Grabber: Begin with a Quote from the Crucible That Is Representative of the Play
The Crucible
Character Literary Analysis
Essay Format
Introduction:
Grabber: Begin with a quote from The Crucible that is representative of the play.
Follow with commentary on this quote
Give a brief summary of The Crucible. Remember to use TAG (title, author, genre). Make sure to include that the play compares the fear of witches in the 1690s to the fear of communism in the 1950s.
Mention that the characters in the play are driven by their personal motivations and these motivations are reflective of the themes of the play
Thesis statement: Remember to include an audience and an issue in the thesis
Body Paragraphs 2 and 3: (Situation/Speaker/Significance Format) I have provided you with a sample paragraph; you need two of your own. You may not use my example as one of your own. That which is bolded is the paragraph.
Topic sentence that introduces one character along with the theme represented by the character. Include an appositive phrase that gives a brief description of the character. Deputy Governor Danforth, a relentless, inflexible judge in his sixties, represents that the willingness to value guilt over innocence clouds our ability to see the truth.
Indicate the character’s motivation. In the play, Danforth is prideful of his position in the community. In fact, he may be a little too impressed with his stature, resulting in the needless deaths of innocent, respected citizens. Danforth believes the testimonies of young girls and is unwilling to reverse his decisions even when overwhelming evidence is presented refuting them.
Set up first quote using SSS. For example, when Reverend Hale suggests to Danforth that those who are condemned are respected citizens and would never be involved with witchcraft, Danforth counters, “I tell you straight, Mister –I have seen marvels in this court. I have seen people choked before my eyes by spirits; I have seen them stuck by pins and slashed by daggers. I have until this moment not the slightest reason to suspect that the children may be deceiving me” (Miller 3. 235 – 240).
Follow quote with reflective commentary. Clearly, believing the girls, especially during a period in history when children were not expected to speak until spoken to first, clouds Danforth’s judgment. He defends that because witchcraft is abstract, he has to believe the afflicted.
Transition to second quote using transitional word or phrase and follow with SSS. Later, on the morning the accused are condemned to hang, Hale exhorts Danforth to postpone the trials. Danforth once again displays his inflexibility and his willingness to value guilt over innocence: “Now hear me, and beguile yourselves no more. I will not receive a single plea for pardon or postponement. Them that will not confess will hang. Twelve are already executed; the names of these seven given out, and the village expects to see them die this morning. Postponement now speaks a floundering on my part” (Miller 4. 252 – 258).
Follow quote with reflective commentary. Because Danforth has already hanged twelve people, he is not willing to admit he made a mistake in doing so; his prideful arrogance will not allow him to make a contrary decision for those who are still alive. Thus, he is willing to value guilt over innocence and sacrifice the lives of more innocent people.
Conclusion:
Rephrase thesis
Reflection on the lessons that were learned
Apply this knowledge to the present (Consider if “witch hunts” are still present today. Give specific examples. Don’t just say if they are or they aren’t.)
Transition and tie clincher back to your grabber.