Strong Females In The Work Of Miller, And Williams

The theatrical theories of Arthur Miller are filled with ideas that relate to the common man in his struggle to achieve his rightful place in the world. Miller believed that the tragic hero is any character that would die before they lost their dignity, or maybe it's better to say before their dignity was taken from them. The tragic hero, according to Miller, is a character that doesn't lie back and take it, when the world attacks them they fight back, and they at least attempt to stand up to the greater powers that be. Miller felt that the struggle of these characters should affect the audience/reader into examining their own lives. Miller's characters, and other characters written by other playwrights that followed Miller's theories tend to be (on some level) relatable to the average person. Their struggles are our struggles, death, failure, love, family, etc. These are ideas that we can easily grasp and sympathize with. Miller felt as though the death of these tragic heroes shouldn't be mourned or pitied, but instead examined and respected because the tragic hero attempts to reach his goals, he breaks through barriers, and they try to achieve a sense of contentment in their lives. Miller's work/theories reflect the notion that indignity is one of the greatest struggles of today's people. In The Crucible, John Proctor struggles with the indignity of not only being accused of practicing witchcraft, but also the terrible truth about his affair with Abigail Williams. Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman deals with the indignity of not achieving what he feels is his true potential, as well as the hardships of projecting his ideas of success on his sons. Lastly, in Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Brick has to deal with the indignities of alcoholism, being a closeted gay man, and a loveless marriage. The theories of Miller were used to create strikingly vivid accounts of the common men and women, who are struck by tragic circumstances. The plays force the viewer/reader to inspect their personal believes and goals, they create an opportunity for the viewer/reader to question their own ability to stand up and fight for their own personal goals.

In Miller's The Crucible the protagonist John Proctor starts his long journey towards dignity early on in the play. In scene one act one, Abigail tries to seduce John into rekindling their affair. From this point on John has to struggle with the indignity of being a lecher, he has to fight for the dignity that was lost in his marriage to Elizabeth. Proctor says;

PROCTOR: Abby, I may think softy of you from time to time. But I will cut off my hand before I ever reach for you again. Wipe it out of mind. We never touched, Abby. (Act 1 Scene 1)

In this line Proctor is really showcased as a tragic hero. He admits he still has feelings for Abby, but he's not willing to pursue them. Abby is acting as a personification of one of his tragic flaws, lust. However the line is also showing that he's trying to set things right, trying to gain his dignity back. The scene this line is in is really a struggle between the two characters. Abby wants to rekindle a flame, and Proctor is trying to avoid the temptation.

Later, in act two scene once Proctor returns home only to learn that Abby and her friends have accused fourteen people of witchcraft. I think this scene between Elizabeth and John paints an accurate picture of the troubles in their home, and how they've affected both husband and wife. Within the first two pages of dialogue Proctor says to his wife "I mean to please you, Elizabeth" (Miller, Act Two). Now for the first time we see Proctor in the home, trying to regain the dignity that he had lost. However the scene isn't full of Proctor's gentle apologetic conversation. Instead the conversation turns heated when the subject of Abigail is mentioned.

Proctor: You will not judge me more, Elizabeth. I have good reason to think before I charge fraud on Abigail, and I will think on it. Let you look to your own improvement before you go to judge your husband anymore. I have forgot Abigail, and-

Elizabeth: And I.

Proctor: Spare me! You forget nothin' and forgive nothin'. Learn charity, woman. I have gone tiptoe in this house all seven months since she is gone. I have not moved from there to there without I think to please you, and still an everlasting funeral marches round your heart. I cannot speak but I am doubted, every moment judged for lies, as though I come into a court when I come into this house!

Elizabeth: John you are not open with me. You saw her with a crowd, you said. Now you-

Proctor: I'll plead my honesty no more Elizabeth. (Act two scene two Miller)

This scene, starting with this chunk of text, is really where John proctor starts to show signs of being a tragic hero, according to Miller's theories. The quarrel between husband and wife, although set in the 1800s, is such a modern concept. Both Elizabeth and John go through so many emotions in this scene, as John once again is scene by the audience fighting for his dignity. He goes from quiet shame, to towering anger with his wife, as she puts her feelings about his relationship with Abigail on the table. By the end of the scene John refers to Abigail as "the single error of my life..." (act two scene two, Miller). It's then we can see for sure that Abigail is John's tragic flaw.

Proctor finally goes to stop the madness Abigail has created. Elizabeth is accused of witchcraft, as well as John himself. John finally confesses that he's had an affair with Abigail, however when the court asks Elizabeth to confirm the tail, she admits nothing, thinking it's better not to blacken her husbands name in front of the whole town. In the end, the court tells Proctor he can live, as long as his signs a confession that will be hung on the door of the church. In a final act of heroism John stands up to the court, the town, and himself, by refusing to sign his name. Miller gives the character one last grab and dignity and he holds it tightly in a final line that struck me to be one of the most powerful in the piece. When asked why he will not sign his name John replies;

"Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without y name? I have