Verbal irony examples in the crucible. The Crucible Situational Irony Analysis 2023-01-01

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Verbal irony is a literary device in which words are used to convey a meaning that is the opposite of their literal meaning. In Arthur Miller's play "The Crucible," verbal irony is used extensively to convey the theme of hypocrisy and the dangers of mob mentality.

One example of verbal irony in "The Crucible" occurs when Reverend Hale, a character who initially believes in the existence of witches, speaks to Elizabeth Proctor about her husband, John Proctor. Reverend Hale says, "He must be taken, for he is guilty. And yet I think he is innocent." This statement is ironic because Hale is stating that John Proctor must be taken, implying that he should be punished, yet at the same time, he admits that he thinks John is innocent. This demonstrates the hypocrisy of the Salem witch trials, where people were being accused and punished for crimes they did not commit.

Another example of verbal irony in "The Crucible" occurs when Abigail Williams, the main accuser in the Salem witch trials, speaks to John Proctor. Abigail says, "I have a sense for heat, John, and yours has drawn me to my window, and I have seen you looking up, burning in your loneliness." This statement is ironic because Abigail is implying that John is lonely and desires her, when in reality, John is trying to resist Abigail's advances and stay faithful to his wife. This demonstrates the manipulative and deceitful nature of Abigail, who is willing to use her power as an accuser to get what she wants.

Verbal irony is also present in the character of Judge Danforth, who is responsible for the Salem witch trials. Judge Danforth says, "There is a prodigious fear of this court in the town, but let them fear it. They will not endure the finger of God pointing out the truth to them!" This statement is ironic because Judge Danforth believes that he is serving as an agent of God's justice, yet the Salem witch trials are causing harm and destruction in the community. This demonstrates the blindness and hubris of Judge Danforth, who is unable to see the errors of his ways.

Overall, verbal irony is used effectively in "The Crucible" to convey the theme of hypocrisy and the dangers of mob mentality. It highlights the flawed and corrupt nature of the Salem witch trials and serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of blindly following authority and the importance of standing up for what is right.

Verbal Irony In The Crucible

verbal irony examples in the crucible

I am going to do this by exploring the language used, how the characters develop and how Arthur miller unfolds the plot to keep the reader interested and how emotion and feelings dictate the movements of the play. When Hale comes to question John about Elizabeth, he questions their faith. Dramatic Irony: We, the reader, already know that John Proctor committed adultery, and admitted it, but Elizabeth does not so she lies to protect him. I am sick of Hell! Considering how the Puritans preach against sin and view willful wrongdoing as a one-way trip to hell, that a reverend should encourage people to lie to save their earthly lives is deeply ironic. As most know of the Salem witch trials, they specifically know the unjust and misled court system that was used to accuse the witches. .

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The Crucibles Verbal Irony, Sample of Essays

verbal irony examples in the crucible

And it is my face, and yours, Danforth! What are the ironies in the Crucible? The Crucible is a play by the American playwright Arthur Miller, and is filled with examples of irony throughout the play to build suspense and create anxiety. As a form of verbal irony, his statement implies that the court officials are the Devil. Examples Of Power In The Crucible 508 Words 3 Pages Danforth only sees truth and power through the law and is the determining factor that stands between a defendent and their innocense. Abigail pretends to be morally upright and righteous but is actually malevolent, selfish, and conniving. Parris was trying to validate the fact that maybe they were uninformed of her custody of these, that maybe she could have hidden her poppets. If anything, I think her statement might best be called situational irony: a huge hypocrite points out other people's hypocrisy. Is your husband a lecher! Thomas Putnam's anger toward the town for not getting enough respect is what caused him to accuse an innocent man of witchcraft, demonstrating how emotions can lead to immoral Examples Of Elizabeth Lying In The Crucible 575 Words 3 Pages John tells the truth but Elizabeth lies to protect him which is ironic because He told the court she would never lie.

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Examples of Irony in the Crucible

verbal irony examples in the crucible

John admits to lechery, and the court brings out Elizabeth to vouch for this crime. Revealing historical elements only in bits and pieces, Arthur Miller can turn the emotions within the events in a way that shocks the audience. The verbal irony portrayed earlier by the Proctors is once again affective here and in some cases even more powerful. The use of this type of irony allows for a twist in the major or minor plotline. The meaning of allegory is a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning.

