How does Miller show his ability to build up tension in this extract? (page 50 "How about some grape juice" - page 52 "the court did not know him Annie!) Throughout the play "all my sons" Miller thoroughly expresses his ability to change and strengthen our emotions and develop tension between characters. I found this effect of tension particularly evident in this extract, a discussion between George, Chris and Annie. Due to past history, we already know that feelings between Chris and George are going to be "on edge". It appears that tension is already apparent in the first few lines although the overall atmosphere appears fairly mellow and laid back: "How about some grape juice? Mother made it especially for you" -Chris George replies with forced appreciation, perhaps indicating that he doesn't really want to be there. The argument between Chris and George doesn't actually begin until George states: "When you make suckers out of people once, you shouldn't try to do it twice." I believe this hurtful remark against Chris is in view of his father. By ...
Miller presents the character of John Proctor in an important way to show two sides to his character. These qualities make him have the most important role in ‘The Crucible.’ The key events that show him in this way is when the audience find out about the affair, how he tries to defend his wife, his confession in court and his hanging for the sake of others. Through the events in The Crucible, Miller then portrays John Proctor’s character with tension and suspense. This then makes the audience question whether or not he is a good man.
Arthur Miller’s political allegory of McCarthyism, in the form of The Crucible, has been adapted into a faithful companion to the play that is able to incorporate the emotions and atmosphere that may not have been available to some in the play. Miller’s screenplay is very faithful to the book, having many of the same lines and situations the character in the play experience. Because of this, we are able to make an active connection to the play, thus expanding our understanding of the play. Lead by Daniel Day-Lewis, The Crucible’s plot is portrayed by a solid cast, who, for the most part, are able to engross the viewer into the story. The film contains many captivating scenes that exemplify hysteria meant to be depicted in the play, that demands the viewers attention while also immersing them in emotions. The film adaptation of The Crucible is a well produced version of the play that not only serves as a companion to the play, but an entertaining and though provoking experience.
The statement,“The Crucible is essentially about courage, weakness, and truth,” is proven true numerous times, throughout the play. The Crucible was written by Arthur Miller, about the true events that happened in Salem, Massachusetts, between the years 1692 and 1693. The Salem witch trials consisted of many hangings, lies, and complete mass hysteria. The citizens of Salem followed the religion of Puritanism, and the ideas of predestination. The root of the mass hysteria comes from their belief in the sense that in something happens then it must have been planned by God. In Miller’s portrayal of the story, Abigail Williams was the ringleader of the witch trials, and she used the idea of predestination to cover up her own sins. Abigail was a very manipulative girl and ruined many lives. John Proctor, Mary Warren, and Elizabeth Proctor were just a few of the victims in Abby’s game. John, Mary, and Elizabeth exhibit the traits courage, weakness, and truth, whether it was in a positive or negative way.
Arthur Miller, one of America's greatest playwrights, living or dead, is a master of verbal irony. An examination of three strong examples of verbal irony in Millers play, The Crucible, will prove this out. While Miller started the genre of the tragedy of the common man, and is also know for his thoughtful and decisive plot lines, much of his fame, possibly can be attributed to his brilliant use of language generally, and his use of verbal irony in particular.
tell the court how the girls were lying. This is in an attempt to save
Then he gives more details: “(As the curtain rises, the room is empty, but for sunlight pouring through two high window in the back wall…)” (Miller 87). Finally he reveals the details about the characters: “(Through the partitioning wall at the right we hear a prosecutor’s voice…)” (Miller 87). In his language, Miller authentically imitates the dialect of the 17th century by using the respective vocabulary and speaking structure. For example, “now tell me true, Abigail. And I pray you feel the weight of truth upon you…Whatever abomination you have done, give me all of it now, for I dare not be taken unaware when I go before them down there” (Miller 11). Miller also uses allusions as a way to convey the actions and the consequences of certain characters: “Pontius Pilate! God will not let you wash your hands of this!” (Miller 82). This allusion voices Hales blame for the accusations and executions of many people in
One - The power relations between Covey and Douglass are inherently dissimilar to those between the typical black and typical white of the time period. As Douglass writes, “Mr. Covey was a poor man, a farm-renter. He rented the place upon which he lived, as also the hands with which he tilled it” (Norton Anthology of African American Literature, 420). Because “the enslavement of the Negro determined the position of the poor whites in the old South,” a white without any slaves or land to his name was more akin to an enslaved black than to a wealthy plantation owner in terms of social standing. This status, added to the fact that “the poor whites understood that slavery was responsible for their hopeless economic condition,” contributed to a
There are numerous examples of how Miller presents and develops the theme of power and authority, but it only unveils itself gradually through the play, due to each character’s hidden physical attitudes. Firstly there is the religious authority, with the work of god that presides over the lives of the villagers. Next we soon come across the court’s legal authority that is run by Danforth who consumes most of the court’s say in every matter, but they still abide and depend on the strict Puritan’s religious authority. Then there is abusive empowerment that Ab...
In every conflict there always seems to be at least one person to blame. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, many problems arise that deal with live and death. Many innocent people in this play were hanged during the Salem Witch Trials. Of course, there are many people that may be blamed. In The Crucible, one may find Abigail Williams, The Putnams, and Mary Warren to blame. Abigail was manipulative, The Putnams were very jealous, and Mary Warren was weak-willed.
Analysis of The Crucible by Arthur Miller ‘You have made your magic now, for now I do think I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor.’ Assess the developments in John Proctor’s character that validate this statement. How does Miller create a sense of tension and suspense in the build up to this climatic moment in Act 4? In Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible he has used many dramatic devices in order to create tension and build up to the climaxes of the story.
Fear holds a great control over any mortal human-being through daunting and restricted words, most commonly seen while anyone is under pressure. While being controlled over fear, you may come to realize that you are being manipulated to the possibilities of a threatened punishment and may also be mislead by lies. Arthur Miller’s classic novel, The Crucible takes place in Salem, Massachusetts, where a lot of times fear would be used to control anyone to blame another of witchcraft. In The Crucible, Arthur Miller elucidates this through Elizabeth Proctor, Abigail Williams, and Mary Warren, that fear holds a great torment on the truth.
Peer pressure is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to escape and overcome. Even more so when one is in a small, remote community. People are more prone to submit to a situation when peer pressure is applied by those you know and respect, as could be seen in the infamous witch-trials that took place in Salem. In the book “The Crucible,” by Arthur Miller, Miller shows tjrough his characters three main reactions that take place when peer pressure is inflicted upon others. Miller uses the characters Abigail Williams, Mary Warren, and John Proctor to show the effects of peer pressure, and how one would react in pressuring circumstances.
In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, the plot is filled with copious amounts of grudges between characters. It is these enmities that cause...
Earth was once a very different place. Before the human population grew to billions and began to travel distances beyond belief, wild animals and ancient forests governed the land. Peter Miller wrote an article, titled “Before New York” for National Geographic, that investigated how Eric Sanderson’s studies uncovered how Manhattan looked and operated as Henry Hudson sailed into New York Harbor for the first time. It may be hard to imagine Manhattan as anything other than a huge, busy, concrete jungle, home of countless skyscrapers, but it used to be diverse in wildlife. "If the island had stayed the way it was back then, it could have become a national park like Yosemite or Yellowstone," said Sanderson, an ecologist at the Wildlife Conservation
For example Miller’s play “Death of A Salesman” shows a father-son relationship, where in certain times Willy, the father wants to become more of a player in his son’s life that his son believes is necessary. There are several reasons for this and can be demonstrated in different ways. Miller is able to give an example of his behavior through the