21/07/2020 The Crucible & The Dressmaker | Conformity and Ostracism – VCE English/EAL by Lindsey The Crucible & The Dressmaker | Conformity and Ostracism By Lindsey Dang < https://vcebylindsey.wordpress.com/author/lindseydng/> July 21, 2020 < https://vcebylindsey.wordpress.com/2020/07/21/thecrucible-the-dressmaker-conformity-and-ostracism/> Conformity and ostracism are two of the central themes of these two texts as both of them explore in great details the ways in which outcasts and non-conformists are treated by their respective communities. Ham’s graphic description of the characters and Miller’s use of stage directions both enhance the role of social ostracism in conditioning the behaviours characters. I thought it might be a good idea to bring the two texts together this time, hopefully giving you guys a better understanding of how these two texts work together! 1. Both Ham and Miller criticise the ways in which nonconformists are victimised and ostracised by their respective societies. https://vcebylindsey.wordpress.com/2020/07/21/the-crucible-the-dressmaker-conformity-and-ostracism/ 1/7 21/07/2020 The Crucible & The Dressmaker | Conformity and Ostracism – VCE English/EAL by Lindsey The Dressmaker In employing the simile “dank and smelled like possum piss,” Ham portrays the extremely poor condition that Molly lives in, establishing her distorted state as a direct result of the town’s abandonment and ostracism. The blunt tone, coupled with the harsh sound “d” and alliterative cliche “possum piss”, also help advance Ham’s criticism of the harsh judgment and mistreatment of the townspeople towards Tilly. Herein, the coarseness of the language Ham employs reflects the abrasive manner of the townspeople towards outcasts and outsiders. The Crucible This idea is epitomised through Giles Corey’s punishment, which is foreshadowed by Arthur Miller’s comment on his fate – one that is “so remarkable and so different” from that of others. In particular, violence was utilised to manipulate Giles Corey into confessing something he did not do by laying “great stones … upon his chest until he plead aye or nay”, where the weight of the stones represents the societal pressures. This establishes Giles Corey as the victim of the archaic values that pervade Salem. In doing so, this extreme brutality further magnifies the amount of pain that Giles has to endure for being that “comical hero… who didn’t give a hoot for public opinion”, rendering his punishment as disproportionate and absurd. The Crucible ends on a quiet note, in contrast to its frenzied conflict throughout the play. By ending the play with the protagonist’s death, Arthur Miller instead presents a victory of the human spirit, where John Proctor finally “finds his goodness”, which comes at the cost of his death. His despairing By referring to Molly’s head as” a skeleton head,” Ham associates Molly’s distorted appearance with death and hyperbolises her malnourished state. Compounding this with Tilly’s accusatory tone “this is what they’ve done to you” and the emphasis on the exclusive “they,” Ham draws a connection undertones echo Molly’s position between Molly’s distorted that “sometimes things just don’t appearance and the seem fair.” This realistically limited townspeople’s mistreatment of victory serves as Miller’s warning to her, establishing her critique of a the audience of the consequences society that ostracises nonthat ramify from the act of actively conformists. deviating from the accepted norms of a society. Lindsey Dang| Copyright© 2020 https://vcebylindsey.wordpress.com/2020/07/21/the-crucible-the-dressmaker-conformity-and-ostracism/ 2/7 21/07/2020 The Crucible & The Dressmaker | Conformity and Ostracism – VCE English/EAL by Lindsey I’ve bolded ideas that can be linked to each other. I often structure my teaching notes for the comparative section this way because it makes my life so much easier to start writing! I got a Word Document including tables for you to ll in, if you want a copy, subscribe to my blog and request the document using the contact form at the end of the page! 2. The lack of genuine connection between the townspeople often leads them to make unfounded assumptions about outcasts. The Dressmaker Quote: “Mad Molly” – “wouldn’t know what I phone was,” “wouldn’t know what to do with a letter” The unhelpful and abrupt response of the woman at the telephone exchange acts as a representative of the attitude of the townspeople towards Molly. The repetition of the phrase “wouldn’t know” herein establishes the assumption of people about Molly’s state of mind, rendering Molly a victim of the society she is living in. The Crucible Quote: “Swaying like a dumb beast“ Through the likening of Tituba’s “swaying” to that of a “dumb beast,” Miller further emphasises the existence of the disparity between social classes as the derogatory term “dumb” showcases Parris’s superiority over Tituba. The audience may also infer that this reflects the community’s assumption about Tituba – condescendingly referring to her inanity. Lindsey Dang| Copyright© 2020 TIP: You could also discuss the tone of the lady on the phone (note that this evidence is from the Prologue of the Dressmaker) and compare it to Parris’s tone. https://vcebylindsey.wordpress.com/2020/07/21/the-crucible-the-dressmaker-conformity-and-ostracism/ 