Themes and Motifs

1. Themes and Motifs

2. Themes • The central idea or underlying meaning of a literary work • Typically deals with an abstract concept that is made concrete through representation in character, action, and image.

3. Themes in the Crucible • Human cruelty in the name of righteousness • The Individual and the Community/society • Godliness vs. Worldliness • Ignorance vs. Wisdom • Power and Authority • Justice vs. Retribution and Revenge • Intolerance • Hysteria • Reputation • Betrayal • Persecution • Order vs. Individual Freedom • Good vs Evil

4. More themes … • Lust and Envy • Courage • Conflict • Faith • Morality • Corruption and Lies • Conscience/Integrity • Forgiveness • Loyalty and Love • Trust

5. Human Weaknesses • Lust - • Pride – • Greed - • Revenge - • Ignorance - • Self-indulgence - • Dishonesty - John Proctor Reverend Hale, John Proctor Reverend Parris, Thomas Putnam Mrs. Putnam, Abigail Giles Corey the girls Abigail, the girls, John Proctor

6. Human Strengths • Place the following names beside each strength • Elizabeth Proctor • John Proctor • Rebecca Nurse • Honesty – • Loyalty – • Courage – • Forgiveness – • Faith – • Reason – Elizabeth Proctor Elizabeth Proctor John Proctor Elizabeth Proctor Rebecca Nurse Rebecca Nurse

7. Revenge • Abigail gets revenge on ___________ and ____________ • The girls and the accusers were naming people whom they _________________ and whom they wanted to harm • _____________ gains revenge on ___________ by getting Rebecca, his wife, convicted of murdering his (and Ann Putnam’s) ___________

8. Intolerance • a theocratic society • Church (moral) and state are the same • Sin and status of an individual’s soul are of public concern • Everyone belongs to either God or the devil • “a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it.” (Danforth, Act III)

9. Hysteria • the role that hysteria can play in tearing apart a community. • It replaces logic and reason • enables people to believe their neighbours are guilty of committing absurd and unbelievable crimes • people become active in the hysterical climate for 2 reasons: • out of genuine religious faithfulness • chance to act on long-held grudges

10. How do these characters thrive on hysteria? • Abigail • Reverend Parris uses situation to accuse Elizabeth Proctor of witchcraft and has her jailed strengthens his position within the village (temporarily) by making scapegoats of those who question authority e.g. John Proctor

11. Reputation • Extremely important in theocratic Salem • Guilt by association: their sins will taint your name • Parris fears ___________ questionable behaviour and that the hints of __________ surrounding Betty will threaten and force him from the pulpit.

12. John Proctor - early in the play – has a chance to stop the girl’s __________ but his desire to preserve his _________ keeps him from testifying against Abigail • at the play’s end – desire to keep his good ________ prevents him from a ________ confession “I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” (Proctor to Danforth in Act IV)

13. Betrayal • How does Proctor betray his wife? • How does Abigail betray her community? Why does she do it? • What happens if you lie and confess to being a witch?

14. Power and Authority • The Bible is the ultimate authority • Authority of the Court is ____________ • Conflict of authority - Danforth felt the law should be followed exactly, and that anyone who ___________ the trials was trying to _________ him, his authority and the ________. • Which group in Salem were empowered by the witch trials?

15. Individual Vs Society • The accusers were looking out for their own lives and took whatever actions necessary to save themselves • Conformity – Human freedom vs social order • There is either ___________ or the church will burn like ‘Hell is burning!’ - Parris to Proctor • “I speak my own sins; I cannot judge another. I have no tongue for it “

16. Truth and Lies • Puritan ethics meant most people abhorred lying • Abigail lies all the way through the play • When does she lie? • Elizabeth cannot tell a lie … but does to try to save John

17. Conflict • There are three different forms of conflict to think about in the play • Conflict with self • Conflict with others • Conflict with society Discuss the main conflicts in the play – note that not every conflict is equally important to the story.

18. Motifs • Motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, or literary devices that can help to develop and inform the text’s major themes.

19. Darkness and Dirt Images • Imagery of darkness and dirt represent sin and evil.  Reverend Parris questions Abigail's purity by saying; Your name in the town-it is entirely white, is it not? She argues that her name is not soiled.  • The people of Salem are obsessed with preserving the perceived cleanliness of their souls.

20. Accusations, Confessions, and Legal Proceedings • Parris accuses Abigail of dishonoring him • Parris accuses some of his parishioners • Giles Corey and Proctor accuse him of things in return • Legal proceedings in the past are alluded to • Putnam accuses others • Accusations are the only way that witches can be identified

21. Confessions • Confessions provide the proof of the justice • Proctor confesses to ________ but this confession is trumped by the accusation of witchcraft against him, which in turn demands a confession • Proctor’s courageous decision to ______ rather than confess to a _______ that he did not commit, finally breaks the cycle • The court collapses shortly afterward, undone by the refusal of its victims to propagate lies

22. The Title: The Crucible • a trial that ultimately reveals a person's true character‘ • a melting pot • “We burn a hot fire here. It melts down all concealment” Danforth • Crucible - it is meant to purify, usually by fire. A great irony since the 'fire' that burns in Salem does not purify. Instead it muddles (confuses) and corrupts. Thus a fire burning for the wrong reason is not able to purify. • A place, time, or situation characterised by the confluence of powerful intellectual, social, economic, or political forces