cultures. By responding
to a range of texts they further develop skills and confidence using various literary devices, language concepts, modes and
media to formulate a considered response to texts.

Student’s study one prescribed text and a range of short texts that provide rich opportunities to further explore representations of
human experiences illuminated in texts. They make increasingly informed judgements about how aspects of these texts, for
example context, purpose, structure, stylistic and grammatical features, and form shape meaning. In addition, students select
one related text and draw from personal experience to make connections between themselves, the world of the text and their wider
world.

By responding and composing throughout the module students further develop a repertoire of skills in comprehending,
interpreting and analysing complex texts. They examine how different modes and media use visual, verbal and/or digital language
elements. They communicate ideas using figurative language to express universal themes and evaluative language to make
informed judgements about texts. Students further develop skills in using metalanguage, correct grammar and syntax to
analyse language and express a personal perspective about a text.

Context
- Political allegory
o Salem, Massachusetts
 1692 witch trials
o American
 1950s “red scare”, McCarthyism
- Miller having a say on his perception of the idiotic events
- Puritan religion:
o Self-protective society
o Religion rules all
o Culturally conservative

Act One

Consolidation

BIG IDEAS
Parris’s treatment of Tituba sets up foreshadowing which Paris will put his positioning in Salem. He sets Tituba as an ‘other’. The
town doctor does not know what is going on, so he turns to the greater power. Abigail and Paris try to stop Susanna from
spreading what is going on in their house.

Fear plays in Paris, and the whole town becomes scared as rumours play out. The floor is that it is all lie. The lie is based on
unrequited love. It is about Abigail and her selfish desires and the pain she felt when Proctor said he couldn’t love her back.
Which craft is introduced as a sin. Paris is feeling threatened against his job and his reputation. Paris thinks he must control the
rumours to save himself. Paris loves his own reputation more than what is going on with Betty.
Rumour becomes belief – the rumour of witchcraft becomes belief, belief than become truth. If people of power accept a point of
truth, It is then followed.

People go to extremes to prove what they believe. It is deliberately hyperbolic. Those who have power can change their position
and that is okay.

The danger of ideology and an universal approach that constrains individuals to the “collective”. Wanting someone to blame;
searching for answers with superstition. The power of the political and religious allegories.

Abigail’s purpose – she wants to kill Elizabeth Proctor, because she is jealous. We wonder if she is ever capable of murder. Why
is she being constricted as the devil.

Proctor’s purpose – is meant to body morality. You can make a mistake and seek redemption; you can hurt people and then say
sorry and call it out. He is strong willed and determined. The audience likes that he starts to loath himself. As humans we take
delight in other people’s misfortune. It is a shared human experience. As humans we are all floored to.

Political allegory about McCarthyism and the ‘Red Scare’.

Stories are the platform that miller is using to say something about humans. There are these forces that are bigger than us. Humans
can challenge their energy for good or for not.

- Hysteria
o not a human emotion but an experience. What emotions come with hysteria? Nothing good comes from fear, but
it is an imperative function.
- Notions on concealment (truth and lies) à Reputation and integrity central to the whole play.
o Parris and Abigail attempting to protect their reputation.
- Individualism.
- Social Disorder
- Individual versus the collective
- Power and control
o How do you control people? You tell lies. .

Analytical paragraph – Act 1

Texts highlight the complexity of the human experience, shining a light on the inherent paradoxes of our
existence.

How is this represented in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible? In your paragraph, focus on one of the paradoxes
explored in Act 1.

Paragraph Feedback J
Ella
Milla
Lucy
Jasmine Miller exposes the latent paradox of the religious life in Salem, where there is
value placed on acting in a ‘moral’ and ‘just’ way, but, in society, there is
additionally the concurrent occurrences of immoral practices that come as a
consequence of people wanting to withhold their pure reputation and willingness
to be viewed as morally righteous. Millers rigorous use of characterisation of
Proctor, Pariss, and Abigail throughout the first Act highlight this notion. The
world of Salem, is a world where religion overrules all and the puritan religion
serves to a self-protective society, challenging anyone whose opinion differs
from theirs. Miller’s political allegory facilitates his critics of the fraudulent
nature of the Puritan ideals and the power withheld in Salem society. “My name
is good in the village! I will not have it said my name is soiled!” Technique?
Miller utilises Abigail to represent the absurd lengths that individuals would go
to in order to protect their reputation. The notion of reputation is so critical to
their ability to thrive within the community. When Abigail is pushed, she feels
under threat and her capacity to dissemble is weakened. When Abigail later states
“I can make you wish you have never seen the sun go down!” We see that the
 pure and ‘white’ façade that she puts on in order to maintain her reputation is a
falsity. Miller works here to show the deceitful nature of following a religion,
acting immoral to come across and moral. “There is either obedience or the
church will burn like hell is burning” This hyperbole works to show the danger
of a society that relies on polar opposites. People have a strong desire to control
others through these dichotomies. The audience is assured of how Pariss is with
the community; he is set apart from them. It refers back to the notion of “you are
either with us or against us”, which is echoed throughout 1950’s America.
Millers’ characterisation of Pariss as a very self-involved individual, who cares
only for his reputation represents how one can act despicable for the right reason,
will allow for a pure reputation to be maintained. Furthermore, Miller’s
characterisation of Proctor as an anomalist serves to create distance between
himself and the community. “There are many others who stay away from church
these days because you hardly ever mention God anymore.” Proctor has a lack of
conformity to the religious ideals of the community. Miller sets Proctors
character to body morality. How you can make mistakes and sin, yet you can still
seek redemption. Proctor stands out from the rest of the characters as he does not
conform to the extremities that others go to, to maintain their reputation.
Through all, Millers strong critique of the characters inherent flaws and the
manners that arise from the consumed idea of preserving a pure and white
reputation emphasises the paradoxical nature of the religious life in Salem.
Ultimately, showing the complexity of the human experience, allowing the
audience to reflect on the contradictory behaviours in their world.
Jenna Miller discloses the intrinsic paradoxes of our existence by exposing the moral
subversion of those who crave power, especially in regard to the rigid Puritan
ideals of the time through the characters of Parris and Abigail in Act One. In the
small town of Salem Massachusetts, power is more often than not affiliated with
reputation and whether an individual meets society’s superficial standard. Thus,
enticing individuals to go out of their way to protect their status and perform
immoral and often corrupt acts. This political allegory of insincere righteousness
and obsession is criticised by Miller, demonstrating how it can corrupt our own
personal morals. When Betty is first afflicted by her ‘illness’, it is not her
wellbeing that Parris is concerned with, but his reputation. “Put out all thought of
unnatural causes here…speak nothing of unnatural causes”. His urgent repetition
accentuates his authoritative and commanding personality, accompanied by his
conservative culture and pedantic political mindset. He interrogates Abigail
aggressively, demanding that “if [she] trafficked with spirits in the forest I must
know it now, for surely my enemies will, and they will ruin me with it”. Rather
than chastising Abigail for endangering her and his daughter’s life, it is his social
standing and position within the community that he fears for the most. Miller’s
characterisation of Parris highlights his contradictory and paradoxical nature,
which works to support Miller’s critique of behaviours, borne from pride and
ignorance, that fail to preserve the intended value of the social contract. Miller
also seems to distinguish between those who value their reputation from those
who truly cherish their honour and integrity. Abigail will essentially murder just
to maintain her “good [name] in the village” of which she claims “There is no
blush about my name…I will not have it said my name is soiled” by Elisabeth or
John proctor. Abigail’s façade of purity is weakened when she blames Tituba of
the whole circumstance, pleading that she “never sold myself [to the devil]! I’m a
good girl! I’m a proper girl...She made me do it! She made Betty do it!”. Betty is
ultimately fearful not for the welfare of her cousin, or for the safety of the town,
but for her reputation. The exclamations expose her desperation for people to not
find out that she made the potion. Ultimately, Miller is able to expose the
inherent paradoxes found within the human experience by “shining a light” on its
complexities which therefore challenge the audience to consider their own
contradictory behaviours in an everchanging world.
Kiara

Quotes/Analysis
Character/Theme Quote Analysis
Reverend Parris “He believed he was being persecuted wherever he - Controlling
- Reputation and went…he felt insulted if someone rose to shut the door - Pedantic
honour without first asking his permission.” - Represents his conservative
Act 1 Page 13 culture
- Deeply suspicious man

“No-no. There will be no unnatural cause here” - Only concern is with his
Act 1 Page 18 position in the town
(reputation)
- Authoritative and commanding
“Put out all thought of unnatural causes here…speak - Urgent repetition
nothing of unnatural causes.”
Act 1 Page 18

