The Crucible Act one Essay
“Act One begins quietly with a young girl lying unresponsive on a bed. By the end of the
Act, eleven people have been accused of witchcraft. Making close reference to the text,
show how circumstances in Salem allowed the situation to develop into hysteria.”
Introduction
Text, Author, Summary, Task, Explain
‘The Crucible’ by Arthur Miller is concerned with early settlers in the village of
Salem, where superstition and bitterness are rampant. The first act introduces the
underlying conflicts and tensions of the community which will eventually allow the
situation to develop to its tragic climax and ends with all the trouble-making females
denouncing eleven other women in order to protect themselves. In this essay I will
examine the contributing factors to this tragedy and show how Miller portrays a
community on the verge of hysteria.
Main Body
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Religious attitudes/superstition. Very real and literal belief in the bible and the
devil and expectation for all to adhere to strict code of belief. Anyone failing to
do this could be accused of heresy. Suspicion was found in any ‘unorthodox’
behaviour.
Parris’ desire to protect his reputation in the face of dissent in the community
leads to his inaction (and failure to admit the truth) and consequent hysteria.
Putnam’s long running boundary disputes can be seen in his (later) accusations
and deep personal resentment over appointment of Parris over his brother in law.
He is pleased to see Parris shamed and encourage the accusations.
Ann Putnam desires to blame someone for the death of her babies and sees the
devil’s work in it. All too ready to accuse Osburn of witchcraft.
The treatment of children and the oppressive society of Salem is what perhaps
forces the girls to find expression through dance and incantations in the forest
and their fear over the repercussions leads them to lie and fake ‘affliction’ to
deflect blame . This fear leads them to blindly follow Abigail and blame others.
Abby shares in this BUT also has deeper motives. She wishes to see Elizabeth
Proctor dead which is what leads her into the forest with Tituba in the first place,
she lies to protect her reputation from accusations of adultery and resents the
entire community of Salem who she sees as liars and hypocrites.
Power of rumour and gossip. The speed at which rumours and half truths fuel the
hysteria is quite shocking and shows how easy it is to stir unrest and suspicion in
a community such as Salem. See this in Giles’ comments about his wife’s books.
Proctor’s guilt over his affair and his rejection of Abigail perhaps spurns her on
with her story and his level headed approach to events means that he doesn’t take
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action to denounce proceedings sooner. He sees the behaviour in the forest for
what it is ‘mischief’ BUT does not act soon enough to stop it.
Social structure. Tituba’s place on the bottom rung of society (along with Sarah
Good) means it is all too easy for the inhabitants of Salem to believe the
accusations. Salem’s fear of the unknown and the ‘outsider’ can be linked to
their insular religion and superstitions.
The treatment of women in Salem can also be seen to contribute to the eventual
hysteria. Tituba and Abby, as a black slave and unmarried woman respectively,
both experience kindness (from Hale) and a new power and status when they
‘confess’ and point the finger at others, fuelling their lust for more.
Hale’s appearance and pride in his scholarship is a contributing factor in the
hysteria that ensues. His pride in his past successes leads him to witchcraft too
quickly. His desire to seek out the witch leads him to (perhaps unwittingly)
provide the girls with a plausible escape through his leading questions AND
gives Abigail important information about witchcraft which we see her use to her
own advantage later in the play.
Conclusion
Text, Author, Reference to Task, Sum up
The first act of ‘The Crucible’ by Arthur Miller introduces the underlying conflicts
of Salem society and through the accusations at the end of the act, reveals to the
audience how easily a community based on guilt and repression can be manipulated
to the point of hysteria. The community’s treatment of children and outsiders,
religious intolerance, personal conflicts and ultimately the pride and vanity of
certain townspeople are all seen to be contributing factors which will lead to Salem’s
downfall.
Useful expressions (2) PQCE
To introduce a point…
Firstly, secondly, also, in addition to this, moreover, furthermore, as well as this,
the author/poet/playwright
uses setting/characterisation/plot etc etc (where appropriate)
introduces, develops, explores, illustrates, highlights, conveys, portrays, comments on,
To introduce a comment…
This simile, metaphor, use of word choice/alliteration/symbolism/characterisation/aspect
of setting etc etc
suggests, implies, evokes, illustrates, highlights, conveys, denotes, indicates, expresses,
is symbolic of, contrasts with,
To introduce evaluation…
This is a very
striking, shocking, interesting, important, significant, suggestive, expressive, crucial,
vital,
image, simile, metaphor, use of word
choice/alliteration/symbolism/characterisation/setting etc etc
as (key word/phrase…)
suggests, has connotations of, alludes to, symbolises,