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    The Crucible Act I Close Reading

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    Miller's purpose is to demonstrate how people will go to great lengths to protect their reputation. In the first passage, Parris prioritizes protecting his ministry over his daughter, emphasizing it multiple times. Abigail also defends her reputation at the cost of dehumanizing Elizabeth Proctor. In the second passage, Hale arrives with authority to investigate witchcraft, and people comply with his questioning instead of arguing for fear of being accused themselves. Miller shows how moral reasoning can deteriorate when reputation is threatened.

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    The Crucible Act I Close Reading

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    Miller's purpose is to demonstrate how people will go to great lengths to protect their reputation. In the first passage, Parris prioritizes protecting his ministry over his daughter, emphasizing it multiple times. Abigail also defends her reputation at the cost of dehumanizing Elizabeth Proctor. In the second passage, Hale arrives with authority to investigate witchcraft, and people comply with his questioning instead of arguing for fear of being accused themselves. Miller shows how moral reasoning can deteriorate when reputation is threatened.

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    Miller's purpose is to demonstrate how people will go to great lengths to protect their reputation. In the first passage, Parris prioritizes protecting his ministry over his daughter, emphasizing it multiple times. Abigail also defends her reputation at the cost of dehumanizing Elizabeth Proctor. In the second passage, Hale arrives with authority to investigate witchcraft, and people comply with his questioning instead of arguing for fear of being accused themselves. Miller shows how moral reasoning can deteriorate when reputation is threatened.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    650 views4 pages

    The Crucible Act I Close Reading

    Uploaded by

    api-336093393
    Miller's purpose is to demonstrate how people will go to great lengths to protect their reputation. In the first passage, Parris prioritizes protecting his ministry over his daughter, emphasizing it multiple times. Abigail also defends her reputation at the cost of dehumanizing Elizabeth Proctor. In the second passage, Hale arrives with authority to investigate witchcraft, and people comply with his questioning instead of arguing for fear of being accused themselves. Miller shows how moral reasoning can deteriorate when reputation is threatened.

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    The passage demonstrates that people are willing to go to great lengths to protect their reputation, even if it means compromising their morals or prioritizing their career over family.

    Parris repeatedly mentions protecting his 'ministry' and emphasizes it over caring for his daughter, referring to her as Abigail's 'cousin.' He also guilts Abigail by reminding her of what he has provided for her.

    When Mr. Hale arrives, everyone recognizes his authority as someone who can interrogate and accuse people of witchcraft. Even Proctor and Giles Corey comply with him initially due to his position.

    The Crucible​ Act I Rhetorical Analysis Close Reading Practice 

     
     
    Purpose: ​To examine how Miller’s language drives the story forward. Remember that although this is 
    historical fiction, all writing seeks to persuade and Miller has a purpose in his writing.  

    Directions: ​first, annotate the text from the Act I. Then, explain how the rhetorical choices in this 
    passage help Miller develop his purpose. 

    Parri​s: I cannot blink what I saw,​ Abigail, ​for my enemies will not blink it.​ I saw a dress lying on the grass. 

    Abigail, ​innocently: ​A dress? 

    Parris - ​it is very hard to say: ​Aye, a dress. And I thought I saw - someone naked running through the trees! 

    Abigail, ​in terror: ​No one was naked! You mistake yourself, uncle! 

    Parris, ​with anger: ​I saw it! ​He moves from her. Then, re-solved: ​Now tell me true, Abigail. And I pray you 

    feel the weight of truth upon you, for now ​my ministry’s ​at stake, ​my ministry​ and ​perhaps your cousin’s life​. 

    Whatever abomination you have done, give me all of it now, for I dare not be taken unaware when I go 

    before them down there. 

    Abigail: There is nothin.’ more. I swear it, uncle. 

    Parris, ​studies her, then nods, half convinced: ​Abigail, ​I have​ fought here three long years to bend these 

    stiff-necked people to me​, and now, just now when some good respect is rising for me in the parish, you 

    compromise my very character. I have given you a home, ​child​, I have put clothes upon your back - now 

    give me upright answer. Your name in the town - it is entirely white, is it not? 

    Abigail, ​with an edge of resentment: ​Why, I am sure it is, sir. ​There be no blush about my name. 

