Belonging inBelonging in The CrucibleThe Crucible

Belonging in the play

Community Belonging vs Individual Beliefs

Hysteria

Reputation & Belonging

Belief & Control

Persecuting those who don’t belong

Alienation

Community Belonging vs Community Belonging vs Individual Beliefs.Individual Beliefs.

Salem society of the time Salem society of the time was theocraticwas theocratic

Strict moral codes Strict moral codes governed societygoverned society

If an individual went If an individual went against these codes then against these codes then they were seen as a threat they were seen as a threat to the societyto the society

In order to belong, an In order to belong, an individual had to conform individual had to conform to the norms of society.to the norms of society.

If the individual didn’t If the individual didn’t conform then they were conform then they were seen as ‘Devil’ worshippersseen as ‘Devil’ worshippers

Judge Danforth

Community Belonging vs Community Belonging vs Individual Beliefs.Individual Beliefs.

The community lived in close The community lived in close proximity, therefore private proximity, therefore private business was public domain.business was public domain.

With the witchcraft With the witchcraft accusations in full swing – accusations in full swing – the authorities needed to the authorities needed to ‘cleanse the town’ by ‘cleanse the town’ by hanging the accused and hanging the accused and restoring order.restoring order.

The characters in The characters in The The CrucibleCrucible have only two have only two choices – to belong to the choices – to belong to the community, support those in community, support those in power and punish the power and punish the accused or not belong to this accused or not belong to this community and be punished.community and be punished.

HysteriaHysteria Hysteria plays a significant role in dividing the Hysteria plays a significant role in dividing the

community of Salem- those who belong and those community of Salem- those who belong and those who don’t.who don’t.

The fervour of accusations destroys rational The fervour of accusations destroys rational thought and allows members of the community to thought and allows members of the community to believe that their neighbours are capable of believe that their neighbours are capable of killing babies and communing with the Devil.killing babies and communing with the Devil.

The hysteria allows people to satisfy their own The hysteria allows people to satisfy their own personal grudges (egs?)personal grudges (egs?)

Guilt by association was used to control people Guilt by association was used to control people and further divide the communityand further divide the community

To belong to this society, an individual must To belong to this society, an individual must adhere to strict moral codes even in the face of adhere to strict moral codes even in the face of baseless accusations.baseless accusations.

Reputation and BelongingReputation and Belonging A person’s name A person’s name

(reputation) was very (reputation) was very important in Salem.important in Salem.

Without a good Without a good reputation, a person reputation, a person would be an outcast in would be an outcast in society – you don’t society – you don’t belong.belong.

Protecting your Protecting your reputation is vitally reputation is vitally important to important to belonging in this belonging in this society.society.

John Proctor

Reputation and BelongingReputation and Belonging John Proctor - He initially avoids becoming John Proctor - He initially avoids becoming

involved in the witchcraft trials because he fears involved in the witchcraft trials because he fears that his affair with Abigail will become known and that his affair with Abigail will become known and that it will ruin his reputation. that it will ruin his reputation.

Proctor’s sense of belonging is compromised Proctor’s sense of belonging is compromised because of his affair with Abigail and her because of his affair with Abigail and her accusations.accusations.

He attempts to destroy Abigail’s reputation by He attempts to destroy Abigail’s reputation by admitting his adultery, only this fails when admitting his adultery, only this fails when Elizabeth tries to protect his reputation by lying. Elizabeth tries to protect his reputation by lying.

At the end of the play, Proctor refuses to accuse At the end of the play, Proctor refuses to accuse innocent people of witchcraft and stain their good innocent people of witchcraft and stain their good names. names.

He finally refuses to sign his ‘confession’ and goes He finally refuses to sign his ‘confession’ and goes the gallows with his name and honour intact. the gallows with his name and honour intact.

Reputation and BelongingReputation and Belonging

In Salem, reputation is very fragile. In Salem, reputation is very fragile. You could destroy it by associating You could destroy it by associating with the wrong people.with the wrong people.

One way to protect your reputation One way to protect your reputation was by denouncing others – naming was by denouncing others – naming names.names.

What comments about human nature What comments about human nature is Miller making here?is Miller making here?

John Proctor Elizabeth Proctor

Belief & ControlBelief & Control When the authorities in Salem choose to believe the When the authorities in Salem choose to believe the

accusations of witchcraft, they are able to use this to control accusations of witchcraft, they are able to use this to control the population under the guise of eradicating evil. the population under the guise of eradicating evil.

Abigail, like the other women in Salem, holds a lower position Abigail, like the other women in Salem, holds a lower position in society. She is also an orphan, thus limiting her opportunities in society. She is also an orphan, thus limiting her opportunities and giving her an even lower status in the community. When and giving her an even lower status in the community. When her accusations of witchcraft are believed, she holds her accusations of witchcraft are believed, she holds considerable power in the court room and the community. considerable power in the court room and the community.

