SPEAKING LIKE A PURITAN – METAPHORIC LANGUAGE FROM ACT TWO OF THE

CRUCIBLE
DIRECTIONS. One of the ways Arthur Miller conveys the Puritan Setting and central thematic images
of The Crucible is through the use of metaphoric language. Read the following lines from Act Two, and
work with your group to determine the meaning behind the metaphors. After looking at the
metaphoric language that Miller’s characters speak, create a metaphor to describe Mary Warren, Hale,
or Abigail. Write your answers in the spaces provided.

METAPHOR
Proctor: “a funeral marches
round your heart.” *
Metaphor and
personification
Elizabeth: “the magistrate
sits in your heart.”
MEANING
JOHN IS TELLING ELIZABETH THAT ALL THE DREAD AND
DARKNESS OF A FUNERAL HAVE SETTLED AROUND HER
HEART, MAKING HER SAD, MOURNFUL, AND COLD. SHE IS
IN A PERPETUAL STATE OF MOURNING OVER HER
MARRIAGE AFTER JOHN’S AFFAIR.
THE JUDGEMENT OF JOHN IS NOT COMING FROM ANY
OUTSIDE SOURCE. RATHER, JOHN IS JUDGING HIMSELF.
THE HEART IS HARDEST ON HIM. IT IS HIS CONSCIENCE THAT
AFFECTS HIM HEAVILY.

THIS CONNECTS W/ THE LITERAL CRUCIBLE – THE HEAT OF

Proctor: “I will curse her FIRE MELTS, TRANSFORMS, PURIFIES, ETC. JOHN SHOWS HIS
hotter than the oldest ANGER HERE; HIS “CURSE” WILL EXPOSE ABIGAIL FOR THE
cinder.” FRAUD SHE IS. JOHN BECOMES A SYMBOLIC CRUCIBLE.

A FORTRESS PROTECTS THOSE INSIDE. A WEAK PART CAN

MAKE THE ENTIRE STRUCTURE CRUMBLE. IT’S ONLY AS
Hale: “Theology is a STRONG AS ITS WEAKEST PART. FOR PURITANS, RELIGION
fortress.”
SAVES AND DEFENDS ALL. ANY VIOLATION WOULD BE SEEN
AS A WEAK SPOT.
FRANCIS NURSE IS DEFENDING HIS WIFE AGAINST
Francis Nurse: “My wife is WITCHCRAFT. THE METAPHOR EMPHASIZES HOW
the very brick and mortar IMPORTANT/VALUABLE SHE IS TO THE COMMUNITY. SHE IS
of the church.” THE FOUNDATION OF THEIR CHRISTIAN VALUES/BELIEFS.
 VENGEANCE TAKES HUMAN FORM AND MOVES FREELY
THROUGHOUT THE TOWN. PEOPLE ARE USING
Proctor: “Vengeance is WITCHCRAFT ACCUSATIONS TO GET REVENGE ON THOSE
walking in Salem.”
WHO THEY BELIEVE HAVE HURT THEM, THOSE WHOM THEY
FEEL JEALOUS/ENVIOUS/NEGATIVE TOWARDS.
Our Metaphor: