Themes, Motifs and Symbols

Themes The central idea or underlying meaning of a literary work Typically deals with an abstract concept that is made concrete through representation in character, action, and image.

Topics/Themes in The Crucible Justice vs. Retribution and Revenge Intolerance Hysteria Reputation Betrayal Persecution Order vs. Individual Freedom Good vs Evil Human cruelty in the name of righteousness The Individual and the Community/society Godliness vs. Worldliness Ignorance vs. Wisdom Power and Authority

More … Lust and Envy Courage Conflict Faith Morality Corruption and Lies Conscience/Integrity Forgiveness Evil Loyalty and Love Trust Courage

Human Weaknesses Lust - John Proctor Pride - Reverend Hale, John Proctor Greed - Reverend Parris, Thomas Putnam Revenge - Mrs. Putnam, Abigail Ignorance - Giles Corey Self-indulgence - the girls Dishonesty - Abigail, the girls, John Proctor

Human Strengths Honesty – Elizabeth Proctor Loyalty – Elizabeth Proctor Courage – John Proctor Forgiveness – Elizabeth Proctor Faith – Rebecca Nurse Reason – Rebecca Nurse

Revenge doesn’t profit many; it is a deadly game. Abigail gets revenge on John and Elizabeth Proctor The girls and the accusers were naming people whom they did not like and whom they wanted to harm Thomas Putnam gains revenge on Francis Nurse by getting Rebecca, his wife, convicted of murdering his (and Ann Putnam’s) babies

Intolerance can cause injustice, pain, and tragedy. a theocratic society  Church (moral) and state are the same  Sin and status of an individual’s soul are of public concern  Everyone belongs to either God or the devil “a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it.” (Danforth, Act III)

Hysteria can divide a community and cause tragedy. replaces logic and reason enables people to believe their neighbors are guilty of committing absurd and unbelievable crimes people become active in the hysterical climate for 2 reasons:  out of genuine religious faithfulness  chance to act on long-held grudges

How do these characters thrive on hysteria? Abigail: uses situation to accuse Elizabeth Proctor of witchcraft and has her jailed Reverend Parris: strengthens his position within the village (temporarily) by making scapegoats of those who question authority e.g. John Proctor

Reputation It is important to protect one’s reputation [John/Rebecca]. Reputation, which is closely linked to ambition, has been the cause of time and time again for the downfall of not only individuals, but of civilization. Extremely important in theocratic Salem

Guilt by association: their sins will taint your name Parris fears Abigail’s questionable behavior and hints of witchcraft surrounding Betty will threaten and force him from the pulpit. Abigail- my name is white Judge Danforth- concerned for his reputation; won’t change his position John Proctor - early in the play – has a chance to stop the girl’s accusations but his desire to preserve his reputation keeps him from testifying against Abigail at the play’s end – desire to keep his good name prevents him from a false confession “I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” (Proctor to Danforth in Act IV)

Betrayal A sense of community can be ruined by betrayal. Relationships are broken by betrayal. The betrayal between a husband and a wife within the sanctity of a conventional marriage. Abigail betrays her whole community in order to seduce John. Those who falsely confess to witchcraft betray their r elationship with God and their church.

Power and Authority When those in power abuse their authority, individuals must take action to fight injustice. Does this happen in the play?? It is important not to abuse one’s power when given authority. Bible is the ultimate authority; authority of the Court is absolute Conflict of authority - Danforth felt the law should be followed exactly, and that anyone who opposed the trials was trying to undermine him and his authority and the church. The girls and some women are empowered by the trials.

Individual Vs Society One must rise over adversity and injustice and stand for the truth. The insight to life is not to be so quick to follow the majority, for they are not always right. We should strive to think for ourselves on an individual basis. We should not judge others because we all have faults.

Truth and Lies Is deception ever justified? Stand for the truth!! Puritan ethics meant most people abhorred lying. Abigail lies throughout the play Elizabeth cannot tell a lie … but does!

Motifs Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, or literary devices that can help to develop and inform the text’s major themes.

Darkness and Dirt Images Imagery of darkness and dirt represent sin and evil. Reverend Parris questions Abigail's purity by saying; Your name in the town-it is entirely white, is it not? She argues that her name is not soiled. darknessdirt The people of Salem are obsessed with preserving the perceived cleanliness of their souls.

Accusations, Confessions, and Legal Proceedings Parris accuses Abigail of dishonoring him Parris accuses some of his parishioners Giles Corey and Proctor accuse him of things in return Legal proceedings in the past are alluded to Putnam accuses others Accusations are the only way that witches can be identified

Confessions Confessions provide the proof of the justice Proctor confesses to adultery but this confession is trumped by the accusation of witchcraft against him, which in turn demands a confession Proctor’s courageous decision to die rather than confess to a sin that he did not commit, finally breaks the cycle The court collapses shortly afterward, undone by the refusal of its victims to propagate lies

Symbols objects, characters, figures, or colors used to represent abstract ideas or concepts As a whole the play symbolizes the paranoia of the 1950’s communist “red scare” in America. Shows:  narrow-mindedness  excessive enthusiasm for a cause  disregard for the individual  need for naming names (co-conspirators)

The Title: The Crucible a trial that ultimately reveals a person's true character a melting pot  “We burn a hot fire here. It melts down all concealment” - Danforth  Crucible - it is meant to purify, usually by fire. A great irony since the 'fire' that burns in Salem does not purify. Instead it muddles (confuses) and corrupts. Thus a fire burning for the wrong reason is not able to purify. A place, time, or situation characterized by the confluence of powerful intellectual, social, economic, or political forces

Fortress - the church is seen in this manner. But while the metaphor used suggests one crack may break it, we also see that rigidity or the lack of an open mind can bring down an edifice just as quickly. Dawn 'the new sun' - the end of the play suggests the start of a new day where right is restored and the evil has been expelled.

White - Used for the term for good. Usually used to describe reputation Black - Term used for evil  “There be no blush about my name” Horse/Animal Reference – suggesting lack of human values and understanding The Witch Trials and McCarthyism - symbolic of the paranoia about communism that pervaded America in the 1950s

Allegory Form of an extended metaphor, in which objects, persons, and actions are equated with the meanings that lie outside the narrative itself. The underlying meaning has moral, social, religious or political significance. Thus an allegory is a story with two meanings, a literal meaning and a symbolic meaning.