THE CRUCIBLE WRITING A LEVEL 7 ESSAY Explore the ways Miller succeeds in making the moment when Proctor tears up his confession particularly dramatic.

QUALITIES OF A GREAT INTRODUCTION 1.Recognition of the title to show that you understand the question 2.Evidence that you understand the play as a whole 3.Create a LINE OF ARGUMENT to show your opinion in relation to the essay question

One of the most dramatic moments in The Crucible is when Proctor tears up his signed confession to witchcraft, and subsequently, his right to life. Proctor is caught between the decision to live, a liar under a tainted name, or to die a martyr, with his honour and a promise of Heaven. The Crucible is centred on issues of : morality, rebellion, an individual’s right to freewill, social conformity and redemption. John is constantly pinpointed as a member of this society who is unwilling to conform to the rigid way of life in Salem. His ultimate rebellion is when he tears up his confession, thus going against the will of the high court, and ultimately, against his own will to live. A MODEL INTRODUCTION:

In Act I, Abigail is shown desperately trying to regain John’s affection. She argues,“You loved me John Proctor, and whatever sin it is, you love me yet!”John’s action, turning away from Abigail could be a metaphorical way of describing his turning away from the affair, and the sin connected to it. This turning away could also be a display of weakness of heart, almost showing him shielding himself, his back to what he lusts for. Indeed, the affair itself shows weakness, however, it highlights how ‘human’ John is, in contrast to the more rigid, righteous Puritan residents of Salem. Proctor embodies human fallibility, a sinner, somebody who have made mistakes and who has regrets but is nevertheless, a good man. A MODEL MAIN BODY PARAGRAPH:

It is the quest for the Devil which brings Salem’s residents closer to him. Satan is eventually recognised as part of them rather than a separate being. These people are the embodiment of the phantom they were hunting. Like Satan, who himself was once angelic, they fall from grace and fall from holiness to undoubted evil, as Satan did from Heaven to Hell. This is ironic as in the course of the outward search and those that they believed to be in league with and corrupted by Satan they were actually becoming the most corrupt people in the village. In destroying his confession, Proctor destroys the myth which has been responsible for so many deaths. A MODEL CONCLUSION: