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Essay / Miller's manipulation of the tragic form in The Crucible
Arthur Miller's tragic play, The Crucible (1953), is a mirror of the horrible possibilities of human qualities. Exposing the destructive influence of willful ignorance – born of a society built on lies – Miller's dark allegory provides a poignant warning of the dire consequences that flow from blind conformity. Throughout the play we see a depiction of individual experiences and aspirations having a destructive influence on the shared experience of a community; this allows Miller to depict the contentious political situation in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692 as a direct manifestation of the metaphorical witch hunt that emerged during America's McCarthyite "Red Scare" of the 1950s. Through a series of climaxes that rush the play toward its conclusion, Miller strives to celebrate individuals who attempt to challenge and thwart political repression; At the heart of the piece is a commentary on the need to resist dominant political ideologies and recognize the patterns of corruption and political evil that plague us. It is through such careful manipulation of the tragic form that allows Miller to encourage empathy through our witnessing of the suffering of ordinary people. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The Crucible uses the tragic form to lay bare the innate condition of “everyone.” Providing Miller with the opportunity to share his personal concerns regarding societal indoctrination, the interaction of authoritative figures with individual human experiences. This is explained by his characterization of the power imposed by Danforth which stifles independent thought from the wider Salem society. Claiming that “[he] did not accept any statements” when informed of the accusations of the girls concerned was only a “sham”, demonstrates a blatant disregard for the truth in order to promote a reputation for infallibility. Miller challenges his contemporaries to see the world differently and to see such actions as emblematic of the influence of Senator McCarthy and HUAC on the emergence of the "Red Scare" that held 1950s society in its grip. An advocate for the values that truth and justice play in a productive society, Miller uses Proctor, “everyman,” as a tragic symbol of the impact that political fear and deception can have on individual experiences. Characterized as the voice of reason throughout the opening act, Proctor serves to enlighten the audience on the delicate nature of political systems. Miller condemns the devaluation of truth through Proctor's later exclamation "the proof, the proof!" » in response to Elizabeth's arrest and the absurdity of the evidence, "what does a doll mean...what does a needle mean! ". In the next act, Miller juxtaposes the antechamber of the courthouse and the high authority of Salem's political power. His dramaturgical choice of setting the act in a “mock courtroom” enlightens the audience to the irony of trials that promote deception rather than justice and truth. Proctor's verbal exclamations and questions in the next act expose the audience to the failure of institutions to "bring men out of ignorance" when they are aware of the "fraud" they promote, triggering a reflection more critical of the political motivations of the HUAC. Miller represents the dire consequences that can occur when individual motivation dictates the actions of a group. Abigail William's desire to preserve and protect herself..