Christian Parker

Mr. Montgomery

IB English 11: Block 1A

23 September 2011

Awareness of Conflict through Dramatic Irony

Any audience is capable to comprehend unexplained scenes through dramatic irony. The

practice of dramatic irony is seen when the audience is aware a fictional character is making a

mistake because the audience has obtained more information than the character. Arthur Miller

uses dramatic irony in The Crucible to create opposition between characters. Miller incorporates

this method by informing the reader the reasoning behind Abigail William’s behavior, Elizabeth

Proctor’s lie, and John Proctor’s death.

Abigail’s reactions to authority are explained through Miller’s dialogue and narration.

Since Paris “discovered dancing like heathen in the forest,” (Miller, 10), Abigail attempts all

possible outputs to escape punishment. The adolescent claims “there be no blush about my (her)

name,” (Miller, Page 12) throughout Salem. Abigail is claiming she is innocent of any crime she

may have committed. Dramatic irony appears in this scene through previous text affirming

Abigail’s wrongdoings. Miller also creates a conversation in Betty’s room between the young

women for the reader to be conscious to why the adolescents falsely blame others of sorcery. “I

will shudder you!” Abigail cries, “And you know I can do it… And I can make you wish you had

never seen the sun go down!” (Miller, Page 20). She uses this threat to control others through

terror; therefore the reader can base further understanding to why innocents are accused by the

girls off this conversation.

Elizabeth Proctor tells a lie in front of Judge Danforth’s court to protect her husband’s

reputation. When John Proctor is brought into court to defend his wife, he is dependent on

Elizabeth acknowledging his affair with Abigail. John requests his wife to defend him because

“In her (Elizabeth’s) life, she has never lied,” (Miller, Page 111). When questioned by

Danforth, “Your husband—did he turn from you?” (Miller, 113). Elizabeth states, “My husband

—is a goodly man,” (Miller, Page 113). The reader is aware Elizabeth did not confess the truth

due to prior text concerning the affair through dialogue between John and Abigail in Act 1.

Although Elizabeth is not mindful of the harm she is conveying upon her husband, she believes

she is protecting him from severe punishment.

The death of John Proctor is foreshadowed the moment he is arrested for witchcraft. The

tragic hero’s noble character informs the reader John’s death will occur. “Proctor tears the paper

and crumbles it,” (Miller, Page 114) in order to validate his moral status. John’s refusal of a

confession results in Danforth ordering Herrick to “Hang them (Proctor and two other women)

high over the town!” (Miller, Page 144). Tragic irony is vividly understood in John’s death

because the audience is aware John Proctor always will “have his goodness” (Miller, Page 145);

therefore after overcoming numerous obstacles, Proctor perishes in the last scene of the play.

Dramatic irony is used to clarify Abigail’s defensive actions, Goody Proctor’s first lie,

and the death of John Proctor in The Crucible. This technique allows authors to simplify

specific scenes without restating previous text. Miller adopts dramatic irony through his entire

play by constructing conflict necessary for the plot.