1. The Crucible Key Themes

2. Writing about theme When writing about theme avoid: Simply rewriting the question Repeating yourself E.g. do not write “injustice is an important theme” Instead: “Miller explores the theme of justice in a thought-provoking manner, suggesting that it is the role of the common man to make sure that justice is served.” When writing about theme avoid: Simply rewriting the question Repeating yourself E.g. do not write “injustice is an important theme” Instead: “Miller explores the theme of justice in a thought-provoking manner, suggesting that it is the role of the common man to make sure that justice is served.”

3. What are the main themes? Hysteria Justice and corruption Vengeance Hysteria Justice and corruption Vengeance

4. Hysteria The play has a momentum which shows how events snowball out of control. Act One- the illness of Betty Parris starts a panic, fuelled by Parris’s own desperation to hold his position and Abigail’s manipulation Act Two- goes from the calm of the opening to “ The little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom and common vengeance writes the law!" The play has a momentum which shows how events snowball out of control. Act One- the illness of Betty Parris starts a panic, fuelled by Parris’s own desperation to hold his position and Abigail’s manipulation Act Two- goes from the calm of the opening to “ The little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom and common vengeance writes the law!"

5. Hysteria Act 3- begins with an attempt to reason calmly with the court and ends with a total breakdown of order in the court Act 4- hysteria has taken a firm hold on the entire town. Parris “has a mad look” and the judges’ power is under threat However, at the end of the act Proctor is almost calm Act 3- begins with an attempt to reason calmly with the court and ends with a total breakdown of order in the court Act 4- hysteria has taken a firm hold on the entire town. Parris “has a mad look” and the judges’ power is under threat However, at the end of the act Proctor is almost calm

6. Question How does the title, ‘The Crucible’ fit with the theme of hysteria?

7. Justice and corruption Definition: The quality of being just, integrity (honesty and truthfulness), impartiality, fairness, a judge. In ‘The Crucible’ who acts with integrity? Who is corrupt? Definition: The quality of being just, integrity (honesty and truthfulness), impartiality, fairness, a judge. In ‘The Crucible’ who acts with integrity? Who is corrupt?

8. Act One In this act Abigail shows how corrupted she is- by her jealousy and lust She has corrupted John and made him act “like a wild stallion”. Yet this has made Proctor a conflicted man because he has a strong sense of what is just: “I like not the smell of this ‘authority’” Parris seems to have been corrupted by his thirst for power and greed Hale believes strongly in justice In this act Abigail shows how corrupted she is- by her jealousy and lust She has corrupted John and made him act “like a wild stallion”. Yet this has made Proctor a conflicted man because he has a strong sense of what is just: “I like not the smell of this ‘authority’” Parris seems to have been corrupted by his thirst for power and greed Hale believes strongly in justice

9. Act Two John feels that he is being judged unfairly by Elizabeth: “judge me not”. However it is his conscience which really troubles him. He feels no wider responsibility. The court has been corrupted (by Abigail), Proctor: “Hell and Heaven grapple on our backs…” However, there is still belief that the court is fair: Herrick: “The law binds me” Hale: “The court is just…our greatest judges sit in Salem now” John feels that he is being judged unfairly by Elizabeth: “judge me not”. However it is his conscience which really troubles him. He feels no wider responsibility. The court has been corrupted (by Abigail), Proctor: “Hell and Heaven grapple on our backs…” However, there is still belief that the court is fair: Herrick: “The law binds me” Hale: “The court is just…our greatest judges sit in Salem now”

10. Act Three The corruption of the court and its injustice become clear Proctor and Giles ask for fair treatment Giles appeals to the law Proctor to religion: “Remember what the angel said…” Proctor believes that the only way to overcome injustice is to tell the truth However even this is ineffective in the face a court which only wants to protect their own interests The corruption of the court and its injustice become clear Proctor and Giles ask for fair treatment Giles appeals to the law Proctor to religion: “Remember what the angel said…” Proctor believes that the only way to overcome injustice is to tell the truth However even this is ineffective in the face a court which only wants to protect their own interests

11. Act 4 In this act we see the results of corruption There has been a complete breakdown of order in the town- “cows wandering the highroads…” and rebellion threatens. The judges are paranoid and willing to kill so as not to seem weak, “Postponement speaks a floundering on my part” However Proctor ultimately refuses to be corrupted- he shows integrity and stands up for what is right Ordinary man represents justice In this act we see the results of corruption There has been a complete breakdown of order in the town- “cows wandering the highroads…” and rebellion threatens. The judges are paranoid and willing to kill so as not to seem weak, “Postponement speaks a floundering on my part” However Proctor ultimately refuses to be corrupted- he shows integrity and stands up for what is right Ordinary man represents justice

12. Question How does the imagery of black and white connect to this theme?

13. Vengeance

14. Echoes… Ultimately the unjust society collapsed and was destroyed There are ‘echoes’ because Miller was concerned with injustice in the 1950s Why are there still ‘echoes’? What does ‘The Crucible’ say to its audience about injustice? Ultimately the unjust society collapsed and was destroyed There are ‘echoes’ because Miller was concerned with injustice in the 1950s Why are there still ‘echoes’? What does ‘The Crucible’ say to its audience about injustice?