Resolution (Act Four of The Crucible)
Literature Review
The tension has peaked by the end of Act Three. It is apparent that the judges are not interested in any evidence presented to the court that could prove the innocence of any of the accused. John Proctor has ruined his reputation by confessing his adulterous affair with Abigail Williams, and Reverend Hale has publicly denounced the witch trails. John Proctor and Giles Corey have been arrested and join many others already in jail. In this final act, you will learn what their fates will be.
Before continuing with Act Four, take a moment to review several characters that have been imprisoned. In this interactivity, you will see five doors to the prison cells of characters who have been arrested. Ask each prisoner why he or she was arrested by clicking on the spinning dots on the doors of their prison cells, and then read their responses. Click the player button to begin.
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Falling Action and Resolution
Have you ever heard the saying, "It's all downhill from here"? Once a play reaches the climax, or the peak of emotional intensity, the action must bring the audience back down, lessen the tension, and tie up the loose ends of the plot. Just as the rising action drives the plot to its climax, the falling action must bring the intensity down. The falling action encompasses the events after the climax leading to the resolution of the plot. The resolution, also called the denouement, is the end of the story; it entails the tying up of loose ends and the resolving of the conflict. It is important to point out that resolve does not mean the conflict is solved or that there is a happy ending. A resolution simple means that the conflict is brought to an end and that all the pieces have been tied together.
Begin reading Act Four of The Crucible. Read from the beginning of the act to the point where John Proctor is brought into the room. At Reverend Hale and Reverend Parris's urging, Danforth and Hathorne have agreed to allow Elizabeth Proctor to speak to her husband in the hope that she will convince him to confess. Reverend Hale is pleading with other prisoners to lie to save their lives. Do you feel others should lie to save themselves? What about John Proctor? What role does the unrest in neighboring Andover play in the magistrates' decision or in Parris's pleading with Proctor?
Plot Development
Act Four begins at sunrise on the day of John Proctor's execution. The setting is in the jail with a surreal exchange between Sarah Good, Tituba, and Herrick, the keeper of the jail. They address the "Devil" like he is a personal friend, and they want to "fly home to Barbados." Herrick is intoxicated and engages in personal conversation with these alleged witches. The setting reveals how chaos is reigning in Salem. As the women discuss questionable behavior, he does nothing about it. Another potential purpose of this scene is to bring a striking contrast to the audience after the intense conclusion to Act Three.
By the day of the scheduled executions of John Proctor, Rebecca Nurse, and Martha Corey, the town is in disarray, and the villagers feel unsettled by all the recent events. Consider the following signs of troubled times that are mentioned in Act Four and how the community is beginning to question the validity of the trials. In this interactivity, use the NEXT button or the numbered tabs at the bottom to explore the signs that indicate things are going terribly wrong in Salem. Click the player button to begin.
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Finish reading the final act of The Crucible. Look for examples of how dramatic irony unfolds in the resolution of the conflict. How does John Proctor finally redeem himself in his eyes and the eyes of his wife? What parallels can you make between the story related here and the reality of Arthur Miller's time?
Because the dissent about the executions is steadily escalating and the judges are eager to prove that the other executions are justified, Danforth and Parris are hoping to get a confession out of Martha, Rebecca, or John. Hale reports that Martha and Rebecca are at peace with their decision to maintain their innocence, so they turn their hopes to John. Not only is his wife pregnant with their fourth child, he is already proven to be flawed as an adulterer and would potentially lie to save his own life. If they are able to get a confession out of John, then the other lives sacrificed for the sake of protecting the people against witchcraft will be justified.
Elizabeth is brought from the jail to persuade John to confess. During this intimate exchange between husband and wife, they confess their own imperfections and treatment of one another. Elizabeth admits to keeping a "cold house" and that she prompted John to lechery. He decides to confess, but when asked to sign his name to a confessional document and call out other names, he balks. In reply to Danforth's insisting question as to why he will not submit the signed confession, Proctor yells, "Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies!...I have given you my soul; leave me my name." In need of maintaining his dignity and self-worth, he tears the confession, seals his fate, and is executed with Martha and Rebecca.
John's refusal to sign his name and accuse his friends reveals how he has grown as a character. At the beginning of the play, he might have easily lied to keep his life, but by the end, he chooses to remain true to himself. This is an example of dynamic characterization. Elizabeth does not object and states, "He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him." In the past, John has proven to break with charity and the Commandments by lying and committing adultery. It would be easy for him to repeat those sins now, but he does not. Like his friends, he is at peace with his decision. Another factor with his decision is a matter of justice. His signed confession would be used to justify all of the executions before him. He has the ability to recognize this injustice and refuses to further aid the judges in their "righteous" quest.
Throughout the play, there have been many instances when the audience was aware of events or happenings of which the other characters on the stage were not aware. The most prevalent example of dramatic irony in The Crucible occurs when the audience understands the girls Abigail, Mary, Betty, Ruth, Mercy, and others are lying and accusing their neighbors of witchcraft without warrant. While it is easy enough to understand the dramatic irony, a more important question is, "Why is this important to the play?"
The answer is very simple, and this is where you need to use your ability to infer. Dramatic irony increases tension as you watch seemingly smart and wise leaders make critical mistakes. Since you know more than the characters do, you can better predict what will happen next and take more of a critical approach to the outcomes. The use of irony allows Miller to make a parallel between the hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials and the reality of the "communist witch hunt" of his time period. Not only is the audience "in" on the truth of the accusers, they are also able to see a reflection of their reality in the characters on the stage.
Plot Structure Review
Now that you have explored the structure of drama while reading The Crucible, review your knowledge in this non-graded activity. Read each definition of the parts of plot structure and enter your answer into the blank using the word bank provided. Click the player button to get started.