Irony in Act III

1. Irony in Act III Asia C, Xavier P, Roberson J

2. Situational irony • When Abigail and Judge Danforth have their encounter and Abigail dominates Danforth completely by making him sound guilty of misjudging her and her intentions “…To be mistrusted, denied, questioned” and then Danforth says “Child, I do not mistrust you-” (Miller 1307). • The fact that Danforth is a Judge and Judgment is apart of his job yet he lets Abigail make him feel guilty for any type of judgment towards her (if there was any at all) is kind of ironic.

3. Situational Irony • Towards the end of act III Hales said “” (Miller 9999) which is very shocking. When he was first introduced he seemed like a very devoted man and the fact that he quit mid-court session is very shocking. Hales didn’t seem like a quitter but a guy that would stand by God and the court for very long.

4. Situational Irony • Throughout Act III John, Mary and Giles are trying to prove the innocence of the women and they thought they’d be successful but, not only are they not successful but they put themselves in jail and into a deeper metaphorical hole.

5. Verbal irony • At the end of Act III John Proctor says “ I say – I say – god is dead” (Miller 1315)! • This is verbal irony because John Proctor doesn’t really mean it, but he says it because he feels like everyone in Salem is letting the witch trials get in their head. Also that they are focusing more on the devil than God himself.

6. Verbal Irony • Abigail stated that, “If I must answer that, I will leave and I will not come back again”. • This is irony because well Abigail is saying that she would leave but she doesn’t really mean it because she got to stay, because she’s like the little girls group leader and the person who started the whole witchcraft hysteria thing.

7. Verbal Irony • Abigail said, "oh, Mary, this is a black art to change your shape. no, I cannot, I cannot stop my mouth; it's god's work I do.“ • This is irony because she’s lying because she claimed that she’s doing God’s work but literally she’s doing the devil’s work.

8. Dramatic Irony • Elizabeth Proctor said “no”, when she was asked if John Proctor was a lecher. • This a irony because well we as the audience know that Elizabeth is lying because we have seen that he and Abigail had an affair but the rest of the people at the court doesn’t know.

9. Dramatic Irony • When Mary Warren accuses John of being a witch “You’re a Devil’s man” (Miller 1314)! • This is dramatically ironic because not only do they believe her and arrest John, but we the readers, know that he isn’t a witch.

10. Dramatic Irony • Elizabeth Proctor said “no”, when she was asked if John Proctor was a lecher. • This a irony because well we as the audience know that Elizabeth is lying because we have seen that he and Abigail had an affair but the rest of the people at the court doesn’t know.