You Can't Handle the Truth : Arthur Miller's The Crucible
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Lesson #5: Tragedy & the "fatal flaw"
John Proctor--when a hero comes along??
Is John Proctor a hero...or just someone who tried to make up for a bad deed?
Whether or not you think Proctor is a hero, most people cannot deny that the play is tragic--innocent people are put to death. A tragedy is defined by Websters as "A play, film, television program, or other narrative work that portrays or depicts calamitous events and has an unhappy but meaningful ending." That certainly sounds like The Crucible. But did you know that there is an "official definition" of a tragic play?
Read the following links and then decide whether or not The Crucible applies:
One crucial criteria of a tragedy is that the main character has a fatal flaw that leads to his/her downfall. So now you must decide whether or not John Proctor has a personality flaw...or just simply made a foolish decision.
The lessons are now complete! You will be making your own notes on the play, but you'll need to have your facts straight. You think you know but you have no idea...or do you? Take this Crucible Quiz to find out how much you remember!
click here for instructions on your wrap-up notes:
student work | lessons | writing assignments | resources | opening page
