Conflict in the First Scene of Dialogue in Miller's The Crucible
The piece of dialogue at the beginning of The Crucible in which Abigail and Parris reveal their respective characters through snippets and snatches of admissions is an important scene that sets the tone and initial conflict of the drama. The tone is serious but chaotic: a child is in danger; the doctor has no cure; foul play in the form of "possession" is suspected by the community, many members of which are talking in the parlor where the "rumor of witchcraft is all about" (Miller 9). Parris, who is a Reverend in the community, and who himself is at odds with his parish, is afraid because such talk will put him in a very bad light: "There is a faction that is sworn to drive me from my pulpit. Do you understand that?" Parris cries to Abigail. He is not in control of himself: panicked both by the condition of his daughter Betty and by the fear of being chased out of his parish by individuals who do not want him at the head of the congregation, Parris is in a highly emotional state, unable to grasp the obvious. "Betty's not witched," says Abigail (Miller 10) -- and she, in her apparent innocence, understands the situation much more clearly than anyone else -- yet she will not be heard. Thus, the conflict is born out of a misunderstanding, a failure to empathize, and a set of ulterior motives lurking throughout the community.
Witchcraft and evil spirits are used as a pretext for punishing, ousting or moving against certain individuals (so Parris understands) and yet there is also a belief that having "trafficked with spirits" Betty is now in mortal danger. The irony is that it is not Betty and Abigail who have trafficked with evil spirits but rather Parris and the...
and, so that brought in a whole new perspective. I had never realized the degree to which they were afraid of us and often feel as though - now the situation becomes very life threatening for them. Because often they don't know how to follow the protocol, how to properly respond to police officers. and, so it just supercharges the whole event." The training] gave us an opportunity to ask
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