The scene in Act Four of The Crucible, by
Arthur Miller, defines the
characterization,
themes, and conflicts of the play. The scene takes place in a
court dungeon
where John Proctor, is confronted by his wife Elizabeth for the
first time in
many months. The couple is imprisoned on having been falsely
convicted of
practicing witchcraft. While Elizabeth has been held with the
rest of the
members of the community, John has been isolated in a dark,
dingy,
dungeon. He is to be hung for his
"crimes" the very next morning. The
court officials
send Elizabeth in to convince John to confess in writing that
the accusations
against him are true and that the verdict is just.
The conversation that takes place between
Proctor and Elizabeth is
"above
sorrow, beyond it." They are bewildered by the hatred against them.
They know they
have done nothing, and are falsely accused. Yet, even with
the glum
atmosphere created by the conversation, the reader detects a
glimmer of optimism,
determination, and hope in Proctor's voice. The reader
feels that he
will fight till the end. "It is hard to give a lie to dogs.", he
says.
Proctor continually wavers in his decision
whether to confess to this
outright lie, or
to spite the evil and be hung in martyrdom. Up to this point in
time, the court
officials have no definitive proof that any witchcraft has
actually been
practiced. Innocent people are being hung only on account of
the testimony
given by one young girl. Proctor realizes that by confessing, he
will mar the
memory of the many who have thus far been killed without
confirming the
false accusations. These dead would not sign their names
falsely just to
spare their own life. How could Proctor disrespect the cause
that these dead
gave their lives for, just to spare himself?
Throughout the scene, Elizabeth struggles to
let John be the one to
decide whether he
should spite the court or save his own life. She never
provides a
definite answer and seems to be in turmoil. Elizabeth states, "I
want you living,
John. That's sure." Yet, when John asks her whether he
should confess so
that his life will be saved, she responds,
"Do what you will. But let none be
your judge. There be no
higher judge under Heaven than Proctor
is! Forgive me, forgive
me, John--I never knew such goodness in
the world!"
In this scene Elizabeth tells John the story of
Giles' death. Giles would
not answer aye or
nay to his indictment so that the court would not be
allowed to
auction off his property. This allows his sons to inherit his
property upon his
death. The court pressed large stones
onto his body to
force a
confession, yet he would not answer and was killed by the weight of
the stones. This
shows that we can not submit to the injustice that can be
brought about in
American society. It also portrays that these people who
were wrongly put
to death, unselfishly never thought of themselves, only of
others. Giles
chose a torturous, painful death rather than a sudden, struggle
free death so
that his family could be well.
This scene epitomizes the messages and ideas
that Miller tries to
portray in his
writing of the play. The conversation between John Proctor and
Elizabeth
exhibits the confusion, suffering, despair, determination, and hope
of the victims
convicted in this terrible tragedy. Also, the story of Giles
portrays the
goodness and selflessness of these martyrs. It is for these reasons
that this scene
is the most compelling and instrumental to the plot, themes,
and characters.
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