Goodner ENGL III AP LANG & COMP 1
Psychoanalytic Critical Perspective in Miller’s The Crucible
Directions:
A. Read the Notes on the Psychoanalytic Approach carefully and thoughtfully. Read through the list
of Essential Questions for a Psychoanalytic Reading to keep in mind as you complete your task.
B. Complete the two following activities.
C. Create product for presentation.
Examining Abigail as Id, Elizabeth Proctor as Superego, and John Proctor as Ego
1. In your group, review Freud’s concepts of the id, superego, and the ego.
2. For each of the following characters, Abigail Williams, John Proctor, and Elizabeth Proctor,
gather specific evidence to support the characters’ being interpreted as Id, Ego, and Superego,
respectively.
3. Complete the full chart on the Activity One handout based on your discussion in the group.
Examining the Psychological Wholeness of Key Characters
1. Consider the following characters, Abigail, John, Elizabeth, Giles Corey, Reverend Parris, Judge
Danforth, and peruse the play for specific actions or statements that illustrate the functioning of
one of Freud’s three components of the personality.
a. NOTE: You may include actions that took place prior to the action of the play as long as
that action is made clear in the exposition and has a demonstrable impact on the action
of the play.
2. Complete the worksheet on the Activity Two handout to keep track of your determinations.
3. Evaluate whether each character is “whole” (i.e., shows a balanced functioning of all three
components) or “divided” (i.e., one component seems predominant, and/or one seems not to
be functioning).
4. Discuss which characters are whole and which are divided. To what extent are the action and
outcome of the play determined by the actions of the whole characters? The divided
characters?
Goodner ENGL III AP LANG & COMP 2
Psychoanalytic Critical Perspective in Miller’s The Crucible
Presentation:
Once your group has completed the comprehensive Psychoanalytic Critical
Perspective of Miller’s The Crucible, you will:
 Use the information you’ve learned from your study of a psychoanalytic
approach and the two assigned activities.
 Create a PowerPoint or Prezi presentation demonstrating what you’ve
learned about a psychoanalytic approach AND how it is used by Miller in
The Crucible.
 Presentations must include:
o Description of approach (remember, you are “teaching” this material
to your classmates)
o Identify & Explain main areas of study/points of criticism
o Examples (direct quotations with commentary) of the approach used
in the play (from your three activities)
o At least 3 graphics that are relevant to topic
 Your group must be ready to present on the assigned date (TBA) and, with
all members participating, “teach” your classmates this approach.
Goodner ENGL III AP LANG & COMP 3
Psychoanalytic Critical Perspective in Miller’s The Crucible
The Crucible: Psychoanalytic Activity One
1. Abigail Williams as the ID (Desire, Passion, to act impulsively)
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2. Elizabeth Proctor as the SUPEREGO (Conscience, Displays a sense of right and wrong)
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3. John Proctor as the EGO (Realistic Mediator of the two)
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Goodner ENGL III AP LANG & COMP 4
Psychoanalytic Critical Perspective in Miller’s The Crucible
The Crucible: Psychoanalytic Activity Two
Character: Abigail Williams
1. Id-motivated actions:
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2. Evidence of operation of Ego:
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3. Superego-motivated actions:
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4. How psychologically whole is this character?
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5. What impact does this have on the action of the play?
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Goodner ENGL III AP LANG & COMP 5
Psychoanalytic Critical Perspective in Miller’s The Crucible
The Crucible: Psychoanalytic Activity Two
Character: John Proctor
1. Id-motivated actions:
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2. Evidence of operation of Ego:
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3. Superego-motivated actions:
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4. How psychologically whole is this character?
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5. What impact does this have on the action of the play?
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Goodner ENGL III AP LANG & COMP 6
Psychoanalytic Critical Perspective in Miller’s The Crucible
The Crucible: Psychoanalytic Activity Two
Character: Elizabeth Proctor
1. Id-motivated actions:
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2. Evidence of operation of Ego:
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3. Superego-motivated actions:
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4. How psychologically whole is this character?
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5. What impact does this have on the action of the play?
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Goodner ENGL III AP LANG & COMP 7
Psychoanalytic Critical Perspective in Miller’s The Crucible
The Crucible: Psychoanalytic Activity Two
Character: Giles Corey
1. Id-motivated actions:
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2. Evidence of operation of Ego:
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3. Superego-motivated actions:
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4. How psychologically whole is this character?
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5. What impact does this have on the action of the play?
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Goodner ENGL III AP LANG & COMP 8
Psychoanalytic Critical Perspective in Miller’s The Crucible
The Crucible: Psychoanalytic Activity Two
Character: Reverend Parris
1. Id-motivated actions:
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2. Evidence of operation of Ego:
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3. Superego-motivated actions:
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4. How psychologically whole is this character?
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5. What impact does this have on the action of the play?
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Goodner ENGL III AP LANG & COMP 9
Psychoanalytic Critical Perspective in Miller’s The Crucible
The Crucible: Psychoanalytic Activity Two
Character: Judge Danforth
1. Id-motivated actions:
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2. Evidence of operation of Ego:
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3. Superego-motivated actions:
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4. How psychologically whole is this character?
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5. What impact does this have on the action of the play?
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