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 Williams behavior, Elizabeth Proctors lie, and John Proctors death. Abigails reactions to authority are explained through Millers 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 Abigails wrongdoings. Miller also creates a conversation in Bettys 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 Danforths court to protect her husbands 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 (Elizabeths) life, she has never lied, (Miller, Page 111). When questioned by Danforth, Your husbanddid he turn from you? (Miller, 113). Elizabeth states, My husbandis 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 heros noble character informs the reader Johns death will occur. Proctor tears the paper and crumbles it, (Miller, Page 114) in order to validate his moral status. Johns 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 Johns 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 Abigails defensive actions, Goody Proctors 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.