The 1952 Play The Crucible - Essay Example

The 1952 play The Crucible has been lauded for its classic portrayal of the seventeenth-century Salem witch trials. Successful on Broadway and studied in drama classes for most of its nearly sixty years of existence, most believe the play is a thinly veiled reference to Joseph McCarthy and his ongoing hearings with the House Un-American Activities Committee, which its playwright, Arthur Miller, had been forced to testify before (many years after the play was written). Act IV was the final act of the play and to many; it is the most gripping act of the play. John Proctor is to be hung the next morning and Reverend Hale has come to pray with him the two women are also sentenced to die at the same time. Meanwhile, Governor Danforth and Judge Hathorne send Elisabeth Proctor to jail, to convince her husband to confess (Miller).
Are you stone? ….Have the devil dried up any tear of pity in you? Danforth is talking to Elisabeth, trying to convince her to see her husband, telling her that his “confession” will save his life. This is no doubt a ruse, as the governor is already convinced of John’s guilt and is hoping the confession would be a clearance for all those involved in the persecutions.
I cannot mount the gibbet… The married couple is finally alone and Elisabeth is trying to talk her husband into the confession. In this statement, John refuses to do so. Mounting the gibbet refers to the scaffold and he does not want to die, knowing that one of his last acts was admitting to a lie.
Do what you will… This is Elisabeth talking to John, finally realizing her husband’s ideas of not confessing are correct, and mostly too late appreciates John for the wonderful husband he has been.
Look at you, sir. I think you mistake… This is Danforth speaking to John once he agreed to confess. It seems John had thought better of this and had just asked why Danforth needed his statement when they had already received other ones against Mary Warren, who had also been accused of witchery.
I have given you my soul… In speaking with the judges, John still thinks about saving his name while at the same time wrestling with conscience, knowing that signing a confession will condemn other innocents and their death will be in his hands.
And there’s your first marvel… John again, speaking to Hale. Although he is scared of dying, John realizes that he has risen above “Being left alone” and his death will at least save others.
What profit him to bleed?... Hale feels as much guilt for his conscience as he does sorrow for John as the man is led to the gallows. The minister speaks to Elisabeth trying to convince her once more to plead for her husband to change his mind and choose life over0 hanging. Read More