Abigail in Act One Essay

Act One. Discuss in detail how you would direct either Reverend Parris or Abigail in Act One. Refer to voice, movement, gesture and facial expression in your essay; explore the relationship between your chosen character and the others on stage, commenting on their symbolic representation within the play. Arthur Miller was born in New York in 1915 and brought up in the Brooklin area. He won an award for his first play called ‘the grass still grows. ‘ His first real success was with a play called ‘All my sons’ then went on to write a play called ‘Death of a Salesman, which was also a big success. Miller later wrote ‘The Crucible’ in 1953, which was a mixed success. In 1997, He wrote the screenplay of ‘the crucible,’ which starred Daniel Day Lewis, and Winona Rider. McCarthyism had the power to investigate any person or movement who threatened the safety of America. The activities of this committee were linked in Miller’s mind with witchcraft trials, which had taken place two hundred years before. This inspired him to write ‘the crucible’ The people of Salem believed in witchcraft and the devil and believed that the Bible had told them that witches must be hanged. Betty Parris, the daughter of the minister, started to act like a child possessed. In the seventeenth-century the only explanation was that they were possessed by the devil. Salem is a new and very small community, very close-knit and very protective against anything unusual or strange happenings. For many years, Salem village tried to gain independence from Salem town. Salem village did not have it’s own church and minister until 1674. Salem village selected Reverend Parris as their new minister. Parris was a strict puritan, who set lots of rules, including no dancing. I have chosen to direct Abigail Williams in this scene. When Abigail first enters this scene, the first words spoken to her are ‘Oh? Let her come, let her come. ‘ Which are said by Parris. Abigail would lean out the door in a laid-back manor, then would tell Susanna, a nervous, hurried girl who was sent by doctor Griggs, and is a bit younger than Abigail, to come in. She should say this in quite a loud voice to show that she is confident, and telling Susanna what to do, as Abigail is older then her so will look down on her. She would also have here hand reaching out to Susanna, as another gesture to tell her to ‘come in’ When Susanna turns to go, Abigail eagerly tells her to ‘speak nothin’ of it in the village’ Her face expression would be a slightly worried look because she doesn’t want to be accused for making Betty ill, or having anything to witchcraft or the devil.