“There are many others who stay away from church - Proctor being set up as
these days because you hardly ever mention God anomalous
anymore.” - Shows his lack of conformity to
Act 1 Page 34 religious palladiums
“Like some London beggar…I am not some preaching - Sense of self has been injured
farmer with some book under my arm, I am a graduate due to circumstances
of Harvard College” - Obsession of how people
Act 1 page 34 perceive him and if he is
respected
“I have often wondered if the devil be in it - Doesn’t want feedback or to
somewhere” self-reflect
Act 1 Page 34 - Wants to shift blame onto
larger force
- Persecute others
“I want a mark of confidence… I am your third - Reinforces his feelings of being
preacher in seven years. I do not wish to be put out like treated as an outsider
the cat whenever some majority feels the whim. You
people seem not to comprehend that a minister is the
Lord’s man in the parish; a minister is not to be so
lightly crossed and contradicted.”
Act 1 Page 35
“There is either obedience or the church will burn like - The danger of a society that
Hell is burning” relies on opposites
Act 1 page 35 - A desire for people to control
other through these
dichotomies
- ‘you’re either with us or against
us’ – ECO OF MCARTHY’S
WORDS IN 1950s AMERICA
“red scare”
- Hyperbole
“Like some London beggar” … “I am not some - Juxtaposition between the
preaching farmer with a book under my arm; I am a simile to arrogant declarity.
graduate of Harvard College” Miller tells us Paris’s sense of
Act 1 Page 34 self has been injured. Paris is
obsessed with how people
perceive him and whether it is
being respected.
“Why am I persecuted here?” … “I have often - When Paris’s identity is under
wondered if the Devil be in it somewhere” threat, he shifts to blame it all
Act 1 Page 34 on a larger force. Paris looks to
take advantage of ideologies to
win power.
“There is either obedience or the church will burn like - Hyperbole; dichotomy
Hell is burning!” structure.
Act 1 Page 35 - Danger of society which
reflects on opposites.
Abigail (Parris’ niece) “He is bending to kneel again when his niece, Abigail
- Reputation Williams, seventeen, enters – a strikingly beautiful girl,
an orphan, with an endless capacity for dissembling.
Now she is all worry and apprehension and
proprietary.”
Act 1 Page 18
“There is no blush about my name…I will not have it
said my name is soiled”
Act 1 Page 21
“I will come to you in the black of some terrible night
and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder
you.”
Act 1 Page 26
“A wild thing may say wild things.”
Act 1 Page 29
[Nervous laugh, confidential, concentrated desire,
tauntingly, beginning to anger, now softening, flash of
anger, a bitter anger]
Act 1 Page 28-29
“Never knew the lying lessons I was taught by all these
Christian women and their covenanted men!”
Act 1 page 30
“I can make you wish you had never seen the sun go
down”
Act 1 Page 27
“I never sold myself [to the devil]! I’m a good girl! I’m
a proper girl...She made me do it! She made Betty do
it!”
Act 1 Page 45
“I never knew what pretence Salem was…what lying
lessons…wheels within wheel of this village and fires
within fires in this village” – Miller
“I want the light of God; I want the sweet love of
Jesus! I danced for the devil; I saw him; I wrote his
book; I go back to Jesus; I kiss His hand. I saw Sarah
Good with the Devil! I saw Goody Osbourn with the
Devil! I saw Bridget Bishop with the Devil!
Act 1 Page 49
Thomas Putnam “His vindictive nature was demonstrated long before
- the witchcraft began.”
Act 1 Page 22
“There be children dyin’ in the village, Mister!”
Act 1 Page 33
- Proprietary – conforming to the
society’s standards
- Dissembling – concealing her
feelings
- Cunning, villainous, two-faced,
non-confirmative
- True Abigail: cunning, villainous,
two-faced, non-conforming
- Reputation is critical, even for a 17-
year-old
- Bully
- Threatening, high modality
language, dominating character,
condescending
- Human emotion; jealously is
driving and motivating her.
- Foreshadowing her own actions
- How she plays blame game with
people in the town
- Progression of rapid changing
emotions through pages 28-29
- Shows her manipulative nature
- John Proctor recognises the
hypocrisy of the world and shares
his knowledge with Abagail: but
now wants her to participate in it
and lie.
- Abigail acts so daintily, pure, and
white around the town, but accuses
Betty of this. She puts on a façade.
- Formidable and fierce. Clear on her
intentions; violent language.
- Blaming Tituba
- Emotion of fear
- Desperate for people not to find out
she made the potion
- Accusing- true colours
- Under threat
- Exclamations reflect Abigail’s fear.
Desperate to not be found out. She
accuses Tituba.
- authorial intrusion
- Recognised the hypocrisy of Salem;
dramatic irony!!
- Stories within stories in this town.
- a sense of disclarity and deception
present.
- Echoing intense peak
- Having the opportunity to attack
- Quality of entitlement
- Paradoxical behaviour
- Promotes Christian behaviour yet
acts viciously
- Hyperbolic response
- Reflect a growing fear à Anxiety
- Respond to a range of perceived
threats to power, identity, and

“How may we blame ourselves” Act 1 Page 33
“You cannot command Mr Paris. We vote by name in
this society, not by acreage.”
Act 1 Page 33
Ann Putnam “I take it on my soul, but who else may surely tell us
what person murdered my babies?”
Act 1 Page 23
“There are wheels within wheels in this village and
fires within fires”
Betty Parris “You drank a charm to kill John Proctor’s wife! You
- drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor!”
Act 1 Page 26
Reverend Hale “Mr Hale is nearing forty, a tight-skinned, eagle-eyed
intellectual. This is a beloved errand for him…he felt
the pride of the specialist…”
Act 1 Page 37
“His painfully acquired armoury of symptoms,
catchwords, and diagnostic procedures are not to be put
to use at last…he has passed a hundred rumours that
make him smile at the ignorance of the yeomanry in
his most precise science.”
Act 1 Page 40
He appears loaded down with half a dozen heavy
books… “They must be they are weighted with
authority”
Act 1 Page 40
“Have no fear now – we shall find him out if he has
come among us, and I mean to crush him utterly if he
has shown his face.”
Act 1 Page 42
“Did you feel any strangeness when she called [the
devil]? A sudden cold wind, perhaps? A trembling
below the ground?
Act 1 Page 45
“We cannot look to superstition in this. The devil is
precise; the marks of his presence are definite as stone,
and I must tell you all that I shall not proceed unless
you are prepared to believe me if I should find no
bruise of hell upon her”
Act 1 Page 41
religion.
- Putnam relates is to the lack of self-
respect and critique of this world.
- Those who lack self-critique are
ones who suffer or cause the
suffering.
- Those who self-reflect grow and do
better (Rebecca).
- The importance of self-critique and
self-reflection.
- Status based democracy. Reputation
is so important.
- Integrity and reputation.
- Coming from a point of resentment.
- Superstitious
- Has lost 7 children
- Putnam is saying things are not
what they seem, there is not clarity,
just when you think you can see
through something, something else
appears, cycle of wheels and the lies
have momentum.
- Seems possessed in this scene
- Evokes a sense of superstition
- Tries to expose Abigail due to her
affair with Proctor
- Meant to signal control and
authority, problem solving
- Eager eyed individual
- Pride and notion of beloved errand,
shifts throughout play
- Promotion dangers in paradigms of
polarity- world is gripped by this
emotion
- Sense of hopefulness, pride,
eagerness
- Degree of arrogance
- Sense of pride in his knowledge
- Sees himself as a solider acting in
god’s name
- Motif of weight
- Power of authority to oppress and
suppress
- Ideological; not as selfish; uses
knowledge.
- Didactic, eager
- Hyperbolic, aggressive,
authoritative tone
- Founded on feeling on moral and
intellectual superior
- Trying to find signs of devil
- Power of suggestion of witch in
other mind
- Ironically, he says he must not look
to superstition when his entire like
is based on superstition.
- Not going to find a sign of the devil,
he is inserting his own integrity
saying he wont lie for him.
 “Did you feel any strangeness when she called him” - Hale is trying to find the signs of a
Act 1 Page 45 devil. He creates hysteria by giving
them that superstition.

