Critical Essay Technique
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John Proctor, the tragic hero of Arthur Miller’s ’The
Crucible’, is a character portrayed not only as
being in conflict with his society, but with himself.
Miller is successful in portraying how John is able
to overcome his internal conflicts-caused by his
adulterous guilt- to heroically challenge the
corrupt witch trials of theocratic Salem. The
playwright’s depiction of these conflicts helps to
underline the importance of individual conscience
and the disastrous consequences when people
abandon theirs.

John Proctor, the tragic hero of Arthur Miller’s ’The
Crucible’, is a character portrayed not only as
being in conflict with his society, but with himself.
Miller is successful in portraying how John is able
to overcome his internal conflicts-caused by his
adulterous guilt- to heroically challenge the
corrupt witch trials of theocratic Salem. The
playwright’s depiction of these conflicts helps to
underline the importance of individual conscience
and the disastrous consequences when people
abandon theirs.
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A point (made at the outset of your
paragraph, usually in your topic sentence)
Expansion of this point (avoid the temptation
to simply retell the story here).
Evidence of your point (at least two
quotations per paragraph).
Analysis of techniques used
Links back to your task.
Explanations of the significance of what you
are discussing to the play’s central concerns
Evaluation of how effective Miller has been.
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Should be clear.
Should demonstrate continuity / development
in your argument.
Should be varied/ not all begin in the same
way.
You could: begin with the playwright’s name;
begin in a personal way; begin by identifying
a technique / aspect.
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Arthur Miller uses effective characterisation in
this scene to demonstrate its importance.
Miller develops the idea that the revelation of
the truth of John Proctor’s affair could end all of
the accusations of witchcraft in Salem.
Despite Proctor’s failure to convince the court
he is telling the truth, his choice to do so reveals
many aspects of his character.
Indeed, John is a religious man whose conviction
rests on personal faith and reading of the Bible,
as well as what he believes to be right.
I thought that John’s most heroic moment came
in the play’s climactic scene.