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The Crucible

The Crucible. Themes, Motifs, and Symbols. Motifs. Motif means an idea or subject that keeps coming up. Trials: We have the overt trial of the witches Danforth Presides The girls have the authority Punishment= death Anyone guilty? Not the people charged. Motifs. Trials

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The Crucible

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  1. The Crucible Themes, Motifs, and Symbols

  2. Motifs • Motif means an idea or subject that keeps coming up. • Trials: • We have the overt trial of the witches • Danforth Presides • The girls have the authority • Punishment= death • Anyone guilty? Not the people charged

  3. Motifs • Trials • We have Parris’s belief he’s on trial • He’s on trial as their pastor • “I am your third preacher in seven years. I do not wish to be put out like the cat whenever some majority feels the whim” • Feels it from all sides- including Rebecca’s refusal to get involved • “I hope you do not mean we go to Satan here” • Idea that it he should be immune. Something outside causes the problems in his house • “How can it be my house? Why would he choose my house to strike?” • Is he guilty? • His kids lead the charge (Betty and Abigail) • “He was a widower with no interest in children”

  4. Motifs • Trials • We have Proctor’s personal trials • He’s on trial for his old crimes • “He is a sinner… These people had no ritual for the washing away of sins” • Elizabeth as judge • She initially acts cold • “The magistrate in your heart judges you” • She frees him by judging herself • “It come to naught that I should forgive you, if you’ll not forgive yourself” • Proctor as judge • Frees himself when taking death • “I am no good man. Nothing’s spoiled by giving them that” • “He hath his goodness now, God forbid I take that from him” • Is he guilty? • Of adultery? Yes. Of a greater sin? No • To Danforth: “Now I do think I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor”

  5. Motifs • Truth • Truth is a paradox • The truth that matters are lies • Abigail of the village, “I never knew what pretense Salem was, I never knew the lying lessons I was taught” • Danforth of Proctors confession: “If it is a lie I will not accept it” • The truth that is real doesn’t change the society • Proctor’s confession leads to him being accused. • Proctor announces “God knows how black my sins are” but no one in power listens • The one character always honest, lies • John of Elizabeth: “My wife cannot lie. I have paid much for it” • Hale of Elizabeth: “It is a natural lie to tell”

  6. Symbolism • Witchcraft=Communism • Mostly appears in Miller’s commentary • “They believed… They held in their steady hands the candle that would light the world. We have inherited this belief, and it has helped and hurt us” • “These people had no ritual for the washing away of sins. It is another trait we inherited from them” • “Ours is a divided empire in which certain ideas and emotions and actions are of God, and the opposites are of Lucifer” • “The analogy however seems to falter when one considers that, while there were no witches then, there are Communists and capitalists now.” • Only a few explicitly mention Communism- adds to timelessness • Not an actual script line- keeps it hidden.

  7. Symbolism • Poppet= loss of innocence. • Poppet is a doll: “I have not owned a poppet since I was a girl” • Poppet made innocently by Mary Warren: “I made it in court today… I meant no harm by it” • Poppet leads to Elizabeth’s arrest: “What signifies a needle?” • Poppet leads to Mary Warren’s lie against Proctor: “You’re the devil’s man”

  8. Symbolism • Name=Value • Putnam does most of the accusing- name shows he’s one of the richest people in the town • John Proctor won’t sign his name- “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! • Hale = Hail = ice storm- He causes havoc in the village

  9. Themes • The world is not good or bad • “I hope you do not mean to say we go to Satan here.” “I wish I knew” • We see a desire to classify everything • Either with this court or against it • Cannot charge a minister with the crime • Too many characters morally ambiguous • Abigail and John commit same initial sin: but John is good and Abigail is bad • Giles accuses his wife, but later redeems himself not giving up any other names

  10. Themes • Those in power are not the moral superiors • “ I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor. Not enough to weave a banner with, but white enough to keep it from such dogs” • Danforth only understands his own power- not truth of the situation • Parris cannot control Abigail’s actions even though he’s her uncle • Proctor is well respected in the village but fails as a good person.

  11. Themes • Sexual sin more frightening than anything else • “Our opposites are always robed in sexual sin” • Girl dancing naked is the most frightening part- Parris doesn’t tell Hale about that. • John Proctor’s adultery only thing that could bring down witch trials • Abigail is the most evil character- the most driven by sex. • Proctors reach redemption through fulfilling “proper” sexual role- birth of new kid

  12. Themes • Confession doesn’t change what happens • “We are what we always were, but naked now.” • Confessions don’t matter to the court • When Proctor confesses his actual sin, it doesn’t change him- only the fake confession makes him ok. • These conflicts already existed- the witch trial made it ok to accuse neighbors.

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