John Proctor “He is a sinner, a sinner not only against the moral - Gain a sense that Proctor is a man
- fashion of the time, but against his own vision of that would care if he broke his own
decent conduct” moral code
Act 1 Page 27
“In Proctor’s presence a fool felt his foolishness - Trust his opinion
instantly” - If you don’t gain his respect, you
Act 1 Page feel worthless
- Symbol of outward and inner
morality; strong willed and
determined. Hides his immorality
and deception. Proctor is a complex
character; he wants to redeem
himself and make himself the
“better man”.
“He had a sharp and biting way with hypocrites.”, “Not - If you were able to gain the heart of
easily led” proctor, then you have done so,
morally, and purely.
- If proctor denied you then you
would feel like a fool.
“We vote by name in this society, not by acreage.” - Reputation
- Resentment
- Names are supposed to be pure and
symbol of innocence
- Motif of names throughout the
novel always refer back to status
“I like not the smell of this ‘authority” - Proctor wanting to go against Parris
Act 1 Page 35 - Proctor believes authority comes
from one’s moral compass.
“I never spoke on witches” - Doesn’t have to speak one way or
the other
- Antagonism towards community
- Not obedient
- Proctor is an anomality he doesn’t
have to choose. He has attitude of
an antagonism and can be on either
side.
Deputy-Governor
Danforth
Mary Warren “We must tell the truth, Abby! You’ll only be whipped - Weak link
for dancing’, and the other things!” - Vulnerable
- Afraid/ scared
Rebecca Nurse “Calm yourselves”, “A child’s spirit is like a child, you - Pragmatic mind, level-headed
can never catch it by running after it; you must stand - An attitude of love.
still, and, for love, it will soon itself come back.” - Miller places her a distinctive
Act 1 Page 32 character, her only voice is of calm
authority.
“I fear it. I fear it. Let us rather blame ourselves and – “ - Speaks didactically without being
Act 1 Page 33 offensive

“Pray, John, be calm” …” He defers her” … “Let us - Rebecca speaks calmly, proctor
rather blame ourselves and – “ respects her.
Act 1 Page 33
“Clasp his hand, make your peace” - Once again bringing peace after a
dispute between the men
[She goes out; they feel resentful of her note of moral - Moral superiority
superiority.] - Different position- people resent her
“Make your peace” - Voice of pragmatism and level-
Act 1 Page 35 headedness

“I wish I knew she goes out; they feel resentful of her - She has a different opinion; people
note of moral superiority” must resent him.
 Giles Correy “Think on it. Wherefore is everybody suing everybody -
else? Think on it now, it’s a deep thing, and dark as a
pit. I have been six time in court this year – “
Act 1 Page 36

Tituba “Mister Reverend, I do believe somebody be witchin’ - Passing the blame

these children…And I look – and there was Goody - She is ultimately powerless, so she
Good.” is trying to withhold the smallest
amount of status

Act Two

Consolidation

BIG IDEAS
1. The power of ‘private vengeance’: the resentments of the town surfacing, hysterical collective response, significant role
in shaping the world- further discovery of what motivates Abigail, Mary’s vengeance (desire for power)
2. Proctor’s anomalous (abnormal) status and his defiance- tension between integrity, reputation, and sins
3. Hales character development- critical, complexity, desire for intellectual rigor, “weighted with authority if books”,
internal tension
4. Proctor and Hale are very alike – similar experiences born out of similar points of tension
5. Miller trying to highlight the absurdity and hysteria of collective response amplifying the truth of the past which
shows the absurdity of the presence
6. Symbol of the poppet doll
7. Motif of weight continues, the motif of the poppet, the motif of proof – desire and demand for proof (floored proof)
8. Abigail’s omniscient presence – she is absent throughout act 2, yet she still holds so much power as the story unravels
- Goody Proctor gets taken away as being a witch (Abigail stages the needle stabbing with the poppet doll)
- Ms Putnam against Rebecca Nurse – she is to blame for the hysterical witch acts as she ‘killed all 7 of her children’
- Giles Corey’s wife will be accused for reading books + bewitching pigs – taken away in chains
- Fear is generated through the concern of the ramifications

Analytical Paragraph – Act 2

How does Miller use the character of John Proctor to explore the complex nature of human qualities and
emotions?

