Actual film Essays

Actual film Essays Actual film Essay Actual film Essay Arthur Miller uses characters and action to explore ideas about a number of different qualities and emotions. He uses John and Elizabeth, for example, to show the love that can break through if you try really hard at a relationship. He uses honesty, through Proctor to show the good and the bad consequences that can arise out of telling the truth and out of lying. He uses betrayal through Proctor also; by Proctor having an affair with Abigail. This shows how betrayal can rip apart a marriage with one stupid mistake. He shows greed and power through Danforth, by Danforth saying no postponement to the hangings just so his reputation wouldnt be lost. He shows honour, through Giles, because Giles didnt answer aye or nay to being a witch. His final words were more weight and then he died. He kept up to his reputation as being funny and by living up to his name.  Another way Miller connects through to the audience is by using a number of dramatic devices. I am now going to have a look at some of the different techniques and how he does this. Miller uses a number of different techniques to build and release tension. One of these techniques is leaving you on cliff hangers. He did this with Acts 1,2 and 3! With Act 1 Abigail and Betty had just made accusations of whom they had seen with the devil, Act 2 Elizabeth had just been taken away, and Act 3, Proctor has just confessed and Hale had quit the court! He uses short staccato sentences to build up tension, like in Act 4 Elizabeth says, Giles is dead so it is short and powerful. That way we feel more of an impact. Also in Act 2 where John and Elizabeth first start talking, they are saying only what they need to, not going into any detail. Proctor says are you well today? And Elizabeth says, I am whereas she could have gone into more detail such as yes Im fine thanks, it was probably just a passing cold, and you? She kept it as short and sweet as possible, almost telling the audience that they couldnt have a long flowing conversation because she suspected him. However, I found that having watched the film, seen it performed and having read the play script, the most dramatic was the actual film. I think this is because you can use devices such as camera shots and angles and music to increase the tension. There were also a lot of different scenes in the film that I hadnt seen in the play. I think this is because it would be too hard in an actual play to move the scene props around in such a small space of time! In the film I also thought that it made it more dramatic by making them say the lords prayer just before they were hung and the number of voices gradually decreasing as one by one they got pushed off. I really didnt like, however, the fact that John didnt get to say Amen. I think that links back to the unfairness and cruelty of the time. At the end of Act 3 Miller has left us on the edge of our seats, but as we enter Act 4, Miller uses the humour of Tituba and Sarah to make our tension decrease again. In act 4 our tension goes up and down like a yo-yo with Proctors indecisive mind, we can never relax! By the end of Act 4 our tension is at its climax, especially with the stage direction the final drum roll crashes, then heightens violently, Hale weeps in frantic prayer, and the new sun is pouring in upon her face, and the drums rattle like bones in the morning air. Another technique Miller uses, is dramatic irony. He uses this to create huge amounts of tension, such as the affair between Proctor and Abigail. When John and Elizabeth were alone together for the first time in Act 2, tension was high because we knew, and John knew what he had done, but Elizabeth didnt. He uses pauses to create a sense of someone finding it hard to say something; they might be scared, or even nervous.  Arthur Miller uses language with layers of different meanings. I am now going to have a look at some of the sentences he has put together and whether or not they have more than one meaning. In Act 1, John and Abigail are left alone. They use words referring to hot and cold and animals to talk about sex indirectly. This is because it just wasnt a thing you would talk about! For example sweated like a stallion this could also mean just sex and no love, like animals.  Abigail says, You are no wintry man this could mean he is not emotionless and frigid, he is hot blooded and passionate. Unlike Elizabeth who she says is a cold, snivelling woman. Abigail is trying to say that John is the complete opposite to Elizabeth. She is wondering why John would want to be with her? She is so different and doesnt satisfy him like Abigail does.  Throughout the play Miller uses metaphorical language. In Act 2 John says I will fall like an ocean on that court I think this means that the court will be overthrown and will have a small amount of power compared to what John will have.  Arthur Miller uses this language for a number of different reasons. It may be to enliven ideas, or by making a link through language to another context and most of all to make the audience use their imaginations and think about the play, rather than just sitting down, watching it and never thinking about it again.