The Crucible, by Arthur Miller

This situation is the start to Iago’s plan to corrupt the society and take Othello’s place. The root of Iago’s “evil” is jealousy indeed, in turn changing into a power hungry manipulator. Iago is tired of acting like one "courteous and knee-crooking knave" like he always appears to be [I. i. 46]. Since Iago is reluctant to choose to be a master, he is the servant that bites off the fame and "keep yet their hearts attending on themselves," still showing his service to his master but instead is more self-preserving with no attachments at all towards the master [I. i.

Friar L... ... middle of paper ... ...t from being unhappy or was he protecting his own character? From his first entrance in the play we are given the impression Friar Lawrence is a moral person, yet his demeanours may have exposed his personality to be that of a more devious nature. Therefore he was protecting himself, from repute. Overall his advice could be seen as good intentions, yet his lack of communication and haste, resulted in the tragedy of a pair of star-cross lovers. Romeo and Juliet.

Elizabeth describes his death by stone press while t... ... middle of paper ... ...omeone who is able to make wise decisions. Although his inability to make good decisions at the beginning of the play makes Giles an detracts from him being a respectable character, his metamorphosis reinforces him as one of the most commendable people in the play. Giles is one of the most compelling and interesting characters in The Crucible as he is a person which displays both beneficial and detrimental qualities. His seemingly easy to understand characteristics presents various angles to which the audience can interpret his personality and motivations, however the positive effects that he contributes in helping end the trials outweigh the negative events due to his character. While some may think of him only as a minor character, the complexities in his personality causes others to think of him as an important and venerable part of the tragedy of The Crucible.

In this first dramatic confrontation you find out that Proctor has sinned and is therefore classed as a sinner, but not only against the moral fashion of the time, but against his own vision of decent conduct. Now that the audience knows he is a sinner they can relate to him as they know no one is perfect and everyone makes mistakes. As the audience it is important that you believe and be attracted to John Proctors character. Act one ends in hysteria with Abigail and Betty crying out, naming,

Hale and Parris in Arthur Miller's The Crucible At the end of the play, Hale is admired and Parris is despised. The two men are intentionally different in character; Hale is the better of them. He seeks justice while Parris thinks of himself. From as early as Parris' first stage direction "(scrambling to his feet in a fury)" he is worried and nervous, which at first thought could illustrate worry for his daughter's life but when, later on, he says "…my ministry's at stake, my ministry and perhaps your cousin's life" to Abigail, he illustrates the fact that he cares more for his parish than he does for the well being of his own family. He can be likened to a capitalist anti-communist governor with a communist daughter and niece.

The two characters are complete opposites of each other and ultimately their two personality’s clash which is amusing. Even though Belch is of a higher status in society, Malvolio still finds it is in his nature to tell him off for doing wrong even though Malvolio is a servant. Eventually, Belch snaps at Malvolio for being a puritan and “interrupting the early morning revels” - “Dost thou think because thou art virtuous, there shall be no more cakes and ale?” Belch’s words highlight the two different lifestyles of the characters. Malvolio is pure and strict whereas Belch lives the pleasure lifestyle. The audience would laugh at Malvolio for thinking that Belch is beneath him and also at his pompous attitude.

This caused John Proctor to dissent from the community and voice his beliefs rather than conform ultimately leading to his death. Not only do the brave actions of this tragic hero demonstrate the conflict between the Puritan society and the individual, he also bring about the theme of pressure towards conformity. Miller develops this further by including an intriguing plot in the play. The constant accusations that Abigail makes towards other characters in the play, further shows how during the period of McCarthyism the accusations without evidence also occurred in the United States. As more accusations happen in the play and unexpected actions begin to happen, the reader becomes intrigued and therefore, Miller fulfills his purpose by creating a captivating plot.

Arthur Miller, on the other hand, was disappointed by critic’s reactions. He claimed, “No critic seemed to sense what I was after, which was the conflict between a man’s raw deeds and his conception of himself”. Not only was he disappointed by critic’s reviews, he was disappointed by the “hostility of New York audiences”. In conclusion, I do not think that there can be any doubt in the fact that Arthur Miller has made an effort to link McCarthyism and the Salem Witch trials in the writing of The Crucible, in order to show the cycle of human morality, and the characteristics of a period of mass hysteria. Literature is a very powerful way of highlighting our mistakes of the past, and making sure, or at least attempting to make sure that we do not repeat them in the future, and The Crucible is a good example of that.

However, he has difficulty accepting this, and attempts to do away with this plan, “We will proceed no further in this business”(1.7.34). Unfortunately, he is unable to prevent the outcome of his future. His destiny was established and he could do nothing to hinder it. Macbeth is told by the witches that, “none of woman born shall harm [him]”(4.1.91-92). Macbeth, believing there can be no other kind of man, goes on with his life ignoring that detail of his fate.

Macbeth’s moral makeup and reasoning capabilities play a major role in proving him the author of his own destiny, rather than a victim of circumstance. The complicated mix of unruly ambition and reflective morality that co-exist in Macbeth’s character, however, render those reasoning capabilities at ti... ... middle of paper ... ...is a very short-lived kingship, in fact, and when Macbeth’s head is finally paraded around on a stake, we can only blame him for his own gruesome demise. Works Cited and Consulted Bradley A. C. Shakespearean Tragedy 1912 pp. 468-9 Epstein, Norrie, The Friendly Shakepeare, New York, Viking Publishing, 1993. Harbage, Alfred, Macbeth, Middlesex England, Penguin Publishing, 1956.