Paragraph Feedback J
Ella
Milla
Lucy
Jasmine Millers’ critical characterisation of the upright, blunt-spoken, John Proctor
allows for Miller to castigate the complexities that arise from human qualities
and emotions, as Proctor ultimately aims to unite a world of chaos and
uncertainty with integrity and morality. Miller emphasises the fundamental need
for honesty amidst a society which is based on rumours and scepticism. Where
the danger of an ideology arises and the constant need to blame and searching for
answers through superstitions is at the forefront. Miller’s position of commentary
reflects his own 1950’s “Red Scare” context. “You will not judge me more…let
you look to your own improvement before you go to judge.” Through the
repetition of judge, it allows for recognition that it threatens one’s sense of self.
Miller states that self-critique, awareness, and reflection are qualities that are
imperative and qualities that should be valued. Without self-reflection and
critique, chaos and resentment will arise. Through Proctor, Miller shows that
‘being good, is doing good’, no one can be good all the time, however, if we sin
once, we should not see ourselves as sinners. Proctor is further represented as the
anomalist; he can recognise his own flaws and critique himself, representing the
complexity of human qualities. Furthermore, “I never knew until tonight that the
 world is gone daft with this nonsense” Proctor’s use of high modality language is
a vehicle to directly insult Hale and the belief in God and the superstitions of the
higher power. His dismissive tone further indicates his anomalist status in the
town. This exemplifies how multifaceted human emotions and qualities are; the
polarity of the response in the town that has arisen from fear of the unknown;
Proctors view and attempt to use morality and humanity versus the towns view of
blame and denunciation. Miller positions the audience to criticise this world and
reflect on one’s own self-critique. Additionally, “We are only what we always
were, but naked now.” Proctor condemns the critical and grotesque behaviours
that are holding the Salem society together. They have all sinned in order for the
reputation to be seen as pure and white, highlighting the hypocritical nature that
runs the town of Salem. Proctors aim is to eliminate the element of hypocrisy and
have them exposed for their doings. By blunting stating this, Proctor confirms his
anomalist behaviours and the complexities of the emotions around the town of
Salem. Through this, Miller is exposing the blatant neglect of civility within the
individuals and how the truth can be covered and blames on superstitions, but we
have still sinned. Through these, Miller’s compassionate characterisation of
Proctor, set as the anomalist and holding value to self-critique and modelling of
honest behaviours, reflects Miller’s commentary on being morally-just despite
living in a world of hypocrisy and unjust values. Ultimately, Miller provides
much insight into the complex emotions and nature of human qualities, through
the perspective of a righteous individual in a morally unjust society. Miller
advocates to unite the divided society with honesty and integrity.

Jenna Through the tormenting characterisation of John Proctor, Miller explores the
complex nature of human qualities and emotions as the self-critical character
attempts to maintain integrity and morality in the mendacious town. By
highlighting his own commentary on 1950s McCarthyism throughout the novel,
Miller is able to depict the challenging and everchanging nature of humans
through their dishonest and deceitful actions. Through the midst of this societal
chaos, the most perplex matter is finding a coherent and secure emotional stance
amongst the anarchy. When Proctor is fixed in his dispute with Elizabeth, Miller
is quick to form a defensive yet self-critical character when Proctor says, “You
will not judge me more…Let you look to your own improvement before you go
to judge your husband anymore” ultimately threatening his sense of self through
the use of repetition. Miller is making a commentary that these qualities of self-
reflection, self-awareness and self-critique are merits we ‘should have’, yet
‘being good is doing good’ is complex enough; no one is simply good all the
time and can’t be evil for a single sin which is lost amidst the chaos of Salem.
Miller accentuates Proctors complex nature of emotions throughout the stage
directions in this dispute. We see his emotional progression within the argument,
“[In thought... Quietly, struggling with his thought... Angering... Stubbornly...
His anger rising... With a violent undertone... With solemn warning…]”. Miller
uses this descriptive language to emphasise the injustices within the society of
which Proctor finds grotesque. Through the use of this language, we see how
Proctor’s determined and respected character forces others into submission when
Elizabeth dismisses her own emotions. Later in Act Two, we see Proctor
completely dismiss any further authority when he rips the Warrant out of
Cheever’s hands, demonstrating his anomalous status. “Out with you!... Out with
you!”. The warrant ultimately acts as a symbol of power that the church holds,
representing his final dismissal of any authority other than his own opinion.
Miller’s vicarious characterisation of John Proctor’s complex set of emotions and
qualities reflects on Miller’s support for individuals who strive for rectitude and
honesty in a cynical world. Miller ultimately reveals the complex nature of
human qualities by providing insight into John Proctor’s mind enclosed by guilt
and the desire for self-reflection. Thus, advocating for integral values of decency
and an ethically barren world.
Kiara

Quotes/Analysis
Character/Theme Quote Analysis
John Proctor [With a grin] “I mean to please you” - Metaphor and ironic that he is trying to
Page 52 please her.
 - Dramatic tension and awkwardness
suggest that proctor feels guilty of his
affair with Abagail
- stage directions alert us to tension
“She told it to me in a room alone” - Lying and loss of trust
Page 54 - Warning against paradigms of polarity
“You will not judge me more…Let you look to - Repetition: threatens his sense of self
your own improvement before you go to judge your - Self- reflection, self-awareness, and self-
husband anymore.” critique are qualities we should value.
Page 55 - Miller looks to say- ‘being good is doing
good’ is complex, no one is good all the
time, and can’t be evil for a simple or
single sin
“Oh, Elizabeth, your justice would freeze beer!” - ‘Cold person’
Page 55 - Emphasises the injustice of society
- Heightens our sense of anger and passion
as we see these good people become
destroyed
“You are paid nine pound a year to do-and my wife - Proctors’ disbelief born from perception
not wholly well?” that justice will be upheld by those tasked
Page 56 with upholding it
[In thought. Quietly, struggling with his thought. - Proctor quick to anger
Angering. Stubbornly. His anger rising. With a - His anger scared Elizabeth into
violent undertone. With solemn warning.] submission of her anger
Page 54-55
[With difficulty] - Everything proctor does is with difficulty
Page 65 - A sign of his integrity
- ‘weighs’ his options
“I never knew until tonight that the world is gone - Proctor speaking boldly
daft with this nonsense” - High modality language
Page 65 - A direct insult to hale and God.
- A dismissive tone
- Indictive to proctor’s anomalist status.
“And why not, if they must hang for denyin’ it? - Irony of religious response
There are them that will swear to anything before - Calling out absurdity
they’ll hang; have you ever thought of that?” - Tension building between Proctor and
Page 66 Hale
“What signifies a poppet?” - Highlights the absurdity of hysteria
Page 69 between the poppets.
- Miller intends for the poppet to be
tragically comic.
[Suddenly snatching the warrant out of Cheever’s - Repetitiobn + Symbolism
hands] “Out with you!” [Ripping the warrant] “Out - Warrant acts as a symbol of the power of
with you!” the church.
Page 71 - Proctor is dismissing this authority
further demonstrating his anomalous
behaviour and status.
- True human response is dangerous
“I’ll tell you what’s walking Salem – vengeance is - In moments like these the collect hysteria
walking Salem. We are what we always were in is what motivates people the most is
Salem, but now the little crazy children are jangling private vengeance.
the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance - Personification of vengeance
writes the law!” - Punctuation
Page 72 judge
“I will fall like an ocean on that court! Fear - Simile + Metaphor
nothing, Elizabeth” - Metaphor expressing his commitment to
Page 72 justice and Elizabeth.
“We will slide together into our pit” - All of use are sinners, we will all go
Page 74 down together.

