Piotrowska, C. 2020. Vanderbijlpark: North-West University.
The Crucible as a Modern Tragedy Questions
Which elements of classical or Greek tragedy are present within this
drama? How does it differ from classical Greek tragedy? How does Arthur Miller adapt the idea of a chorus in The Crucible? Is there a tragic hero in The Crucible? Who is it? Does the tragic hero have a tragic flaw? How has the conceptualisation of a tragic flaw changed in this play? How is the tragic struggle presented in The Crucible? Does The Crucible have an ending that is prototypical for tragedy? Miller’s Tragedy and the Common Man Arthur Miller views the theatre as a place where people are not only entertained, but must be made to think Makes us ask questions about the nature of society, family, and self-fulfilment He is concerned with truth and man’s unrelenting yet doomed search for recognition as a human being. Man has a compulsion to lift himself up in society – to be respected, admired, etc. Miller believes that the common man is a fit hero (rather than a noble hero as seen in Greek tragedy), someone who is part of a family and part of society. Individuals suffer for what they naturally are and desire, rather than for what they do Society is frequently a destructive force, a false system, which claims all of its victims. To Miller, a tragic flaw is not necessarily a weakness. It is sometimes just the unwillingness to remain passive in the face of a challenge to your dignity, image, or status. Protagonist makes an active attempt to achieve his “rightful” position in society, which often results in an onslaught against the environment around him A tragic hero cannot accept his lot in life, or that he might have failed in life. Fear of being displaced – being torn away from who and what you think you are in the world. (see Study Guide page 24-25) The Crucible Dramatis Personae Act I: Act II onwards: Reverend Parris Elizabeth Proctor Betty Parris Francis Tituba Ezekiel Cheever Abigail Williams Marshal Herrick Susanna Walcott Judge Hawthorne Mercy Lewis Deputy Governor Danforth Mary Warren Sarah Good Mrs. Ann Putnam Thomas Putnam John Proctor Rebecca Nurse Giles Corey Martha Corey Reverend John Hale The Crucible as a Tragedy Miller’s primary concern is with truth The Crucible portrays the effects of distorting the truth with false dreams, perceived misconceptions, personal hallucinations, etc. Truth in this play is trampled by the confusions caused by the witch accusations and suspicion The hero, instead of being representative of society, stands against it Forces audience to re-evaluate the world around them, and to draw parallels between what happened in 1692 and what was currently happening in the USA (1950s) Cathartic – we live through the fear and terror which the town’s people and the accused feel. Questions Before proceeding to the next slide, attempt to answer the following:
1. How does this play compare to a traditional Greek
tragedy?
2. Who is the tragic hero?
Findfour quotes that give us insight into this character’s personality.
3. What is the tragic hero’s fatal flaw?
How does it differ from traditional Greek tragedy? Similarities: Serious play which showcases human suffering Tragic flaw is still linked to the hero’s hubris Ending is typical of a tragedy – death of the tragic hero & others Obeys Aristotle’s unities of action, time, and place Violent acts are not depicted (we hear about them from messengers) Differences: Tragic hero is not noble, but a common man Tragic hero is not governed by fate, but has free will There is no chorus. Narrator that gives historical notes and commentary Large cast of characters (Greek tragedy typically only had 2-3 actors in masks) The Crucible plot structure Act I Exposition: Betty has fallen ill, people gather at Parris’ house. Conflicts: The Putnams suspect witch craft. Abigail threatens Betty and the girls. Proctor confronts Abigail. Rev. Hale arrives and interrogates them. Climax of Act I: Tituba confesses, names other witches Act II Conflicts: Mary Warren tells us of more arrests and convictions. Rev. Hale questions Proctor. Climax of Act II: Elizabeth is arrested Act III Conflicts: John and Mary disrupt the proceeding; Mary admits to pretending. Proctor confesses to adultery. Abigail and the girls accuse Mary of being a witch. Mary joins Abigail against Proctor. Climax of Act III: Proctor is arrested Act IV Conflicts: John is in prison but will not confess, Hale and Danforth convince Elizabeth to speak with him. Climax of Act IV: John refuses to sign his name to the confession. He is hanged. Denouement: Epilogue (fate of Salem) John Proctor as a Tragic Hero John Proctor can be identified as the tragic hero in this drama He is an upright, honest, reasonable man, who judges himself and others very harshly according to a strict moral code. John had an affair with Abigail. His lust for her lead to him committing adultery. He feels overwhelmingly guilty for it. The act of adultery sets off a chain of events: Abigail gets dismissed from the Proctor household, she wants to take revenge on Elizabeth. Witchcraft is a convenient way of getting rid of her. He has an internal/ moral struggle – he cannot expose Abigail unless he exposes himself He does not want to admit to adultery, and therefore does not reveal this information until he feels he has absolutely no choice By then however, it is too late to save him His good name and social standing is too important to him (hubris & hamartia) He challenges authority (hubris) by confronting the judges and trying to stop the trials John Proctor as a Tragic Hero His identity is more important to him than survival John Proctor dies as an act of self-preservation He wants to preserve the truth of himself and the others He refuses to sign his name to the confession because he knows that the information therein is a lie “How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” He would rather die than live a lie – he knows he is not a witch and did not make any pacts with the devil. He will not confess just to be pardoned. He does not want to be remembered like this Without a name, integrity or dignity, we become animals. Our morality makes us human. His flaw is therefore his unwillingness to remain passive – to accept the circumstances around him Intervenes and disrupts the trials, leading to his own arrest. Had he not said anything, he would have survived. This ultimately leads to his downfall and his death. References and further reading Li, H. 2018. The idea of tragedy in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible and A View from the Bridge. English Language and Literature Studies, 8(2):115-120. Mhayyal, B. M. 2013. Arthur Miller’s Tragedy as Reflected in The Crucible. J College of Education for Women, 24(3): 917- 928.