The Crucible: language

Language Techniques in The Crucible

Arthur Miller uses a range of language techniques in The Crucible to create a particular atmosphere, reveal character and drive the narrative forward.
Miller employs archaic language to evoke the historical period and the severity of the Puritan society. Using Old English, mixed with local colloquialisms, he enhances the authenticity and the grasp of the era.
The dialogue is also key in shaping the characters, exposing their mindsets, their prejudices, and their intentions. Each character has a distinctive voice that contributes to their individuality.

Dialogue

Exclamatory sentences used frequently throughout the text, especially during the trial scenes, reinforce the heightened emotional states of the characters, the panic, and the hysteria that have gripped Salem.
Similarly, interrogative sentences are used to create tension, emphasising the pressure that characters are put under during questioning.
Use of repetition highlight certain ideas and concepts, and they’re used for emphasis and to make certain points clear.

Figurative Language

Arthur Miller makes ample use of figurative language throughout the play to create imagery, embody abstract concepts, and reveal deeper layers of the characters and conflicts.
Metaphors and similes frequently appear. For example, when Proctor confesses his adultery and says he has “opened (himself) to Pontius Pilate,” it is a metaphor that evokes the image of Christ’s crucifixion, comparing Proctor’s suffering to Christ’s.
Personification is also used to give human characteristics to non-human or abstract concepts. For example, fear and suspicion are personified as they “creep in” the society.

Biblical Allusions

Another striking feature of the language is the use of Biblical allusions. Given the setting of Puritan Salem, these references reinforce the themes of morality, guilt, redemption, and judgement.
The Commandments are referred to frequently, as reminders of people’s spiritual duties, and as a measure of guilt or innocence in their witch-hunting.
The Bible also provides language fragmentation, with multiple references to the Devil, hell, and biblical stories.

Tone

The tone in The Crucible alternates between fear, excitement, hysteria, and sombre. The changes in tone influence the mood of the play, and shape the audience’s emotions and reactions.
The accusatory tone during the trials, the fear and panic in the witch hunt, and the solemn tone towards the end when Proctor is executed, each demonstrates the consequences of mass hysteria and the lack of reason.

Understanding these elements of the language used in The Crucible will aid you in analysing the characters, themes, and overall narrative of the play. This will deepen your understanding, leading to more insightful and nuanced discussions.