“Now hell and heaven grapple on our backs, and all - Biblical imagery and language
our old pretence is ripped away” - Frenzied scene of dominance and tension
Page 74-75
“We are only what we always were, but naked - The critical and grotesque behaviours
 now” that were holding the community
Page 75 together are exposed.
- Proctor wants everyone to have their
hypocrisy exposed.
Elizabeth Proctor “It is a mouse no more. I forbid her go, and she - Could be referring to Abigail
raises up her chin like the daughter of a prince” - She is aware of the affair
Page 53
“I thought she were a saint, to hear her…Where she - Shows how Elizabeth wants the agency
walks the crowd will part like the sea for Israel.” and control that Abigail holds
Page 53
[Quietly, fearing to anger him by prodding. With - Elizabeth’s building anger that quickly
her courage now. Hurt, and very coldly. Quietly. A resides as Proctor begins to anger
little loftily.]
Page 54

“Monstrous profit in it” - Abagail has bad intensions

Page 60 - What does Abagail gain from calling out
Elizabeth?

“The girl is murder! She must be ripped out of the - Elizabeth speaks the truth, but the truth is
world!” so dangerous in this world
Page 71 - This truth is what will get Elizabeth
convicted
- Abigail is absent throughout act 2, but
her omniscient presence still holds power

Hale “This is a strange time, Mister. No man may longer
doubt the powers of the dark are gathered in
monstrous attack upon this village. There is too
much evidence now to deny it. You will agree, sir?”
Page 62
“Mr Proctor, your house is not a church”
Page 63
[Obviously disturbed – and evasive]
Page 65
“Goody Proctor, I do not judge you. My duty is to
add what I may the Godly wisdom of the court.”
Page 65
“Theology, sir, it is a fortress; no crack in a fortress
may be accounted small.”
Page 65
“I have. I-I have indeed.” [It is his own suspicion,
but he resists it]
Page 66
“Let you rest upon the justice of the court; the court
will send her home, I know it.”
Page 68
- The village is certainly under attack, but
not in the way Hale suspects
- The real “powers of dark” affecting
Salem are the suspicion and fear flooding
the town, not anything demonic
- The public and private spaces are blurred
in this world
- There is an underlying desire to protect
private spheres
- This is impossible in this invasive
collective presence
- Hale is not yet ready to commit to the
confrontation of an accusation
- Hale speaks truer than he realises
- Preloading irony
- He questions the morality of the court
- Miller preloading irony
- Hale’s current saying will only impact
later when we know he changes
- Speaking hyperbolically
- Metaphor – emphasises his convictions
- His ‘weight of authority’ – motif
- Hale hesitates
- He holds tension – similar to that of
Proctor’s tension
- Repetition
- Hale is full of conviction.
- Convictions are in a place of moral and
intellectual justice.
- His views on the authority of the church
will change by the end of the play.
 “We cannot flinch; these are new times, sir. There - See page 41,42,49.
is a misty plot afoot so subtle we should be criminal - Absurd private vengeance
to cling to old respects and ancient friendships. I
have seen too many frightful prods in court – the
Devil is alive in Salem, and we dare not quail to
follow whatever the accusing finger points”
Page 68
“I shall pray God open up our eyes” - Hale is yet to recognise the truth of
Page 73 human nature
- Non-logical
Mary Warren “I never knew it before. I never knew anything - The absurdity on the basis of Mary’s
before…I must not accuse this woman, for she claims would be laughable if not tragic
sleep in ditches, and so very old and poor…Then - Hyperbolised of actualised claims
she sit there, denying and denying, and I feel a - Miller ultimately highlighting the
misty coldness climbin’ up my back, and the skin absurdity of the entire events
on my skull begin to creep, and I feel a clamp
around my neck and I cannot breathe air; and then I
hear a voice, a screamin’ voice, and it were my
voice – and all at once I remembered everything
she done to me!”
Page 57

Act Three

Consolidation
- Autocratic
- Dogmatic
- Demagogue - plays on fears and concerns in society
- Theocracy – rule by religious leaders
- Paradox between justice system in a theocracy
o Religion is driving other systems and institutions
o Church administering justice
o We assume that justice is fair and impartial but, in a theocracy, it cannot be because of dictorial rule
- Allegory of McCarthyism
o Warning against autocratic society’s, repressive and dogmatic society – to the extent that the impact on citizens
is dire.
- Skewed and inconsistent justice system – people who have evidence are not allowed to speak; people who have nothing to do
with the case seem to have the floor.
- Dramatic irony
o Abigail increases the intensity
o Mary Warren who is telling the truth is so weak and mild, she is quiet and uses low modality language, reluctant
to speak
o In contrast to Abigail’s speech is high modality, she has power and authority when she tells those lies, which
constructs her as a villain
- Formal Fallacy – saying something is true because it hasn’t been proved false
o Emphasises the dogmatic nature of the theocracy which point to the inability of justice to prevail
- Figurative language
o Danforth talks about being for or against the court
o The use of day and night aligns with God and Satan; establishing the dichotomy of good and evil
- The paradox is that the institution has been created to bring about justice and good results of something evil and heinous
- Truncated sentences
o People are cut short mid-sentence, establishing power and dominance to the other party
o Hale is an example of being dismissed
- Final proclamation of proctor at the end of the act à “god is dead”, he does not mean it, he means that things are so bad in
this court that justice cannot be attained, it reflects his emotion state, frustration and disgust. The situation has led him to lose
faith.
- Mary warren as the victim à she cries a lot which is a physical indicator of her mental state, she cannot cope with the stress
any longer and she gives in. She speaks very quietly à signifies of her oppression and the impact that fear and hysteria has
on an individual.

