Halina


 * The Crucible Stage Directions Act 1 **

Act 1 of The Crucible is an introduction to all of the characters - ﻿improve sophistication of topic sentences. The stage directions play an important part in enhancing and emphasising concealed traits in a character you would not otherwise catch. Take for example Abigail Williams. Much of her outward character is quite sweet an innocent, a deceiving persona, but Miller’s stage directions serve as a window to her true personality. When we are first introduced to Abigail it is via stage directions on page 8, and it describes her as “a strikingly beautiful girl, an orphan, with an endless capacity for dissembling.” The fact that Abigail is described as a “beautiful girl” suggests something slightly amiss, as we know beauty is often used as a form of manipulation, also the fact that she is an orphan. Orphans are commonly depicted as quite harmless, sweet children; this could be added to what Abigail uses to deceive people. The fact that these are all dangerous traits is brought together by the stage direction she has “an endless capacity for dissembling.” To dissemble is to affectively break things apart, this trait combined with her other traits make her a hazardous person. Other parts in Act 1 also reveal Abigail’s character through stage directions. For example on page 10, before Abigail answers a very condemning question about her practising witchcraft, her stage direction is to reply “innocently” which is a emphasising her manipulation of her beauty, and probably also in her relationship with Parris, who is her uncle. On page 11 Abigail’s more scary side is revealed when the stage direction “with an edge of resentment” is used. It reveals to us there is more intense side to her character and not just a sweet, pretty orphan.

Use more literary terminology when discussing and bring mini sections of the paragraph together into one


 * Conveying an underlying sense of tension and hysteria**

The scene I have chosen is between Abigail and Parris. Parris is interrogating Abigail over what happened in the forest. This is in Act 1 page 8. To raise tension between the two characters I would have Abigail using her hidden self to raise tension. In the part where Abigail says “She hates me uncle, uncle, she must, for I would not be her slave. It’s a bitter woman, a lying, cold, snivelling, woman, and I will not work for such a woman!” To convey an underlying sense of tension, I would add the stage direction “Abigail says with a hateful face.” This direction would add tension because Parris would become aware of Abigail’s true thoughts towards Elizabeth, and also the harsher side to Abigail’s personality. Parris’ reply, “ She may be. And it has trouble me that you are now seven month out of their house, and all this time no other family has ever called for you service.” This would be said with the stage direction of “Parris looks suspiciously at Abigail” raising the tension even more because we know Parris is getting an inkling of Abigail’s personality and it is possible he thinks he can use it to his advantage. ** Catalyst in the Crucible **

It could be argued that the relationship between the community and the church is a key catalyst in the Crucible. The town is deeply religious and the centrefold of the community is the church. The church is what guides the community in their moral values and beliefs, and though the church preaches these values it doesn’t act upon them. Parris is a good example of this particular character of the church. Take for example the start of that play. Parris’ cries at the beginning are ones of great distress and suffering of a parent “Betty. Child. Dear child. Will you wake, will you open up your eyes! Betty, little one…” It is clearly indicating strongly about his anxiety for his child. Later however, it appears Parris has a different agenda. “And I pray you feel the weight of truth upon you, for now my ministry’s at stake.” Parris has disregarded even his daughter’s health to discuss his own personal ones. This is a selfish act; something the church is supposedly strongly against, he is exemplary in personifying the church’s true character. The church does not follow its own teachings and rules, it is a hypocritical, and this creates distrust and uneasiness among those in the community. And while some cower at the church, and try to ignore it, Abigail easily manipulates the uneasiness created by it. She uses people’s rising paranoia to her advantage, to save her skin so she will not be burnt as a witch, thus, the church can be viewed as the catalyst because it is what ignites Abigail’s true character inside.

I am not sure whether you discuss why the church is a catalyst - more you point to the hypocrisies in the church.


 * Conveying an underlying sense of tension and hysteria**

The scene I have chosen is between Abigail and Parris. Parris is interrogating Abigail over what happened in the forest. This is in Act 1 page 8. To raise tension between the two characters I would have Abigail using her hidden self to raise tension. In the part where Abigail says “She hates me uncle, uncle, she must, for I would not be her slave. It’s a bitter woman, a lying, cold, snivelling, woman, and I will not work for such a woman!” To convey an underlying sense of tension, I would add the stage direction “Abigail says with a hateful face.” This direction would add tension because Parris would become aware of Abigail’s true thoughts towards Elizabeth, and also the harsher side to Abigail’s personality. Parris’ reply, “ She may be. And it has trouble me that you are now seven month out of their house, and all this time no other family has ever called for you service.” This would be said with the stage direction of “Parris looks suspiciously at Abigail” raising the tension even more because we know Parris is getting an inkling of Abigail’s personality and it is possible he thinks he can use it to his advantage.

Theme in the Crucible
Throughout the crucible, a theme that I find constant throughout the play, is the idea of intolerance, specifically that of the theocratic leadership. I think the intolerance is most notably developed in two particular scenes, when Danforth comes to visit Elizabeth and Proctor to decide whether Elizabeth is a witch or not, and the court trial judging Elizabeth. When Danforth visits Elizabeth, he points out the poppet “Danforth: I spy a poppet, Goody Proctor.” It is a very menial thing to accuse her of witch craft, it is just very slightly out of the ordinary. But in a community such as Salem, any person who does not conform to the utmost detail of the religious laws is seen as a threat to the religious leadership. The theocratic ruling is very black and white. You are either with God, or you are with Satan. As Danforth says in Act III, “a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it.” Danforth is the representation of the theocratic leader. The witch trials are the ultimate expression of intolerance, and unfortunately they reflect on many situations in the real world.

Halina, you make some decent points but the structure of your paragraphs is generally quite weak. You haven't taken any advice over corrections or redrafting and you need to improve your quality of writing.I am not sure why you are splitting paragraphs into 3 or 4 parts but this has a detrimental effect on cohesion. It's a shame that you haven't included all the paragraphs which has a detrimental effect.

Knowledge and Understanding - 3 Lit Features - 2 Interpretation - 3

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