Robert Penn Warren

The definition of a ‘crucible’ is a “severe test of patience and belief, or trial”. The title of the play is symbolic to Arthur Miller’s four-act play, The Crucible. In this play, innocent lives are put on trial when Abigail Williams and her friends accuse the men and women of crimes they did not commit. Three characters that experience the greatest change in the play include John Proctor, Elizabeth Proctor and Reverend John Hale. John Proctor is a very-hardworking farmer who is dignified and…

The Crucible by Arthur Miller is mainly about the hysteria around the eruption of the witchcraft trials that took place in Salem in 1692. Salem was a peaceful ordinary town until it was destroyed by the chaos resulted from the wrongful allegations of Salem citizens for witchcraft. The crucible demonstrates how individuals driven by their motivations can spread hysteria with the rest of the society to release their repressed resentments. Miller cleverly created a climate of hysteria to show how…

There was once very dark forces in the town and village of Salem. For example people were lying, falsely accusing each other, being greedy, and even threatening people's lives. These things all started because some girls didn’t want to get into trouble for dancing in the woods. Instead of the girls fessing up for what they did they started accusing people in the town (that they didn’t like or they wanted to get revenge on) of witchcraft. When someone accused another person of witchcraft that…

I agree with Hawthorne’s judgment of characters in the book “the Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne where the characters Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale, and Roger Chillingworth, all has sinned due to different reasons and ways, however, Hawthorne depicts Chillingworth as the greatest sinner since his intentions were selfish and he had harmful motives whereas Hester’s and Dimmesdale’s sin was caused by passion and love. The reason I somewhat agree with Hawthorne’s judgment is because of the…

Change is to become different. Now is it good or bad? Change is sometimes good in order to enjoy every possible aspect of life. It also can be bad, because this change might even affect rather than oneself. In the play, The Crucible, characters change in order to resolve the conflict or even relieve themselves from the situations. Three main characters display the need to change more than any other. The characters who have mentioned change others, change severely, or just change a little. These…

The Pillowman was an interesting play. It was one of the best theatrical performances I have experienced. Not only the design, costumes, acting but the story line. It made you think about the social experiment the parents performed on Katurian. It made me question why parents were evil in how they abused Michal and experimented on Katurian, was it for their own fun? Or was there a purpose? But also the stories Katurian wrote were terrifying that someone could think that way. Needless to say it…

Many people tend to remember things that didn’t happen or remember them differently from the way they really and that is what we call false memories. This is something Elizabeth Lotus had studied about. She begins her debriefing by starting with a story of Steve Titus who was arrested back in 1980 because he had slightly matched a physical description, and drove a similar car, to a man who had raped a woman in the area. The police officer who had pulled him over had taken a picture of Titus and…

Arthur Miller wrote his play “The Crucible” in early 1690’s. At this time the United States was involved with World War 1, and throughout this time the United States was worried about the Soviet Union’s rising powers. The play “The Crucible” was based on the occurrences in America during the 1950’s. It was about witchery and who acted upon witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts. The Salem Witch Trials of 1692, was based on Senator Joseph McCarthy’s hunt for communist. During this time…

Discussion Questions: Why is the question “Is truth relative or absolute” important to the plot and characters? Hester is ostracized from society because people view her adultery as a great sin. However, Hester is able to change her view to understand that she is a strong woman who has done something other women wouldn’t dare to do. Chillingworth is in search to find the man who got Hester pregnant because he wants to get revenge. How does Hester see the truth differently than the other members…

Mrs Grose on the way to see the Master while in the Cart with Flora, recalling the terrible things the Governess has done. Mrs Grose intends to expose the Governess to the Master: I too should share the blame, my incompetence was extreme. In way I indeed was an accomplice, I spurred on her treacherous thoughts and even worse in fact, I intensified them. However, she [the governess] was insane. The belief she held that my dear and innocent Miles and Flora held evil nature was preposterous. I have…