Themes, Motifs and Symbols

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.

Topics/Themes in The Crucible Justice vs. Retribution and

Revenge Intolerance Hysteria Reputation Betrayal Persecution Order vs. Individual

Freedom Good vs Evil

Human cruelty in the name of righteousness

The Individual and the Community/society

Godliness vs. Worldliness

Ignorance vs. Wisdom Power and Authority

More …

Lust and Envy Courage Conflict Faith Morality Corruption and Lies

Conscience/Integrity Forgiveness Evil Loyalty and Love Trust Courage

Human Weaknesses

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

Human Strengths

Honesty – Elizabeth Proctor Loyalty – Elizabeth Proctor Courage – John Proctor Forgiveness – Elizabeth Proctor Faith – Rebecca Nurse Reason – Rebecca Nurse

Revenge

doesn’t profit many; it is a deadly game. Abigail gets revenge on John and Elizabeth

Proctor The girls and the accusers were naming people

whom they did not like and whom they wanted to harm

Thomas Putnam gains revenge on Francis Nurse by getting Rebecca, his wife, convicted of murdering his (and Ann Putnam’s) babies

Intolerance can cause injustice, pain, and tragedy. 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)

Hysteria

can divide a community and cause tragedy. replaces logic and reason enables people to believe their neighbors 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

How do these characters thrive on hysteria?

Abigail: uses situation to accuse Elizabeth Proctor of witchcraft and has her jailed

Reverend Parris: strengthens his position within the village (temporarily) by making scapegoats of those who question authority e.g. John Proctor

Reputation It is important to protect one’s reputation

[John/Rebecca]. Reputation, which is closely linked to ambition,

has been the cause of time and time again for the downfall of not only individuals, but of civilization.

Extremely important in theocratic Salem

Guilt by association: their sins will taint your name Parris fears Abigail’s questionable behavior and hints of

witchcraft surrounding Betty will threaten and force him from the pulpit.

Abigail- my name is white Judge Danforth- concerned for his reputation; won’t

change his position John Proctor - early in the play – has a chance to stop

the girl’s accusations but his desire to preserve his reputation keeps him from testifying against Abigail

at the play’s end – desire to keep his good name prevents him from a false confession

“I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” (Proctor to Danforth in Act IV)

Betrayal

A sense of community can be ruined by betrayal. Relationships are broken by betrayal.

The betrayal between a husband and a wife within the sanctity of a conventional marriage.

Abigail betrays her whole community in order to seduce John.

Those who falsely confess to witchcraft betray their relationship with God and their church.

Power and Authority When those in power abuse their authority,

individuals must take action to fight injustice. Does this happen in the play??

It is important not to abuse one’s power when given authority.

Bible is the ultimate authority; authority of the Court is absolute

Conflict of authority - Danforth felt the law should be followed exactly, and that anyone who opposed the trials was trying to undermine him and his authority and the church.

The girls and some women are empowered by the trials.

Individual Vs Society One must rise over adversity and injustice and

stand for the truth. The insight to life is not to be so quick to follow

the majority, for they are not always right. We should strive to think for ourselves on an

individual basis. We should not judge others because we all have

faults.

Truth and Lies

Is deception ever justified? Stand for the truth!! Puritan ethics meant most people

abhorred lying. Abigail lies throughout the play Elizabeth cannot tell a lie … but does!

Motifs

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

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.

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

Confessions

Confessions provide the proof of the justice Proctor confesses to adultery but this confession

is trumped by the accusation of witchcraft against him, which in turn demands a confession

Proctor’s courageous decision to die rather than confess to a sin that he did not commit, finally breaks the cycle

The court collapses shortly afterward, undone by the refusal of its victims to propagate lies

Symbols objects, characters, figures, or colors used to

represent abstract ideas or concepts As a whole the play symbolizes the paranoia of

the 1950’s communist “red scare” in America. Shows:

narrow-mindedness excessive enthusiasm for a cause disregard for the individual need for naming names (co-conspirators)

Fortress - the church is seen in this manner. But while the metaphor used suggests one crack may break it, we also see that rigidity or the lack of an open mind can bring down an edifice just as quickly.

Dawn 'the new sun' - the end of the play suggests the start of a new day where right is restored and the evil has been expelled.

White - Used for the term for good. Usually used to describe reputation

Black - Term used for evil “There be no blush about my name”

Horse/Animal Reference – suggesting lack of human values and understanding

The Witch Trials and McCarthyism - symbolic of the paranoia about communism that pervaded America in the 1950s

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 characterized by the confluence of powerful intellectual, social, economic, or political forces

Allegory Form of an extended metaphor, in which

objects, persons, and actions are equated with the meanings that lie outside the narrative itself.

The underlying meaning has moral, social, religious or political significance.

Thus an allegory is a story with two meanings, a literal meaning and a symbolic meaning.