The Crucible

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Introduction The Crucible – It can withstand extreme conditions. While heating metals in it, the impurities come up to the surface and the pure substance can be obtained. It basically helps in separating pure and impure substances. Link – In Miller’s play, the character of John Proctor is tested. Eventually he decides to sacrifice his life, rather than betray his beliefs. In 1953, at the time the book was written, the Second World War had just ended but still there was a clash of democrats ands communists. The Cuban Missile Crisis – Between Russia and America. Russia supported Cuba and was going to aid Cuba by supplying nuclear arms. America was totally against it and threatened to start a nuclear war with Russia if it did this. The witch-hunts and the House Un-American Activities Committee was similar in the sense that in both the cases people wanted to get totally rid of the witches and communists respectively. At that time, the science of psychology had not developed as much and so people did actually one can actually be possessed by spirits. However, modern day psychiatrists would consider what the girls did in the forest as a psychosomatic phenomenon which means that its just the brains of the girls that are seeing it but no such activity is actually taking place. A Puritan Society is a orthodox society and has strict moral codes. It refers to practicing or affecting strict religious or moral behavior. This might be one of the reasons why the girls did this, as they were curious to try what was “not allowed”. Act 1 Abigail is quite rebellious with Parris and does not even care about him – Refer page 11. She even asks him if he has a problem with her staying in his house. Parris is incredibly concerned... ... middle of paper ... ...reaking wills. Proctor – Very smart. Respected and even feared in Salem. He is always going to be remembered for defaming people. Regarded himself as a fraud as he has committed adultery. Not involved in the church affairs, perhaps, because he doesn’t believe in it. He keeps himself aloof as a result. Round character. Rebecca Nurse – Respected a lot as she was the wife of Francis Nurse. Francis Nurse was like an unofficial judge in disputes. Rich. The Nurse clan was against Bayley’s taking of the office. Reverend Hale – He accepts that there is good and bad, God and Devil. He doesn’t ignore the Devil, rather he believes in finding the Devil and getting rid of it. He’s not just in Salem for witch hunting, he’s also there to know about the factions in the village. He is a disciplined and a fair man. He is proud of the work he’s done in getting rid of witches.

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