Confessions In The Crucible Essay

1. The ‘confessions’ in the play are not usually about truth, as they are enforced and arise out of fear. Discuss the role you think confessions play in the dramatic force of this play.

Confessions within the play The Crucible are driven essentially by fear and are not based on the truth. Arthur Miller uses the concept of self-benefiting confession to show the dark side of Salem, creating a sense of dramatic tension and suspense. The confessions are used to drive the play towards the objective of Miller’s story, the crumbling of the Salem community and continuous hangings. Within the play The Crucible confessions are seen as a sign of purity as admitting guilt suggests personally extricating the devil. However, the confessions create a climate

Abigail is depicted as a despicable character due to her actions and clearly false confessions against villagers. Miller only presents the true nature of Abigail to the audience, and this fuels our perception, which in turn shows the underlying meaning of her accusations against others. In the case of Proctor, we feel compassion towards him and his family. Abigail is ruining his life through her false accusations and once he confesses to adultery, under the circumstances we feel empathy for him. Through the emotion of fear, confessions are heard, and add to the dramatic force within The

The town of Salem itself generates gossip and scandal, ‘You think it God's work you should never lose a child, nor grandchild either, and I bury all but one? There are wheels within wheels in this village, and fires within fires!’ (Act Ι, Pg. 23) which in turn causes villagers to be perceived as sinners. The Salem community drive their personal revenge into the court by accusing innocent villagers of witchcraft for their land and money, Proctor announces in court to Judge Danforth ‘I'll tell you what's walking Salem-vengeance is walking Salem. We are what we always were in Salem, but now the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance writes the law!’ (Act ΙΙ, pg. 63). The court also fuels the concept of ignoble behaviour; the audience can see how the court is based on false accusations, adding to the concept of a corrupt and immoral court. Being the voice of legal authority within the play Danforth’s word is the final word, however, people within the village try to enlighten him to the truth, Hale suggests to Judge Danforth ‘But this child claims the girls are not truthful, and if they are not-‘ to which Danforth responds ‘That is precisely … Unless you doubt my