During ancient times, the great philosopher Aristotle believed that all poetry and drama had three parts, the beginning, middle, and end. This belief was refined by the Romans and evolved into Protasis, Epitasis, and Catastrophe. Much later, in Shakespearean times, the five-act play structure was developed and frequently used in tragedies. Although only four acts, the play, The Crucible by Arthur Miller, reflects the five act play structure in terms of plot division: an exposition, a rising action, a climax, a falling action, and a denouement. The exposition begins in Act I with the reader’s introduction to the main characters of the play, in addition to the setting and conflict. This act meticulously resembles the exposition of a traditional
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After John confesses to adultery and Abigail wishing to oust his wife, Elizabeth is brought forth by the court to shed light on the topic. Instead of being honest as per usual, she lies on behalf of John’s reputation, trying to keep it clean. When John couldn’t prove Abigail of harlotry, she threw the court into chaos by claiming Mary Warren was sending out her spirit, in the form of a bird to attack Abigail and her friends. Shockingly, Mary Warren accuses John of trying to force her to pledge allegiance to the Devil, which in turn, gets him arrested. Mary Warren claims, “He wake me every night, his eyes were like coals and his fingers claw my neck, and I sign, I sign… (pg.876)." This concludes Act III, but the falling action still continues in Act …show more content…
After being allowed to talk to Elizabeth, John decides that he will confess to witchcraft in order to live. Before John signs the confession papers, he learns that it will be hung on the church door as an example to the citizens of Salem which he does not want. John exclaims, “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul, leave me my name! (pg.886).” After finding this out, John denies to confessing to witchcraft and goes to hang on the gallows. John’s decision signifies the denouement. In the traditional five-act play structure, the denouement shows the resolution in a character or a conflict. In this case, John comes to terms with who he is and the sins he has committed. By going to hang on the gallows, he is displaying that he is at peace with himself and would rather die baring his good name than to live with a horrid reputation; therefore, concluding the play. The denouements are consistent between the structure of The Crucible and the traditional five-act play structure, which is an imperative similarity between the two
After John confesses to adultery and Abigail wishing to oust his wife, Elizabeth is brought forth by the court to shed light on the topic. Instead of being honest as per usual, she lies on behalf of John’s reputation, trying to keep it clean. When John couldn’t prove Abigail of harlotry, she threw the court into chaos by claiming Mary Warren was sending out her spirit, in the form of a bird to attack Abigail and her friends. Shockingly, Mary Warren accuses John of trying to force her to pledge allegiance to the Devil, which in turn, gets him arrested. Mary Warren claims, “He wake me every night, his eyes were like coals and his fingers claw my neck, and I sign, I sign… (pg.876)." This concludes Act III, but the falling action still continues in Act …show more content…
After being allowed to talk to Elizabeth, John decides that he will confess to witchcraft in order to live. Before John signs the confession papers, he learns that it will be hung on the church door as an example to the citizens of Salem which he does not want. John exclaims, “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul, leave me my name! (pg.886).” After finding this out, John denies to confessing to witchcraft and goes to hang on the gallows. John’s decision signifies the denouement. In the traditional five-act play structure, the denouement shows the resolution in a character or a conflict. In this case, John comes to terms with who he is and the sins he has committed. By going to hang on the gallows, he is displaying that he is at peace with himself and would rather die baring his good name than to live with a horrid reputation; therefore, concluding the play. The denouements are consistent between the structure of The Crucible and the traditional five-act play structure, which is an imperative similarity between the two