Jethro Presto
Period 3 - English III P
Mrs. Weidmann
10-19-14
The Crucible Essay: Interpretation (#1) The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, is set in Salem, Massachusetts, during the period of the Salem Witch Trials. Before the play begins, there is a little backstory. Abigail Williams, an 18 year old girl whose uncle(Reverend Parris) is the town’s reverend, has an affair with John Proctor, a 30 year old farmer who is married, when she worked at the Proctor household. The two keep it going until John becomes penetrated by his guilt, Elizabeth finds out and fires Abigail. Ever since this happened, Abigail set out to destroy and kill Elizabeth and take her place by John Proctor’s side. This led her to seek the help of Tituba, Reverend Parris’ …show more content…
One character that fits in this category is Mary Warren, the Proctor’s 17 year old housekeeper. She was one of the girls who were in the forest with Abigail and Tituba. After the girls are discovered and Abigail confronts some of the other girls, Mary nervously tells Abigail, “Abby we’ve got to tell. Witchery’s a hangin’ error, a hangin’ like the done in Boston two year ago! We must tell the truth, Abby! You’ll only be whipped for dancin’, and other things!” (pg. 18 ACT I). This shows that she knows the difference between right and wrong. Her first instinct was to tell the authority and accept the punishment which shows her good nature, bravery, honesty, and admirability. She is also described in the beginning of the story as “lonely” (pg. 17 ACT I). As the story goes on her good nature begins to drown in the excitement and hysteria of the Witch Trials. For example, she starts attending the trials and ended up condemning Goody Osburn to her death. She reminds the Proctors when Goody Osburn would come by and beg for food. Then she says, “I think-she walked away, and I thought my guts would burst for two days after.” (pg. 54 ACT II). She had blamed Goody Osburn for her ailment and Judge Hathorne condemned her because she couldn’t recite the Ten …show more content…
Although fear for her life took the best of her, she couldn’t gather up the courage to stand with John and stop Abigail. She failed to see that stopping Abigail would stop the trials and save many lives, including John and Elizabeth’s. She was merely a girl who got involved in a terrible situation in which she was way in over her head. Just as we, the readers, witness a possible redemption, Marry Warren ended up succombing to Abigail’s persuasion and not only side with Abigail but calls John Proctor the “Devil’s man” (pg. 110 ACT III). This leads to John’s arrest and this is the last we read about Mary Warren. In her crucible, she tries to fight but isn’t strong enough to combat the fear and Abigail’s wrath which ultimately leads us to conclude that Mary Warren has failed her
Period 3 - English III P
Mrs. Weidmann
10-19-14
The Crucible Essay: Interpretation (#1) The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, is set in Salem, Massachusetts, during the period of the Salem Witch Trials. Before the play begins, there is a little backstory. Abigail Williams, an 18 year old girl whose uncle(Reverend Parris) is the town’s reverend, has an affair with John Proctor, a 30 year old farmer who is married, when she worked at the Proctor household. The two keep it going until John becomes penetrated by his guilt, Elizabeth finds out and fires Abigail. Ever since this happened, Abigail set out to destroy and kill Elizabeth and take her place by John Proctor’s side. This led her to seek the help of Tituba, Reverend Parris’ …show more content…
One character that fits in this category is Mary Warren, the Proctor’s 17 year old housekeeper. She was one of the girls who were in the forest with Abigail and Tituba. After the girls are discovered and Abigail confronts some of the other girls, Mary nervously tells Abigail, “Abby we’ve got to tell. Witchery’s a hangin’ error, a hangin’ like the done in Boston two year ago! We must tell the truth, Abby! You’ll only be whipped for dancin’, and other things!” (pg. 18 ACT I). This shows that she knows the difference between right and wrong. Her first instinct was to tell the authority and accept the punishment which shows her good nature, bravery, honesty, and admirability. She is also described in the beginning of the story as “lonely” (pg. 17 ACT I). As the story goes on her good nature begins to drown in the excitement and hysteria of the Witch Trials. For example, she starts attending the trials and ended up condemning Goody Osburn to her death. She reminds the Proctors when Goody Osburn would come by and beg for food. Then she says, “I think-she walked away, and I thought my guts would burst for two days after.” (pg. 54 ACT II). She had blamed Goody Osburn for her ailment and Judge Hathorne condemned her because she couldn’t recite the Ten …show more content…
Although fear for her life took the best of her, she couldn’t gather up the courage to stand with John and stop Abigail. She failed to see that stopping Abigail would stop the trials and save many lives, including John and Elizabeth’s. She was merely a girl who got involved in a terrible situation in which she was way in over her head. Just as we, the readers, witness a possible redemption, Marry Warren ended up succombing to Abigail’s persuasion and not only side with Abigail but calls John Proctor the “Devil’s man” (pg. 110 ACT III). This leads to John’s arrest and this is the last we read about Mary Warren. In her crucible, she tries to fight but isn’t strong enough to combat the fear and Abigail’s wrath which ultimately leads us to conclude that Mary Warren has failed her