“He was like Hitler, a master of the mob, he usurped druidical power.”

- McCarthy was often considered to be a bully this is a correlation to Danforth which establishes him as dominating and
intimidating.
- His behaviour is reflective of the fear and intolerance of that McCarthy created during this era.

Responding to act 3
1. How are dramatic techniques used in Act 3 to emphasise the injustice of the situation?
- Danforth’ power becomes apparent through the use of assertive language and rhetorical questions in “And how do you
imagine helping her cause with such contemptuous riot?”.
- When Giles brings evidence forward to the court, he is quickly dismissed and overlooked highlighting the irony and absurdity
of the current justice system. Giles ultimately should have the right to be involved yet he is being excluded, emphasising the
injustices and the inconsistency of who they listen to and what evidence they accept.
2. How are dramatic techniques used in Act 3 to demonstrate the power of fear and hysteria?
-
3. What insights into human behaviour and motivations are depicted in Act 3?
- Reputation is motivation for negative behaviour
- Love could be seen as a motivation to free their wives, but it was more the ideology to be a seen as a ‘hero’ is Proctors
motivation to free his wife and the other women
-
4. How does the downfall of Proctor relate to Miller’s authorial intention?

Techniques
- Dramatic irony - Emotive language
- Figurative language - Silences/pauses
- Questions, declarations, exclamation - Leading questions
- Pace - Repetition
- Volume - Paradox
- Tone – intimidation, and authoritative - Characterisation
- Imagery and allusion - Logical fallacies
- Truncated sentences - Monologue
- High modality language - Foreshadowing
- Contrast/juxtaposition - Plot twist
- Stage directions - Pathos
- Conflict

Quotes/Analysis
Character/Theme Quote Analysis
Danforth [That does not…interfere with an exact - Set up as someone who’s dogmatic.
- Demagogue loyalty to his position and his cause] - His own world view is the absolute truth
- Autocratic Page 78 - Questions raised about whether justice can be
- Dogmatic achieved.
“And how do you imagine to help her - Power comes through in his assertive language
cause with such contemptuous riot?” - Rhetorical questions
Page 78
“Then let him submit his evidence in - Due process in court of law is subverted for
proper affidavit. You are certainly aware autocratic and dogmatic reasons
of our procedure here…” - Assumption of guilt
Page 79 -
“And do you know that near to four
hundred are in the jails from Marblehead
to Lynn, and upon my signature?”
Page 80
“Do you know, Mr Proctor, that the entire
convention of the state in these trials is that
the voice of Heaven is speaking through
the children?”
Page 81
“No, no, I accept no depositions.” [He is
rapidly calculating this]
Page 81
[Wide-eyed. He is baffled by this.]
Page 81
“We burn a hot fire here; it melts down all
concealment.”
Page 81
“Are you certain in your conscience,
Mister, that your evidence is the truth?”
Page 81
“I judge nothing”
Page 83
“I have seen…I have seen…I have seen.”
Page 83
“Do you understand my meaning?”
Page 83
“The pure in heart need no lawyers.”
Page 84
“This is a sharp time…We live no longer
in the dusky afternoon when evil mixed
itself with goof and befuddled the world…
The shining sun is up, and then that fear
not light will surely praise it.”
Page 85
Hale: “Then there is prodigious fear”
Danforth: “Then there is a prodigious
guilt”
Page 88
“Mr Hale, you surely do not doubt my
justice”
Page 89
“How does one defend the accused?...Is it
not?...Now we cannot hope the witch will
accuse herself; granted?”
- ‘Do you know who I am”
- Asserting his dominance
- Pedestal of power
- This whole situation is based on what children
have said.
- The absurdity of this, the lives of so many
people can rely on the claims of children (they
lie)
- They are believing what they want to hear
- Dogmatic leaders of society
- Completely absurd
- Danforth is threatened, his reputation is under
threat form Mary Warren and is worried his
position is in danger.
- His human response is to deny.
- Confused
- Rhetorical questions before hand
- It is an irony; we burn a hot fire – it reveals the
truth.
- It is a big fat lie!
- The institution has been deceived by children
- Questions his testimony, whether it is biased and
what his true motivations are.
- Ironic as Danforth’s opinion and motive is
completely bias
- Inconsistency and paradox
- The polarities
- Danforth is the autocratic and dogmatic figure
- Hale is the voice of reason
- Miller positions the audience to respect power of
Hale
- More reasonable
- Repetition
- What he has seen is a construct, ocular proof
- ‘I’ve seen it so stop trying’
- He is constructing his power, asserting his
power and dominance
- There is no changing of his mind
- He believes that you do not need a lawyer, if
you are pure of heart, it is not necessary – this is
not reasonable
- Theocratical view is impacting the capacity for
justice
- This works for any autocratic and repressive
environment.
- Either you are ‘with us or against us’
- Justice has picked a side which is not just
because the justice system is meant to be
impartial, there is an inference that what the
court holds as just is counted as so which is the
central paradox of the play.
- Dogmatic
- Coming from the Puritan perspective which
blinds him.
- We are left with no hope for justice to happen in
the court.
- Dominance of Danforth
- The strong language helps to establish his power
and reputation. in
- Rhetorical questions are ironic, in their nature
- He expressed his ideals as the ideals as the
ideals of the collective
- He undermines the credibility that hale might

