The crucible quotes. Hysteria in The Crucible by Arthur Miller 2022-10-12
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"The Crucible" is a play written by Arthur Miller in the 1950s, set during the Salem witch trials in colonial Massachusetts. The play is a commentary on the McCarthy era and the Red Scare, during which many Americans were accused of being communists or communist sympathizers.
One of the most famous quotes from the play is spoken by the character John Proctor, who is on trial for witchcraft. He says, "Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!" In this quote, Proctor is expressing his frustration at being falsely accused and the importance of his reputation and good name to him. He is willing to sacrifice his life, but he cannot bear the thought of being remembered as a witch.
Another important quote from the play is spoken by the character Abigail Williams, who is a key figure in the accusations of witchcraft. She says, "I saw a dress lying on the grass. And Mary Warren bent over it, searching it. And then I saw a dress lying on the grass. And Mary Warren bent over it, searching it. And then, either I was frightened, or something came over me, and I ran. I ran. I ran. I cannot say what I saw, for it was not there." In this quote, Abigail is lying about seeing witches in order to avoid being punished for dancing in the woods and attempting to cast a spell on John Proctor's wife. She uses manipulation and deceit to try to escape punishment, highlighting the dangers of allowing fear and hysteria to take hold in a community.
Another memorable quote from "The Crucible" is spoken by the character Judge Danforth, who is in charge of the witch trials. He says, "There is a party that would wish me dead tonight, if they knew how near they are to it! I think it be strange if I know not of it. A man may think God sleeps, but God sees everything, I know it now. I say- God is dead!" In this quote, Judge Danforth is expressing his belief in his own power and authority, as well as his belief in a higher power that is watching over and judging him.
Overall, "The Crucible" is a play filled with powerful and thought-provoking quotes that explore themes of reputation, manipulation, and the dangers of allowing fear and hysteria to take hold in a community.
The 21 Best Crucible Quotes
These lines show his obsession with his reputation and good name. Unlike Abigail, who is forceful and strong-willed, Mary lacks the resolve to stand up for herself. Seven of her babies have died, and she is desperate to place blame on something or someone. When she comes home from court on the first day of the trials, she brings Elizabeth Proctor a poppet, a small doll made of cloth, that she sewed during the trial. How may I live without my name? She also accuses many others in Act 3 and is later coaxed into adding innocent names to the list when Reverend Hale pressures her. Abigail Williams: Why are you doing this? Proctor to Elizabeth Idiom: Proctor's affair was out of lust, not real feelings for Abigail.
I saw Sarah Good with the Devil! You loved me, John Proctor, and whatever sin it is, you love me yet! Man, we must look to cause proportionate. We never touched, Abby. John believes that the cosmology that the leaders of Salem hold is not that of the Bible but of superstition. Cheever confronts Mary about Elizabeth Proctor, Mary without Abigail and the other girls around to guide her reverts to telling the truth. That night after Mary Warren goes to bed, Mr. If retaliation is your fear, know this—I should hang ten thousand that dared to rise against the law, and an ocean of salt tears could not melt the resolution of the statutes.
Abigail Williams: A women comes to my bed every night now and tears out my eyes. Act 2 of The Crucible ends with her sobbing, "I cannot, I cannot" repeatedly. Death sentences are not to be taken lightly, they must be careful. It is the best the Devil wants, and who is better than the minister. For there's your way, believe it, when such confusion strikes upon the world.
This statement from Abigail shows how important her reputation is to her. The religious leaders, then, pushed back with more strict enforcement of their rigid restrictions on life in the New World. The judges and the religious leaders use fear and guilt to coerce the young girl, even grabbing hold of her physically at one point. Just as the people of Salem feared witchcraft destroying their community, Americans of the 1950s feared Communism destroying their country. Parris, you are the first minister ever did demand the deed to this house— Parris: Man! If he refused to try and hang those found guilty of witchcraft, it would mean that he had been wrong in the twelve cases that were pursued to the end. Abigail Williams utters these words in an Act I conversation with John Proctor, clueing the audience in to her past affair with him.
