One of the group members of an experimental theatre ensemble of the 1970s and 80s, called Wooster Group, commented on The Crucible that “the play was interesting to us because Arthur Miller wrote it as a moral play. He took responsibility, social responsibility. There was a hero.” Since the hero is the most important character who has the task to convey this moral massage, this paper will mainly concentrate on his role, his character development, his portrayal by Arthur Miller and how the author realized his moral concept in the character of John Proctor. When Arthur Miller wrote The Crucible, he envisioned the “concept of unity, in which positive and negative are attributes of the same force, in which good and evil are relative”.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Arthur Miller's Concept
- Realization of the Concept with Regard to John Proctor
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper examines Arthur Miller's portrayal of John Proctor in The Crucible, focusing on Miller's concept of good and evil and how it is manifested in the play. The analysis aims to uncover the author's intentions and assess the effectiveness of his approach.
- Arthur Miller's concept of unity, where good and evil are relative and interconnected.
- The political context of McCarthyism and its influence on Miller's work.
- John Proctor's character development and his role as a moral hero.
- The contrasting portrayal of good and evil in the play and its potential contradictions.
- The play's relevance to contemporary society and its implications for understanding human nature.
Chapter Summaries
The first chapter introduces the paper's focus on John Proctor's role in The Crucible, highlighting Miller's concept of unity and the play's moral implications. The second chapter delves into Miller's concept of good and evil, analyzing his intention to depict them as relative forces. It examines how Miller's political context of McCarthyism influenced his portrayal of these concepts. The third chapter investigates the realization of Miller's concept in the play, focusing on the character of John Proctor and his development throughout the narrative.
Keywords
The main keywords of the paper are The Crucible, Arthur Miller, John Proctor, good and evil, unity, McCarthyism, morality, and character development. The focus is on analyzing the author's concept of good and evil, its realization in the play, and its impact on the portrayal of the protagonist.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Arthur Miller’s concept of the "unity of good and evil"?
Miller envisioned that positive and negative attributes are part of the same force, making good and evil relative and interconnected rather than absolute opposites.
How does John Proctor embody this moral concept?
Proctor is portrayed as a flawed hero whose journey involves acknowledging his sins while ultimately taking a stand for moral truth and individual integrity.
What was the influence of McCarthyism on "The Crucible"?
The play serves as an allegory for the anti-communist "witch hunts" in the 1950s U.S., highlighting the dangers of mass hysteria and political persecution.
Why is John Proctor considered a moral hero?
He is considered a hero because he takes personal and social responsibility, choosing death over a false confession to protect his name and conscience.
What role does social responsibility play in the play?
The play emphasizes that individuals have a responsibility to stand against societal injustice, even when it comes at a high personal cost.
- Citar trabajo
- Katja Kolossowa (Autor), 2009, The Unity of Good and Evil, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/230722