“We must rely upon her victims – and they
do testify, the children certainly do testify”
Page 90”
“God damns all liars?”
[slight pause]
Page 99
Hathorne [A bitter, remorseless Salem judge]
Page 78
Giles “I bring evidence!” Herrick: “You cannot
go in there, Giles; it’s a court!”
Page 78
[Beginning to plead. Beginning to weep.
Through helpless sobs. He is openly
weeping. He covers his face, ashamed] “I
have broke charity with the woman, I have
broke charity with her. “
Page 79
“My proof is there...The proof is there!”
Page 87
“If Jacob hangs for a witch. he forfeits up
his property – that’s law!...What name?...I-
I cannot give you his name…I will not
give you no name.”
have and in the community
- The irony that they rely upon children for
evidence.
- Repetition of ‘God’ throughout the scene
- Religion interrupt justice system
- Dramatic tension heightened by the silence and
the slight pause.
- We question the integrity of the justice system.
- Bitter and remorseless is the administrator of
justice
- Inherent bias and critique of the justice system
through the characters who administers justice
- We are questioning whether justice can be
achieved.
- Highlighting irony and absurdity
- Giles being dismissed
- Has a right to be involved yet he is being
excluded
- Highlighting the injustices of their current court
system
- Inconsistency on who they listen to and what
evidence they accept
- Flawed justice system
- He acknowledges his shame which causes us to
feel sympathy for him being put in such an
unimaginable situation.
- Repetition – Giles’ plea to be heard
- Giles’ evidence and proof being overlooked
- Inconsistent
- Motif of land
- Putnam’s motivation to accuse people is to get
land which is very important in society - a
signifier of social status
- He goes about getting land through corrupt
means, he has proof of corruption, but no name
and the repetition of name becomes important
(McCarthyism) – this ruins reputations and lives
and why they are so unwilling to name people.
-

Proctor “It is the children only, and this one will - We question and judge
swear she lied to you.” - The absurdity of this whole situation
Page 83 - The word of children (unreliable) is based upon.
“Bu if she say she is pregnant, then she - High modality language
must be! That woman will never lie, Mr - Her pregnancy stopped the flow and changed the
Danforth…Never, sir, never.” dynamic of the court
Page 83 - Never repetition
- Must – high modality
“I-I think I cannot.” - Low modality language
Page 84 - His morality and virtue is on showcase
- Stutter is his downfall
[As he takes out several papers] “I am no - Noble, goes beyond what he came for
lawyer, so I’ll” - Becomes part of the collective
“Never saw no sign they had dealings with - motif
the devil”
Page 85
“Now remember what the angel Raphael - Religious illusion
said to the boy Tobias.” - Society underpinned by these regimes
Page 86
 “Do that which is good, and no harm shall - Irony
come to thee” - Religious illusion- society underpinned by these
Page 86 regimes
“Remember the angel, what he say to the - Religious illusion
boy. Hold to it; there is your rock”
Page 89
[trembling, his life collapsing about him] - Proctor knows the significance of this moment
and he is going to do something that will change
the pace of his life.
- He knows the disruption this will cause
- He knows he has sacrificed his place in society.
- It sacrifices himself for the collective – he has
had a revelation and revealed something so
shocking within this context.
“But it is a whore’s vengeance…I set - The audience has time to reflect and react
myself entirely into your hands” - Danforth is shocked and speechless
Francis [Francis is still standing, horrified] - Sense of guilt he withholds
- His passions for others
Parris “Beware this man, Your Excellency, this - Parris is given a voice, It is not fair or just,
man is mischief.” Parris has no right to be in the room, let alone
Page 80 have a mediating voice or share an opinion.
- Justice is being abused for Paris’s own
reputation.
“Do you read the Gospel, Mr Proctor?” - Biblical illusion which is appropriate
Page 83
[hardly able to contain his anger and fear] - Shift in emotions
Page 90 - He is worried about his reputation since Mary
Warren is going to testify
“We are here, Your Honour, precisely to - irony
discover what no one has ever seen.”
Page 93
Hale “I have signed seventy-two death - Hale is imploring dan forth to follow due
- Voice of reason warrants” process to let proctor come back with a lawyer
Page 89 as this is a turning point.
- Hale wants justice

Herrick
Mary Warren [Mary is keeping her eyes to the ground; - Mary is ultimately the victim, but is assumed
Proctor has her elbow as though she were guilty and portrayed that way in the court
near collapse]
Page 80
Cheever

Act Four

Consolidation
o Paradox: confess to a crime you didn’t commit rather than lose your life
o Rising hysteria and social unrest

Quotes/Analysis
Character Quote Analysis

Human nature is inherently paradoxical; it is how we acknowledge our paradoxica nature that matters.
- Abigail doesn’t acknowledge her paradoxical nature ad it leads to destruction
- Proctor acknowledges and grows and saves the collective
- Danforth doesn’t acknowledge it – could easily turn into behaviours or motivations

There is danger in unchecked paradoxical motivations – hypocritical agendas can have destructive conferences

o These can be brought into one thesis because they are virtually the same thing

Anomalous behaviour is stamped out by the collective as a that, but can offer illuminating enriching perspective