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 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”
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”
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”
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.
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”
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
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
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.
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
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.