The CrucibleThe Crucible

Act IVAct IV

IronyIrony

Who does Sarah Good equate with Who does Sarah Good equate with the Devil?the Devil?

The court and its false accusations The court and its false accusations and injustice.and injustice.

Why is this ironic?Why is this ironic? She looks at the Devil as a blessed She looks at the Devil as a blessed

escape.escape.

ThemeTheme

What theme do you think Herrick’s What theme do you think Herrick’s drunkenness on execution day drunkenness on execution day implies?implies?

Herrick finds the proceedings too Herrick finds the proceedings too distasteful to face without the distasteful to face without the numbness of alcohol. numbness of alcohol.

This suggests that he, like others, This suggests that he, like others, knows injustice is taking place but knows injustice is taking place but feels powerless to stop it.feels powerless to stop it.

ThemeTheme

Danforth: There is a prodigious Danforth: There is a prodigious stench in this place.stench in this place.

What theme is implied here?What theme is implied here? The stench is the crimes of the court The stench is the crimes of the court

rather than of the prisoners. rather than of the prisoners. The broad theme suggested here is The broad theme suggested here is

that evil cannot take place without that evil cannot take place without consequences.consequences.

ThemeTheme

What theme does Miller convey through What theme does Miller convey through Hathorne’s description of Parris?Hathorne’s description of Parris?

Parris has lied from the beginning and Parris has lied from the beginning and bears a great deal of responsibility for the bears a great deal of responsibility for the hysteria.hysteria.

Parris is now suffering from the guilt and Parris is now suffering from the guilt and shame of having condemned innocent shame of having condemned innocent people to death.people to death.

Evil will come back to haunt the person Evil will come back to haunt the person who commits it.who commits it.

SpeculationSpeculation

Why have Abigail and Mercy run away?Why have Abigail and Mercy run away? Abigail is afraid that the tide of opinion in Abigail is afraid that the tide of opinion in

Salem will turn against the accusers.Salem will turn against the accusers. Abigail doesn’t want to stay in Salem when Abigail doesn’t want to stay in Salem when

she knows her affair with John is over.she knows her affair with John is over. They both want to start over somewhere They both want to start over somewhere

else.else.

SpeculationSpeculation

Why does Parris wait so long to tell Why does Parris wait so long to tell Hathorne of the girls’ disappearance?Hathorne of the girls’ disappearance?

He didn’t want to admit that he was He didn’t want to admit that he was a poor guardian or that Abigail has a poor guardian or that Abigail has made a fool of him.made a fool of him.

SpeculationSpeculation

Why does Danforth refuse to Why does Danforth refuse to postpone the hangings?postpone the hangings?

He does not want to risk the court’s He does not want to risk the court’s reputation.reputation.

He thinks that people will interpret a He thinks that people will interpret a postponement as weakness or doubt, postponement as weakness or doubt, and he won’t let that happen.and he won’t let that happen.

ThemeTheme

Hale: Excellency, there are orphans Hale: Excellency, there are orphans wandering from house to house; wandering from house to house; abandoned cattle bellow on the abandoned cattle bellow on the highroads, the stink of rotting crops highroads, the stink of rotting crops hangs everywhere, and no man hangs everywhere, and no man knows when the harlot’s cry will end knows when the harlot’s cry will end his life --- and you wonder yet if his life --- and you wonder yet if rebellion’s spoke?rebellion’s spoke?

ThemeTheme

What themes of abandonment are What themes of abandonment are conveyed in the quote by Hale?conveyed in the quote by Hale?

Persecution of the innocent destroys Persecution of the innocent destroys the society it claims to be protecting.the society it claims to be protecting.

ThemeTheme

What theme does Danforth’s refusal What theme does Danforth’s refusal to postpone the hangings suggest?to postpone the hangings suggest?

It suggests that unjust people, out of It suggests that unjust people, out of fear, shame, or pride, will perpetuate fear, shame, or pride, will perpetuate or defend their mistakes.or defend their mistakes.

Universal ThemeUniversal Theme

Is any principle worth the giving of a Is any principle worth the giving of a person’s life?person’s life?

ThemeTheme

Miller’s theme is that honesty and Miller’s theme is that honesty and integrity are stronger than any integrity are stronger than any attempt to break them down.attempt to break them down.

How does Elizabeth’s behavior and How does Elizabeth’s behavior and attitude support this theme?attitude support this theme?

Elizabeth shows that she can still Elizabeth shows that she can still triumph over her feelings because triumph over her feelings because she knows herself to be honest.she knows herself to be honest.

ThemeTheme

Proctor: I’d have you [Elizabeth] see Proctor: I’d have you [Elizabeth] see some honesty in it. Let them that some honesty in it. Let them that never lied die now to keep their never lied die now to keep their souls. It is pretense for me, a vanity souls. It is pretense for me, a vanity that will not blind God nor keep my that will not blind God nor keep my children out of the wind.children out of the wind.

ThemeTheme

What theme does Miller convey What theme does Miller convey through John Proctor’s statements through John Proctor’s statements about honesty?about honesty?

Miller shows that a man can be a Miller shows that a man can be a hero in spite of having some flaws.hero in spite of having some flaws.

Proctor’s integrity is still strong.Proctor’s integrity is still strong.

ThemeTheme

JudgmentJudgment How has Elizabeth changed since her How has Elizabeth changed since her

conversation with John in Act II?conversation with John in Act II? In Act II, she judged him because of In Act II, she judged him because of

his adultery; now she refuses to his adultery; now she refuses to judge him. judge him.

She has learned humility.She has learned humility.

ThemeTheme

Which details of Rebecca Nurse’s Which details of Rebecca Nurse’s character reinforce the theme of character reinforce the theme of courage and personal integrity?courage and personal integrity?• Her refusal to confessHer refusal to confess• Her pleasure in seeing that Proctor is Her pleasure in seeing that Proctor is

still alivestill alive• Her compassion for him when she hears Her compassion for him when she hears

him giving a false confessionhim giving a false confession

Situational IronySituational Irony

Miller suggests throughout the play Miller suggests throughout the play that the Devil is not a supernatural that the Devil is not a supernatural being.being.

The Devil exists in human beings and The Devil exists in human beings and is manifested in their pride, avarice, is manifested in their pride, avarice, envy, malice, and lies.envy, malice, and lies.

John has indeed seen the Devil – in John has indeed seen the Devil – in Abigail, the Putnams, in Danforth, Abigail, the Putnams, in Danforth, and even in himself.and even in himself.

ThemeTheme

What theme is suggested by What theme is suggested by Proctor’s desire to keep his name Proctor’s desire to keep his name clean?clean?

Proctor equates his name with Proctor equates his name with himself – with his identity.himself – with his identity.

His name symbolizes who he is. His name symbolizes who he is. The honor of his name is a deeply The honor of his name is a deeply

personal thing and he is unwilling to personal thing and he is unwilling to betray it.betray it.

ThemeTheme

In what way does Proctor’s change of In what way does Proctor’s change of heart at the end of the act reflect the heart at the end of the act reflect the themes of integrity and courage?themes of integrity and courage?

Proctor agrees to die as an honest Proctor agrees to die as an honest man rather than to live as a liar and man rather than to live as a liar and a traitor to his friends and his a traitor to his friends and his conscience.conscience.