Sac 5: The Dressmaker and The Crucible

“a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it, there is no road between.”(The
Crucible). Compare the ways the two texts explore the idea that individuals suffer when they are
expected to conform.

The play ‘The Crucible’ written by Arthur Miller, and the movie ‘The Dressmaker’, directed by Jocelyn
Moorhouse, both involve a group with forceful views expecting others to conform with their ideas. The
Crucible portrays the events that unfold during the Salem witch trials while The Dressmaker depicts the story
of Myrtle ‘Tilly’ Dunnage returning to her hometown Dungatar, as a dressmaker, to seek revenge on the locals
who did her wrong. As the dressmaker unfolds, it can be observed that there are several outcasts including
Tilly, Molly and the McSwineys. Similarly to this, John Proctor can be seen as an outcast as he opposes the
witch trials. The statement, “a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it, there is no
road between,” given by Judge Danforth in Act III, summarises the militant views held by the authorities
toward the witch trials. This has a strong connection to the views held in the town of Dungatar. Those who
don’t conform in each of the texts face many accusations and rumours including Tilly and Tituba. Another
comparison to be drawn is one between Teddy McSwiney who opposes the witch trials and John Proctor,
another outcast who didn’t conform with the rest of the town. In both texts, those who don’t obey the general
public or authority suffer.

The outcasts of each text or those who do not conform with the corrupt views held by each town, are
constantly facing false rumours and accusations in order for them to be seen as bad people by everyone who
does conform. Tilly was originally removed from Dungatar at a young age as she was said to have killed
Stewart Pettyman without sufficient evidence. This lead to many of the towns people referring to her as
‘murderess’, segregating her from the rest of the community. Tituba is the first person to be accused of
performing witchcraft after practising spiritual acts. These didn’t conform with social normalities and
Eventually led to her execution. Tituba and Tilly were both seen as outcasts as they did not conform with their
community who saw them as outcasts. A difference to be drawn is that Abigail Williams claimed to have seen
Tituba "with the Devil", in order to distract the town from her transgressions, while the Dungatar spread
rumours about Tilly due to her low social status and in attempt to alienate her from the rest of her town. Both
texts show there is no in between and you must be conform with every belief or you will be faced with harsh
consequences including accusations and rumours being spread about you.

Those who didn’t conform in The Crucible suffered in many ways, including death. John Proctor who opposed
the witch trials ended up being executed after refusing to confess who was involved in witchcraft and Teddy
after suffocating in a grain plant. Molly’s statement ‘He died trying to prove his love for her
was stronger than your hate,’ shifts the blame for his death from Tilly to the rest of the people
who committed treated Tilly cruelly. This shows similarities to in The Crucible with John Proctor
restoring his good name and showing corrupt the town was by refusing to confess any actions of
witchcraft. Both of these characters eventually ended up dying proving they were good people
and they shouldn’t have to conform with the militant views held by the rest of the commity.
Suffering, including death for not opposing ideas held by the general public was a very common
theme held by both towns.

The statement, “a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it, there is no road between,”
given by Danforth concludes the idea you either conform with the general beliefs or not. It is shown repeatedly
through both texts that those who do not conform with the authoritarian beliefs suffer as a result of this,