Crucible Portfolio: Act 4

Literary term
Comic Relief- A humorous/joking part or scene in a serious literary work or drama, especially a tragedy, intended to relieve the dramatic tension or heighten the emotional impact by means of contrast.
 "A bellowing cow is heard, and Tituba leaps up and calls to the widow: Aye, sir! That's him Sarah!" (Miller 1320)
Tituba hears a cow outside the prison while being talked to by Herrick. Noticing Herrick had been drinking a little and was a little tipsy, along with Sarah Good, she decides to capitalize on the moment. In the previous scene of the play it was very tragic and there were many deaths in the town. After having the crowd/reader in a down mood the other wants to lighten it up a little and add some comedy to shift the focus. This Literary term gives the play another side. Instead of always being serious and tragic, now the author incorporates a part that isn't negative/depressing.

Quotation Elation
"Elizabeth-quietly: Let me talk to him. Excellency.
Parris- with hope: You'll strive with him? She hesitates
Danforth- Will you plead for his confession or will you not?
Elizabeth-I promise nothing. let me speak with him."
These quotes are important to the text because it makes the audience predict what will happen next. They want to know what John and Elizabeth will decide. Will they lie and confess for something they haven't done to save they're lives? Or will they stick to the truth and keep they're high risk of being hung. When Danforth and Hale come to the jail asking Elizabeth to convince her husband to 'confess', so the Court wont hang them, it makes everyone shocked about whats happening. Depending on what Elizabeth and John decide, the town will change greatly. The reason Danforth and Hale came to propose this is because the whole town had turned on the court, not wanting them to hang anybody else or see any more deaths.

Characters
 Elizabeth- Elizabeth is John Proctors wife. In this act she is beat up and unhealthy due to being tied up and thrown in jail waiting for there sentence. Throughout the play Elizabeth has been know to be a honest and upright woman. She is also loyal to her husband.
Purpose- Her purpose in this Act was to convince John Proctor to confess to Witchcraft. In return theyre lives could be saved.
Outcome- Proctor signs the confession, but then backs out of it because he does not feel just doing so and cant overcome his conscience. Elizabeth supported him in his decision, instead of trying to persuade him otherwise.