I came into this village like a bridegroom to his beloved, bearing gifts of high religion; the very crowns of holy law I brought, and what I touched with my bright confidence, it died; and where I turned the eye of my great faith, blood flowed up. At this point when he meets Parris and the girls who have been ‘‘ bewitched'' he encourages them to talk about their being bewitched, and puts some words into their mouths, but he only does this because he really believes in witches, and believes the girls' stories. The theme of hysteria, or unreasonable debilitating fear, shines through the events of the play as a form of exposure to the McCarthy hearings' hysteria. She wants to confess to dancing in the woods instead of being suspected of witchcraft: ''Witchery's a hangin' error. The illogical fears generated by the Red Scare then inspired Miller to write the play. The implication that the state and in Massachusetts at the time this included the church is the strength of its citizens is an age-old question.
I beg you, sir, I beg you—see her what she is. She states that she made the doll and stuck the needle in the doll's belly for safe keeping. If the reputation of the individual is unimportant, the state has no foundation. Just as she is influenced by Abigail and John Proctor, Mary Warren admits that she believes her affliction is real when Judge Danforth appears to believe it. Abigail Williams' Relationship With John Proctor I look for John Proctor that took me from my sleep and put knowledge in my heart! Now we cannot hope the witch will accuse herself; granted? Proctor, gently pressing her from him, with great sympathy but firmly: Child— Abigail, with a flash of anger: How do you call me child! Danforth, I only thought I saw them but I did not.
In 1996, The Crucible saw an American remake starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Winona Ryder, with Arthur Miller writing the screenplay himself. They began to believe that it was the Devil himself that was tearing away at society. In the play, Mary Warren is the seventeen-year-old servant of John and Elizabeth Proctor. Why do you never wonder if Parris be innocent, or Abigail? Hale: The sun will rise in a few minutes. Mary Warren Quotes Throughout The Crucible, Mary Warren shows that she is a weak and submissive person who cannot overcome fear in order to stand up for what she knows is right. Hale also said "It is a lie! With the growing realization of the evil of these trials, he is concerned more with the reputation of the court than the lives of the men and women who stand accused.
Because I cannot have another in my life! For Proctor, we quickly realize, their relationship belongs to the past—while he may still be attracted to her, he is desperately trying to put the incident behind him. She wants to confess to dancing in the woods instead of being suspected of witchcraft: ''Witchery's a hangin' error. God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat. I never knew what pretence Salem was, I never knew the lying lessons I was taught by all these Christian women and their covenanted men! He is now holding himself responsible for the deaths of these wrongly accused people and will not take anymore. At the start of Reverend Hale's metamorphosis he is so sure of himself and of his belief, in witches, that he even inadvertently eases their lying. Abigail Williams and Reverend Hale both illustrate the rampant hysteria in Salem.
The first time we meet Mary in Act 1, she is clearly admitting that no witchcraft was ever involved in Betty's illness; that she and the other girls were only dancing in the woods. Instead of speaking out on her own according to her conscience, Mary visits Abigail to seek approval first. Civic and religious leaders Parris and Putnam accuse John of being lax in his spiritual practices, such as regular church attendance. I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face! And well she might, for I thought of her softly. And it is my face, and yours, Danforth! Not enough to weave a banner with, but white enough to keep it from such dogs. She tries to convince Abigail that they should confess to what happened in the woods so that they are not accused of witchcraft. .
And now, as though cornered, they let out a gigantic scream. Her power comes from accusing others. John Hale: Would you recite them please? Knowing in his heart that he cannot adequately fill the office, he grasps at externals to fill the gap. How can you bear to see this child suffering? The change that he went through was very beneficial and saved a number of lives in the process. But Proctor has not rejected God.
