The Importance of Act Four in The Crucible

The Importance of Act Four in The Crucible

We have been exploring and analysing “The crucible”, a play by Arthur

Miller. A play written during the hysteria of McCarthyism, in the

1950's. This is reflected in some of the issues raised in the play.

This essay will focus particularly on the importance of Act 4 to the

play, in various forms and will include the social and historical

setting of the play itself.

We will start of with a short summary of Joseph McCarthy. Joseph lived

a complicated life (1908-1957) as a Republican senator from Appleton,

Wisconsin. His purpose was to whip up anti-communism during the

1950’s, and let me tell you now, he certainly didn’t fail!

Joseph McCarthy was known to accuse innocent people of being

communists. The only way the accused could then be let off was if they

too, accused another of being a communist, (even if they weren’t.) And

so the time of McCarthyism began.

Arthur Miller (author of “the crucible”) was one of the very few who

wouldn’t confirm whether or not he was a communist or an

anti-communist, this was very agitating for Joseph because he needed a

straight yes or no answer to decide the consequence.

The play “the crucible” was wrote by Arthur Miller under the influence

of this McCarthyism. He has cleverly entwined this into his writing by

showing how absolutely anyone, no matter how religious and righteous

they have been throughout their lives, could be accused of witchcraft.

This is most strongly shown through the Character Rebecca Nurse. “The

Crucible” is a play wrote about the unfair blacklisting and singling

out of innocent people. Added with a splash of communism, and a thick

layer of deep emotions, this play was unfaultable.

Arthur miller tr...

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...nless and frigid, he is hot blooded and passionate. Unlike

Elizabeth who she says is “a cold, snivelling woman.”

Abigail is trying to say that John is the complete opposite to

Elizabeth. She is wondering why John would want to be with her? She is

so different and doesn’t satisfy him like Abigail does.

Throughout the play Miller uses metaphorical language. In Act 2 John

says “I will fall like an ocean on that court” I think this means that

the court will be overthrown and will have a small amount of power

compared to what John will have.

Arthur Miller uses this language for a number of different reasons. It

may be to enliven ideas, or by making a link through language to

another context and most of all to make the audience use their

imaginations and think about the play, rather than just sitting down,

watching it and never thinking about it again.