The Crucible and Mrs Putnam - 1045 Words

In the opening of the play how does Miller seek to create an atmosphere of hysteria and tension? Do you find the opening effective? The Crucible is a play by Arthur Miller written in the 1950’s. It was set in the 1690’s in Massachusetts. The play is about the witch trials and how something like a group of girls in the woods could lead to about 200 people being hanged and accused of witchcraft. The people of Salem were new to Massachusetts as they were puritans who went off to America to set up a new religious colony . The people were new to their surroundings had the Native Americans as enemies because they took their land. Although the Crucible is about the witch trials, it is thought to be a metaphor for the McCarthy Communist trials†¦show more content†¦That was a quote from Mrs Putnam. I think the fact that she has lost 7 babies makes her think it is work of the devil trying to punish the â€Å"good†. Once everyone believed it was the work of the devil, they blamed Tituba who is only low class person in the household and her being a black slave makes it easy for everyone to blame her because as she doesn’t have any power or authority she won’t react and her coming from a completely different culture to than the people in Salem makes the believe that she is affected by the witch and devil. Miller sets the whole of Act 1 in one room this conveys hysteria because they are all in one room and everyone is shouting each other. Also it will be quiet dark and crowded as the windows are all narrow so only little light comes through. I also think it is a metaphor for the narrow minded nature of the people in Salem. The fact that only a little comes through conveys that they have little knowledge of the outside world. The language used is very different and address woman as Goody and men as Mister. This contributes to the difference in society and the time. In conclusion, I think is very effective because it grabbed my attention because of the tension and hysteria used as it made me eager to know what was happening. Miller uses language and setting effectively convey the tensionShow MoreRelatedThe Destruction Of Salem By Arthur Miller1558 Words   |  7 PagesArmania Heckenmueller Mrs. Hagerty H English II 2EF 11/23/15 The Destruction of Salem Through Greed and Vengeance in The Crucible During the time The Crucible was set, the community of Salem was awry. It did not have the solid characteristics of what a healthy town should look like. Instead there was no trust between people, everyone was watching out for only themselves, and most of the townspeople were turning their backs on the disastrous deeds of the court. The people of Salem feel like they haveRead MoreThe Art Of Deception : The Origin Of And Escape From The Spread Of Falsehoods Essay1413 Words   |  6 Pagesinstances of widespread panic can disrupt social and political order. In The Crucible, Arthur Miller reveals that self-centered ambition underlies the spread of false ideas, which can fuel societal paranoia. However, Miller argues that individuals can escape this hysteria and preserve their dignity if they choose to sacrifice their personal needs by denying false allegations. First, Abigail’s rivalry with Elizabeth Proctor and Mrs. Putnam’s grief over infants’ deaths demonstrate that people accuse othersRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1063 Words   |  5 PagesIn the English dictionary, there are three definitions of the word crucible. One is a metal container in which metals are mixed and melted. Another is a severe test. But the third definition, and the one that I think fits the best for this book, is a place or situation in which different elements interact to create something new. In my mind, this fits because all of the characters had their little grudges and dirty secrets. But when all those seemingly little things interact, they formed somethingRead MoreThe Crucible By Arthur Miller1063 Words   |  5 PagesIn the english dictionary, there are three definitions of the word crucible. One is a metal container in which metals are mixed and melted. Another is a severe test. But the third definition, and the one that I think fits the best for this book, is a place or situation in which different elements interact to create something new. In my mind, this fits because all of the characters had their little grudges and dirty secrets. But when all those seemingly little things interact, they formed somethingRead MoreThe Crucible Critical Lens Essay866 Words   |  4 PagesDavis 1 Ashley Davis Mrs. Taylor CP English III, Period 7 22 November 2014 The Crucible Critical Lens Essay As Vladimir Lenin once stated, â€Å"A lie told often enough becomes truth.† This quote indicates that if you constantly repeat a lie, eventually people will come to believe it. I definitely agree with Lenin. A lie won’t stay a secret forever. Lenin’s quote remains true and evident in Arthur Miller’s, The Crucible. There are many characters Miller uses to prove this quote true throughRead MoreThe Dramatic Effect of the First Act in Arthur Millers The Crucible1154 Words   |  5 PagesThe Dramatic Effect of the First Act in Arthur Millers The Crucible The Crucible is set in Salem in 1692. It is about a group of girls who are accused of witchcraft by the people of Salem, and they are put on trial for it. The story is centred on a man named John Proctor who is a farmer in the town, and it is about his affairs, his everyday ones and his sexual ones. There are many themes in The Crucible, deceit, religion, fear, guilt and the evading of peoples privacyRead MoreThe Crucible And Breaker Morant Analysis789 Words   |  4 PagesThe tales of Arthur Millers The Crucible and Bruce Beresfords Breaker Morant while appearing vastly different at a glance; share many common themes. These include scapegoats, trials and revenge. In The Crucible the antagonist, Abigail, is depicted as a spiteful and vengeful character that will stop at no end to gain the satisfaction of revenge through destructive means. Good Putnam is portrayed as a revenge driven character from The Crucible. In the movie of Breaker Morant, the protagonistRead MoreEssay On Personal Rivalries In The Crucible924 Words   |  4 Pagesrunning rampant. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, the residents of Salem are allowing their grudges and personal rivalries to distract themselves from the truth. The witch trials are escalating, more and more people are being accused, and the tensions are high. The Putnams have different motivations and grudges that are driving the accusations. Ann Putnam is using the trials to harm the women she deems responsible for the deaths of her seven children. In contrast, Thomas Putnam is driven by his greedRead MoreThe Crucible-Thomas Putnam Essay751 Words   |  4 PagesThomas Putnam plays a major role in the Salem witch hunt in Arthur Miller#8217;s The Crucible. Inheriting a handsome amount of property makes Putnam a wealthy person; however, it doesn#8217;t seem to satisfy his ambition. After the town terribly rejected Putnam#8217;s brother-in-law, Bayley, Putnam#8217;s bitterness has increased. Finally his prodigious involvement in the relentless accusations places him in the center of the spot light, making him a salient character in both the play and theRead MoreMillers Presentation of the Theme Of Greed And Envy within The Crucible1071 Words   |  5 PagesMillers Presentation of the Theme Of Greed And Envy within The Crucible The Crucible was written in 1953 by Arthur Miller in the time of the cold war, although the play was set in 1692. The play is about a town called Salem in America and about the witch-hunts that took place there. Because it was written in this time period there is a feeling of mistrust, greed and envy echoed in the play. Arthur Miller plays on these feelings and produces a theme of greed and envy that