    Parris, ​to the point: ​Abigail, is there any other cause than you have told me, for your ​being discharged 

    from Goody Proc-tor’s service?​ I have heard it said, and I tell you as I heard it, that she comes so rarely to 

    the church this year for she ​will not sit so close to something soiled.​ What signified that remark? 

    Abigail: She hates me, uncle, she must, for I would not be her slave.​ It.’s a bitter woman, a lying, cold, 

    sniveling woman, and I will not work for such a woman! 

     
     

     
    How does this passage support Miller’s purpose? Be specific.  

    Throughout this passage, Miller's purpose is to demonstrate that when people feel the 
    need to protect their reputation, they are willing to go to any length to do so. First, Miller 
    demonstrates Parris's flawed reasoning of wanting to know the truth simply because his "enemies" 
    will pay attention to it, rather than because it is the right choice to make. Parris also repeats "[his] 
    ministry" two times, before acknowledging his daughter, who he refers to as "your cousin." The 
    emphasis on Parris's "ministry" over his own child demonstrates the lengths people are willing to 
    go to preserve their name; typically one would expect a parent to prioritize their child over their 
    job. To further the lengths people will go to save their name, Parris guilts Abigail by reminding her 
    of what he has done for her in parallel structure to emphasize that she owes him. Abigail loses 
    sight of her morals when defending her reputation by referring to Elizabeth Proctor as "it," which 
    dehumanizes her. Through both Abigail and Parris's actions in this passage, Miller comments on 
    the dangers of being too focused on reputation. 

     
    He appears loaded down with half a dozen heavy books. 

    Hale: Pray you, someone take these! 

    Parris, ​delighted: M
    ​ r. Hale! Oh! It’s good to see you again! ​Taking some books: M
    ​ y, they’re heavy! 

    Hale, ​setting down his books: ​They must be; they are ​weighted with authority​. 

    Parris, ​a little scared: W


    ​ ell, you do come prepared! 

    Hale: We shall need hard study if it comes to ​tracking down the Old Boy.​ ​Noticing Rebecca: ​You cannot be 

    Rebecca Nurse? 

    Rebecca: I am, sir. Do you know me? 

    Hale: It.’s strange how I knew you, but I suppose you look as such a good soul should. We have all heard of your 

    great charities in Beverly​. 

    Parris: Do you know this gentleman? Mr. Thomas Putnam. And his good wife Ann. 

    Hale: Putnam! I had not expected such distinguished company, sir. 

    Putnam, ​pleased, I​ t does not seem to help us today, Mr. Hale. We look to you to come to our house and save 

    our child. 

    Hale: Your child ails too? 

    Mrs. Putnam: Her soul, her soul seems flown away. ​She sleeps and yet she walks.​.. 

    Putnam: ​She cannot eat. 

    Hale: Cannot eat! ​Thinks on it. Then, to Proctor and Giles Corey: ​Do you men have afflicted children? 

    Parris: No, no, these are farmers. John Proctor - 

    Giles Corey: ​He don’t believe in witches. 

    Proctor ​to Hale: ​I ​never spoke on witches one way or the other​. Will you come, Giles? 

    Giles: No - no, John, I think not. I have some few queer questions of my own to ask this fellow. 

    Proctor: I’ve heard you to be a ​sensible man​, Mr. Hale. I hope ​you’ll leave some of it in Salem. 

    Proctor goes. Hale stands embarrassed for an instant. 

     
    How does this passage support Miller’s purpose? Be specific.  

    Miller, in the duration of the second passage, displays the tendency of people to 
    agree with those with authority rather than argue and become accused. To begin, Miller 
    introduces Mr. Hale, a man of “​weighted with authority​” to new characters. Since news in 
    Salem travels quickly, everyone knows of the upending accusations of “​witches​”. Even 
    though Mr. Hale seems logical and like “​a sensible man​” he increases the hysteria because 
    he starts questioning people; he accuses people of trying to track “​down the Old Boy​”, or 
    those who are with the devil. In this situation, Parris and John Proctor ​comply with Mr. Hale 
    because he holds the power of interrogation; even to inculpate someone as a witch. 
    Similarly in America, a widespread fear of communism and anarchism grew called The Red 
    Scare which led to many in authority to join together and blame Americans as being 
    communist spies. In turn, it ruined many reputations, created fear of being falsely accused, 
    and turned personal conflict into public attention. 

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