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Examples Of Irony In The Crucible

verbal irony examples in the crucible

In The Crucible, Arthur Miller utilizes characterization, dramatic and verbal irony, and symbolism to the the convey the conflict of piety and corruption, therefore exposing the hypocrisy of a theocratic community. He only confesses that the he knew that the girls were lying when his own interests were at stake for example when they took his wife away to try her for witchcraft. The fact that John cheated on his wife and the fact that Elizabeth cannot forgive him for this is the basis of the conflict. Irony is included in …show more content… This is shown in the play when Elizabeth lies about why she fired Abigail in order to protect John. Which of the Three Types of Irony does this represent? When John is asked to recite the Ten Commandments to prove his Christianity, he lists nine of them, and then repeats one. It is ironic that Abigail would say the world is full of hypocrites because she is a hypocrite.

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What are examples of verbal irony in act 3 of The Crucible?

verbal irony examples in the crucible

This increases the hysteria of the other characters, which in turn, engages the audience. It is about a town, after accusations from a few girls, which begins a mad hunt for witches that did not exist. Abigail Williams claims that ''It's God's work I do'' when she is doing evil by sending innocent people to death for witchcraft. Verbal Irony Verbal irony is an ironic statement that uses literal meaning to imply another meaning. John calls out such perversion of justice when he states, ''I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face. The audience is surprised enough to find out that Abigail has been fired as a servant of the Proctors' home because she has had an affair with John Proctor, a man much older than her and supposedly pious. And then, the next day, Elizabeth goes to court and tells the judge a lie about the reason behind the firing of Abigail as the family servant.

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In The Crucible, consider the following examples of irony. Classify each as verbal, dramatic, or situational and think about the purpose of each...

verbal irony examples in the crucible

Abigail's comment can be identified as an example of verbal irony because it is contradictory to her emotions and actions. What makes Danforth statement about the pure in heart an example of verbal irony from The Crucible? His character does not evolve in many ways during the course of the play. So he starts a witch hunt to find the communists in the United States and he targeted celebrities of Hollywood such as Helen Keller, Langston Hughes and Charlie Chaplin put them all on trial for been associated with the Communist Party. Miller, 25 Situational Irony: John is unable to name adultery when Hale asks him to recite the 10 commandments. Abigail sparks the witch trials to avoid punishment for personally attempting witchcraft to kill Elizabeth.


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What is an example of irony in The Crucible Act 1?

verbal irony examples in the crucible

This is ironic because he had an affair with Abigail. Elizabeth Proctor is certainly not the warmest character in the story, but she is certainly able to witness John turn from her during her ailment. Readers understand her desire to protect her husband but cannot help but be shocked when she chooses to lie about a truth already openly known in the courtroom and to the audience. Abigail is the person accusing innocent, honest citizens of being hypocrites, which is completely contradictory to the entire situation. After the affair, Abigail became horribly jealous of Elizabeth Proctor. To harness the already blackened ties between John and Elizabeth to produce such a powerful line is genius.

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The Crucible Situational Irony Analysis

verbal irony examples in the crucible

Irony is used numerous times throughout The Crucible by Arthur Miller. While Miller started the genre of the tragedy of the common man, and is also know for his thoughtful and decisive plot lines, much of his fame, possibly can be attributed to his brilliant use of language generally, and his use of verbal irony in particular. Mary Warren went to tell the truth to Deputy Governor Danforth and Judge Hathorne, when Abigail and the other girls started to act like Mary Warren possessed them, so she got scared and started to lie again. He counts back on his fingers, knowing one is missing. Irony in The Crucible Arthur Miller's The Crucible is a classic retelling of the events that occurred in colonial Salem. Miller uses situational irony multiple times in his account. Judge Danforth cares more about his own reputation than what is right.

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Where is the verbal irony in her line, "Oh John, the world's full of hypocrites," in The Crucible? This was said by Abigail in act 2, scene 2 when she...

verbal irony examples in the crucible

As a matter of fact, obscenity is a concept that Miller v. Elizabeth ProctorDANFORTH, reaches out and holds her face, then: Look at me! However, one of his most prominent flaws at the begging of the play is his selfishness. Which is an example of irony in the crucible Act 3 Part 6? Imagery is also used to show how jealousy can change people, and in The Crucible to add, Miller emphasizes the fact that once people get jealous it can destroy them. He adds interest and creativity to his play with a great deal of figurative language, including irony. Ray Bradbury does this to portray the unbelievable courage and the length these two boys will go to protect their loved ones and the people in their town from the evils of the The Crucible: An Allegory For Mccarthyism 928 Words 4 Pages If people had used evidence instead of just accusations then they would have realized that Mr. His play revolves around an event that continues to surprise and confuse people who study it, so Miller easily represents the plot as a continuous web of tangled occurrences. This was said by Abigail in act 2, scene 2 when she is in the woods with John, but what is the irony? When doing so, Proctor could not recite the last commandment- "thou shalt not commit adultery".

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