Elizabeth looked Essay

Discuss the significance of this statement within the play and the wider political and historical contexts. The play, ‘The Crucible’, portrays a community which is based on paranoid accusations of witchcraft ending in mass hysteria. The accusations led to dozens of alleged witches being prosecuted in the Massachusetts colony; resulting in the death of nineteen people being hung and one pressed to death, over the following two years. Set in the small town of Salem, Massachusetts during 1692, it depicts one man, John Proctor, in his struggle to keep his pride and name from being destroyed with lies, deceit and accusations of consorting with Satan. In 1915 Arthur Miller was born in New York City where he grew up. When he was older, in 1934, he paid for himself to enroll at the University of Michigan and graduated in 1938. Then during 1953 he published ‘The Crucible’ but was then later criticized for being an Anti-American. Arthur Miller was intrigued by the witch trials of the 17th Century Salem, but he was also concerned with United States political events; parts of which were opposing the spread of communism. The McCarthyism era, in 1938, was created and led by Senator Joseph McCarthy, it was on the basis that communism was spreading and would undermine and destroy capitalism. McCarthy gave across the point that communism was to be feared and that it was a threat to America. Slowly Americans seemed to grasp his paranoid ideas and began to eradicate communism from the country. John Proctor’s statement, â€Å"I have given you my soul; leave me my name! † is significant within the play and also outside of it. Proctor was a village person, who lived in a small, friendly community where everybody knows each another and so a name would mean a lot about that person living in that community. For that reason Proctor wishes to keep his name as it is because he believes that it is the only thing he has left to hold onto. Yet outside of the play labels are formed for specific groups such as communists and capitalists. A name has been a strong idea throughout history where Kings are recognised by their names and everyone is given a name at birth. One of the main characters in Arthur Millers play is John Proctor. He was known in Salem as having a high moral status and being a respectable, honest and hard working farmer. John Proctor and his wife Elizabeth Proctor had 3 children; John tended to the farm while Elizabeth looked after the house and children. He had a strong belief that he should stick to what he believes by holding his head high against accusations and immoral justifications. He stands up for himself when he is told to sign the confession papers to be nailed onto the church door and does not let people over come him. â€Å"You will not use me! I am no Sarah Good or Tituba, I am John Proctor! You will not use me! It is no part of salvation that you should use me! † John Proctor is a character who, since the start, denounced the whole proceedings of the Witch Trials unjust and that the afflicted girls were liars. This builds up a life changing dilemma where he is accused of witchcraft and eventually will be hung unless he confesses to working with the devil. One of the choices he could take was to lie; he was to sign his name to a document confirming he performed witchery while in association with Lucifer. This outcome would result in him letting down this wife, children, his friends and even the people who have already been hung for witchery. Although ultimately he would be letting himself down and losing his pride and honour. The other choice he could take was death. Proctor ultimately chooses death as he wanted to hold onto, what was left of, his pride, honour and reputation. During this execution he pleaded for a little respite of time while claiming he was not fit to die. His plea was, of course, unsuccessful. Another main character is Abigail Williams; she is revealed to show her true malicious self as the play progresses.