3/7 21/07/2020 The Crucible & The Dressmaker | Conformity and Ostracism – VCE English/EAL by Lindsey 3. Through the disparity between how the lower and the higher classes are treated, Ham and Miller express their disapprobation towards the double standards that exist within the community. The Dressmaker The Crucible Similar to Tilly and Molly, Evan also represents a deviation from the expected norms of the town, as established through the characterisation of him as “a man who touched women.” However, he is Mary Warren’s complaint about Goody Good “com[ing] to this very door” and “mumbl[ing]”” highlights her indifference towards Sarah Good and her personal circumstances. In this not shunned for it in the same way Tilly and Molly are as his social status as the councillor enables him to buy his way out of being explicitly driven out of the community. Through the scene, the door between Mary Warren and Sarah Good may represent the barrier or the disparity between the social that they represent. The forced “polite[ness]” from the ladies classes image of Goody Good being and the “cordial[ity]” of men, the outside of the house renders readership will be able to see the her an outcast, marginalised by influence of his power on the the community members. The townspeople. While the locals are between Mary’s patronising and critical towards Tilly’s difference attitude towards the Proctors return, as exemplified through how and those that she accuses “everybody was speechless with highlights the existence of disgust” label her as a “bastard”, standards in the Salem “murderess,” they superficially accept double community as she instead Evan despite the community-wide “quakes” when Proctor speaks distrust towards him. to her. Lindsey Dang| Copyright© 2020 TIP: You could also talk about Stewart and Tilly (Prudence Dimm’s favouritism) since she also treats Tilly differently from other kids. Stewart got to play the big drums whereas Tilly is always placed on inkduty for ghting even though it is the other kids who bully her. https://vcebylindsey.wordpress.com/2020/07/21/the-crucible-the-dressmaker-conformity-and-ostracism/ 4/7 21/07/2020 The Crucible & The Dressmaker | Conformity and Ostracism – VCE English/EAL by Lindsey 4. The ways in which the respective societies suppress individual freedom is also thoroughly critiqued by Ham and Miller. The Dressmaker The Crucible Though Dungatar is set in a completely different time and location, the same norms are exhibited. Sergeant Farrat’s unconventional passion for cross-dressing is also one that is stigmatised by the society that he lives, resulting in him being able to “wear them only inside the house.” His constant fear of being judged for his personality, reflected by his “unique” haute couture outfits, highlights the ways in which his individualism is suppressed by the society. From the outset of the play, Miller employs the motif of dancing as a statement against the restrictive and autocratic authority that governs Salem. Given that children were anything but “thankful for being permitted to walk straight,” it can be inferred that girls’ act of “dancing like heathens in the forest” showcases their desire for freedom and release of suppression; though their extreme fear of “being whipped”, one that manifests into a spiritual “sickness,” establishes the ways in which the society criminalises any acts of expression Lindsey Dang| Copyright© 2020 SAMPLE PARAGRAPH Once you have had a good set of notes, it won’t be as dif cult to start writing! The paragraph below is included for your references! The ways in which the respective societies suppress individual freedom is also thoroughly critiqued by Ham and Miller. From the outset of the play, Miller employs the motif of dancing as a statement against the restrictive and autocratic authority that governs Salem. Given that children were anything but “thankful for being permitted to walk straight,” it can be inferred that girls’ act of “dancing like heathens in the forest” showcases their desire for freedom and release of suppression; though their extreme fear of “being whipped”, one that https://vcebylindsey.wordpress.com/2020/07/21/the-crucible-the-dressmaker-conformity-and-ostracism/ 5/7 21/07/2020 The Crucible & The Dressmaker | Conformity and Ostracism – VCE English/EAL by Lindsey manifests into a spiritual “sickness,” establishes the ways in which the society criminalises any acts of expression. Though Dungatar is set in a completely different time and location, the same norms are exhibited. Sergeant Farrat’s unconventional passion for cross-dressing is also one that is stigmatised by the society that he lives, resulting in him being able to “wear them only inside the house.” His constant fear of being judged for his personality, re ected by his “unique” haute couture out ts, highlights the ways in which his individualism is suppressed by the society. Both The Crucible and The Dressmaker foreground the restrictive nature of communities that forbid expression and demand absolute conformity, challenging the audience to emulate their distaste towards these archaic and conservative ways of living. Sign up below to here about our new study guides every week! You are following this blog (manage < https://wordpress.com/following/edit/> ). 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