Analyse how Arthur Miller uses the character of John Proctor and other dramatic devices in The
In this essay I am going to analyse the various dramatic devices Arthur Miller uses in his play ‘The Crucible’. Juxtaposition, inverse device, dramatic tension and climax are some of the dramatic devices Arthur Miller uses to explore the idea of conscience. ‘The Crucible’, written by Arthur Miller is based on the Salem witch-hunts that killed many innocent Puritans in Massachusetts. ... Miller bases his play on the events in 1692 to show differences between the consciences of the individual society. John Proctor is portrayed as the protagonist in ‘The Crucible’. Miller describes John Proctor as the ‘everyman’. The audience can relate to Proctor as an average, ordinary man, ‘a sinner’. Firstly Miller tells us Proctor is a ‘farmer in his middle thirties’. Miller creates Proctor as a farmer to show that he has simple ideas and is used to basic methods. ... John Proctor is illustrated as being a very strong and clever man. Miller informs us that Proctor is ‘even-tempered’, meaning he is calm and shows no sign of emotion to anyone, which could be to an advantage. Proctor is an intelligent man and has mind of his own. Miller chooses to tell the audience this to show that Proctor is not easily led and that he sticks to his own beliefs. John Proctor is extremely smart and he has the power to make people in Salem both fear and admire him. ... This quote shows that against Proctor a fool can feel more foolish. Although Proctor is a sinner, his clever, strong character hides his faults and emotions. Therefore his true character is not shown. I think that Proctors true character being hidden is significant to the audience throughout the play, as the audience knows Proctor has sinned but the characters in the play do not, ‘no hint of this has yet appeared on the surface’. Miller implies that Proctor is a complex character who thinks deeply about issues. In Act 1 Miller uses a variety of dramatic devices such as stage directions and body language to explore the history between Abigail and Proctor. At the beginning of their dialogue the stage directions tell us that since Proctor entered, Abigail has ‘stood as though on tiptoe, absorbing his presence, wide-eyed’. Cleanly Abigail has not taken her eyes of Proctor since he walked through the door. The very start of the dialogue begins with Abigail flattering Proctor, ‘Gah! I’d almost forgot how strong you are John Proctor’. This reveals to the audience that Abigail is physically attracted to Proctor. ... Miller uses body language to reveal the feelings and motivations of a character. Abigail’s body language and the way she keeps moving closer to John shows she has strong feelings for him. However John does not respond or reveal his emotions and feelings towards Abigail. When Abigail says ‘Give me a word John, a soft word’, this shows that she has a burning desire for him. Obviously Proctor does not love Abigail anymore, as he says, ‘No Abby. ... For John Proctor, I believe that the relationship between himself and Abigail was just lust whereas Abigail believed it to be true love. ... ’ Miller uses the word ‘stallion’ to imply the animalistic lust between the characters. John was attracted to Abigail as she is a young, beautiful woman. ... ’ Miller creates Abigail as a very cunning, ‘dissembling’ woman. Miller tells us Abigail is ‘dissembling’ in the stage directions, ‘an orphan with an endless capacity for dissembling’.