What is the crux (key argument) of The Crucible by Arthur Miller?

Question

I have an essay in my AP English class (practice exam essay) and our teacher told us to find the crux of The Crucible (key argument that applies to all others in the story). Our essay topic will be something along the lines of applying the known ('I love, therefore I am." as crux from Tuesdays with Morrie) to the unknown which is the crux of The Crucible. I have a feeling that it may be the following lines:

"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 my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!" - John Proctor, The Crucible (Act IV)

Please help me by affirming my guess of the crux, or help me find what it really is.

Answer 1

Interesting question. Now, there have been enough similar questions about this quote recently to indicate that some teachers of other Yahoo folk have this same thought. There is a difference between the key argument of a work and the quote that is most often used to argue it. You could use that quote, certainly, but only to illustrate the key argument of the work--not as the argument itself. The key argument would be more along the lines of "no one can unlive a lie"--with that quote, among others, being valuable evidence that truth cannot be traded, nor undone, nor bettered. Bartered, certainly, but once truth is gone, there remain only a lifetime of lies to be sold back and forth between fools. Elizabeth already knew that, but John had to learn it the hard way.

Answer 2

The Crucible by using Arthur Miller play attracts you in from the beggining, each and every personality begging on your interest and pity. yet as you watch the characters and the tale spread, you're forced to %. aspects. The perplexed and manipulated ladies can make you burn with anger and sense large sorrow for his or her entrapment. The adulterous husband first hits you as a chilly, unloving guy yet quickly woos you into seeing his basic and passionate personality. Arthur Miller masterfully sends his reader on an emotionally journey by skill of his chilling rendition of the sorrowful affair of the Salem witch trials. beautiful artwork, very worth of a few time.

Answer 3

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=htsf&oq=&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GWYF_enUS310US310&q=the+crux+%28key+argument%29+of+The+Crucible+by+Arthur+Miller