The
Crucible: Act Notes – Act 2
Summary:
·
The act begins in the Proctor household, where we see the
awkwardness and disconnection in John and Elizabeth Proctor’s relationship. We
initially see them arguing about the fact that Proctor was alone in a room with
Abigail (which was significant due to the history of romance which Abigail and
John Proctor have).
·
Mary Warren returns from court and gives
·
Hale visits the Proctors as he wants to speak to each person
accused. He questions John Proctor’s lack of commitment to the church and
becomes increasingly suspicious of John Proctor. Proctor assures him that the
household is not satanic, and proves it by reciting the commandments, which he
does with much difficulty.
·
John Proctor challenges the word of the court and attempts
to defend
·
Cheever arrives at the Proctor household arrest
·
In this anger, Proctor tears the arrest warrant which
symbolizes his determination to fight against the court and bring order back to
the court. He challenges Hale in anger making Hale less certain of the case and
makes his involvement in this case official.
Motifs
& Connotations:
Books
and Paper
A
significant event regarding books and paper was when Proctor ‘rips the warrant’
despite Cheever ordering Proctor that he ‘dare not touch the warrant’. This is
significant because it highlights Proctor as a hero within the play, due to the
fact that through this he is seen to challenge the absurd behaviour of his
society. Cheever’s reaction of outrage (highlighted by the exclamation mark),
as well as the phrase ‘the Deputy Governor’s warrant’ indicate the extent to
which Proctor has acted unacceptably. Additionally, the warrants are seen to be
the epitome of society’s expectations and Proctor’s actions foreshadow his
coming conflict with the court.
In addition to the ripping of the warrant, Proctors reaction to the
event when he says ‘…This warrant’s vengeance! I’ll not give my wife to
vengeance!’ suggests how Miller effectively undermines both the
Clothing
and Nudity
“…we are
only what we always were, but naked now. Aye, naked! And the wind, God’s icy
wind, will blow!” This quotation suggests that there have been lies and secrets
in
Hot and
Cold/Weather
The idea
of the play taking place in the ‘winter’ is significant as it emphasizes the
tension and lack of communication in the Proctors relationship. As the act
takes place indoors and in a gloomy time is indicative of how dysfunctional
their relationship is. This is further emphasized by the quotation that
‘[laughing bitterly] Oh,
‘Believe
me, Mr. Nurse, if Rebecca Nurse be tainted, then nothing’s left to stop the
whole green world from burning.’ Rebecca Nurse has been taken to court, and
here, Hale is reassuring Mr. Nurse that he believes Rebecca is a good woman.
Here, burning (fire/heat) is associated with defeat and the fact that it is the
‘whole world’ that will burn suggests the magnitude of the error that the court
has committed by arresting Rebecca Nurse.
‘And the
wind, God’s icy wind, will blow!’ The ‘icy wind’ is associated with God and it
suggests that God’s judgment will be merciless and cut through all pretence to
the core truth, much like an icy wind would do. There is a sense, however, that
Proctor welcomes this judgment as he himself is unable to accept the fact of
his own infidelity and it seems he almost wishes for a chance to embrace his
own destruction as he cannot bear to carry on living
the lie of his honourable life.
Individualism
“Think on
cause, man [Proctor], and let you help me to discover it. For there’s your way,
believe it, there is your only way, when such confusion strikes upon the world”
– Hale. Hale recognises Proctor’s individuality and
knows that this man can help him work his way through all the chaos in society
in order to find the cause. Miller may be trying to point out how the 1950s
American society needs an individual like this to help put an end to the
madness of McCarthy’s Witch Hunt.
Characters:
John
Proctor
This act
is most significant for John Proctor as it develops his role as the hero of the
play. The act is used to concentrate Proctors character as an individual who
will challenge the society. This idea becomes clear when Proctor’s rage
increases and he starts ‘ripping the warrant’. Even after the warrant has been
ripped he commands Cheever, a person who is of a higher status in society, to
leave his house evidenced when he shouts ‘out with you!’ Essentially this act
creates the beastly and determined character that Proctor represents and
demonstrates the beginning of the conflict which is to occur in the court which
Proctor attempts to reform.
Hale
Hale is
used in this act interestingly. We immediately see a Hale as a ‘different’
person. He is decribed as ‘drawn a little and there
is a quality of deference, even of guilt about his manner now.’ This is
significant because it is the first time we see some levels of sanity and
level-headedness amongst the superior members of society. His role in this
scene is also significant because it possibly foreshadows Hales character
change in act 4, where he seems to change completely.
The first
time we see
Mary
Warren
Mary
Warren is significant in this scene because it seems as though she is a tool
used by Miller to explore the absurdity of the society during this time. She
returns from court more confident and claims that she will ‘not stand whipping
any more’ because she is ‘an official of the court’ which clearly demonstrates
the power the court holds, that young girls are able to talk back to their own
boss. In addition to her surge of authority from the court, she seems to
believe the influence of the Devil in
Imagery
and Setting
·
Animal imagery is present where the Devil is described as a
real creature that roams around in the town rather frequently. Mary Warren’s
description of the Devil in the quotation ‘The Devil’s loose in
·
The image of Proctor tearing the warrant is demonstrates how
Proctor will officially challenge the court of law and take a stand against he
absurdity that affects
·
The setting is significant in this act. The entire act takes
place in the Proctors household, which seems to be the only house which is
seems comfortable with ‘the field outside’ and a ‘long living room of the
time.’ This is demonstrates how the Proctor household seems nicer than the rest
of
Relation
of Part to Whole
This scene
is significant because it prepares us for the climax of the play. The idea of
Proctor ‘ripping the warrant’ and raging at the end of the act is significant
because it foreshadows Proctors attempt to challenge the authority of the court
and try to reform the town’s absurd ideologies. His anger makes it official
that he will be the figurehead the small group of people in the town who see
the absurdity of the conservative and religious nature of the town. It is
interesting to note that the most significant characters of the play who
somewhat assist Proctor in his mission to create a more sensible court of law
are all present in the room in this act.
It is also
a significant act as for the first time we see a clear power struggle between
two groups in the society. Even Hale seems as though ‘He is different now-drawn
a little, and there is a quality of deference, even of guilt, about his manner
now.’ This is significant because in the household of the Proctors, the realism
and shrewdness to the events unfolding is strong which not only emphasize the
idea of the two groups in the society, but also emphasizes how Proctor can be
successful, because Hale himself changes due to his presence in the Proctor
household.