Her affair with Proctor and its sudden end have sparked her Her affair with Proctor and its sudden end have sparked her jealousy and anger and fuel the insistence of her accusations jealousy and anger and fuel the insistence of her accusations and her determination to hold on to her power, not only over and her determination to hold on to her power, not only over the girls who perpetuate her story, but over the whole the girls who perpetuate her story, but over the whole community. community.

For characters such as Danforth, Hathorne and Parris , For characters such as Danforth, Hathorne and Parris , believing her story is simply another means of separating those believing her story is simply another means of separating those members of the community into those who belong and those members of the community into those who belong and those who do not, in their efforts to keep the community together, who do not, in their efforts to keep the community together, regardless of the tragic consequences.regardless of the tragic consequences.

Abigail Williams

Persecuting those who don’t Persecuting those who don’t belongbelong

The witch trials show how easily the conventions and values of The witch trials show how easily the conventions and values of society can be used to persecute those who question authority society can be used to persecute those who question authority and stand outside the mainstream. The case of John and Elizabeth and stand outside the mainstream. The case of John and Elizabeth Proctor is a good example of this.Proctor is a good example of this.

The Proctor’s stand outside some of the accepted values of Salem The Proctor’s stand outside some of the accepted values of Salem society as they are critical of these values. John is vocal about his society as they are critical of these values. John is vocal about his objections to Revered Parris and particularly Parris’s monetary objections to Revered Parris and particularly Parris’s monetary greed. He openly admits his failure to attend church regularly and greed. He openly admits his failure to attend church regularly and he works the fields on Sunday. When questioned, Proctor also he works the fields on Sunday. When questioned, Proctor also explains why is third son has not been baptised.explains why is third son has not been baptised.

These facts are used as items of evidence for the prosecution in These facts are used as items of evidence for the prosecution in Proctor’s case. Although each of these details has no relevance to Proctor’s case. Although each of these details has no relevance to the accusations of witchcraft they are used to marginalise Proctor the accusations of witchcraft they are used to marginalise Proctor and show that he does not belong. It is the ruling elite that is and show that he does not belong. It is the ruling elite that is determining the criteria by which people are judged.determining the criteria by which people are judged.

Proctor’s final refusal to sign a confession forms the end and the Proctor’s final refusal to sign a confession forms the end and the climax of the play. This act of defiance reflects the plays message climax of the play. This act of defiance reflects the plays message about individual liberty.about individual liberty.

Persecuting those who don’t Persecuting those who don’t belongbelong

There are characters in the play that There are characters in the play that never never belong – Sarah Good, Tituba, Bridget Bishop. They belong – Sarah Good, Tituba, Bridget Bishop. They are women, poor, destitute and on the fringe of are women, poor, destitute and on the fringe of Salem society.Salem society.

These characters are easy targets and labelled These characters are easy targets and labelled ‘witches’. There is no general outcry at the start ‘witches’. There is no general outcry at the start of the accusations as some people believed it was of the accusations as some people believed it was cleansing the village of these ‘types of people’ cleansing the village of these ‘types of people’ (eg?). It is only when the ‘morally upright’ citizens (eg?). It is only when the ‘morally upright’ citizens (Proctor, Rebecca Nurse) are accused that people (Proctor, Rebecca Nurse) are accused that people begin to question the validity of the accusations.begin to question the validity of the accusations.

What is Miller suggesting through this theme?What is Miller suggesting through this theme?

Abigail and the girls Mary Warren

AlienationAlienation The society of Salem required people to conform, if you did The society of Salem required people to conform, if you did

not conform, you were alienated from society – an outcast.not conform, you were alienated from society – an outcast. Characters that do not conform – Proctor, Giles, Hale (later Characters that do not conform – Proctor, Giles, Hale (later

in the play). What are their reasons? What are the in the play). What are their reasons? What are the consequences?consequences?

Mary Warren – described at the start as a naïve girl, she is Mary Warren – described at the start as a naïve girl, she is then persuaded by Proctor to tell the truth.then persuaded by Proctor to tell the truth.

In the courtroom scene, we see how Abigail and the other In the courtroom scene, we see how Abigail and the other girls alienate her. girls alienate her.

Her resolve is weakened and she turns on Proctor accusing Her resolve is weakened and she turns on Proctor accusing him of witchcraft.him of witchcraft.

Through her character, we see the strong desire for Through her character, we see the strong desire for acceptance (belonging) to the group. acceptance (belonging) to the group.

Dramatic Techniques

used in The Crucible

Structure

Setting

Dialogue

Characterisation

Symbolism

Dramatic Irony

Juxtaposition – characters and settings

Dramatic TechniquesDramatic Techniques

In groups – select an Act from the In groups – select an Act from the play.play.

Analyse the act in terms of Analyse the act in terms of 22 ideas ideas about belonging that it represents about belonging that it represents (think about which idea is appropriate (think about which idea is appropriate for your act) and for your act) and howhow this is this is presented. presented.

Don’t forget examples!Don’t forget examples! Post your analysis on the wikiPost your analysis on the wiki