WORD LISTS

"The Crucible," Vocabulary from Act 2 (Part 2/2)

Mon Oct 12 18:16:58 EDT 2015
By Mr. Rudebusch (SD)
The accusations fly in Arthur Miller's "The Crucible." The play's dramatic retelling of the Salem Witch Trials where the truth gets obscured by sensational charges of possession by demons echoes the crusade of Senator Joseph McCarthy to root out communists, which was occurring while the play was being written. Learn these word lists for the play: Act 1, Act 2, Act 3, Act 4
pious
But it’s hard to think so pious a woman be secretly a Devil’s bitch after seventy year of such good prayer.
wily
But the Devil is a wily one, you cannot deny it.
glaring
"Glaring" also means "conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible"--both definitions fit (in addition to "glare" as "an angry stare"), since Proctor is describing the physical appearance of golden candlesticks and judging Reverend Parris for spending his hard-earned money on expensive items that add nothing to, and actually hurts, one's spiritual faith.
I labor the earth from dawn of day to blink of night, and I tell you true, when I look to heaven and see my money glaring at his elbows--it hurt my prayer, sir, it hurt my prayer.
restrain
Proctor starts to speak, then stops, then, as though unable to restrain this: I like it not that Mr. Parris should lay his hand upon my baby.
covenant
There be no mark of blame upon my life, Mr. Hale. I am a covenanted Christian woman.
covet
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s goods, nor make unto thee any graven image.
misgiving
He looks to both of them, an attempt at a smile on his face, but his misgivings are clear.
daft
I never knew until tonight that the world is gone daft with this nonsense.
warrant
"Warrant" also means "formal and explicit approval"--this is the opposite of what Francis is expressing here with his mocking of the words that charge his wife with murder. The warrant also seems to mock itself with the adjective "marvelous" that is supposed to mean "being or having the character of a miracle" but also means "too improbable to admit of belief" and "extraordinarily good or great."
Mockingly quoting the warrant: “For the marvelous and supernatural murder of Goody Putnam’s babies.”
tainted
Hale, turns from Francis, deeply troubled, then: Believe me, Mr. Nurse, if Rebecca Nurse be tainted, then nothing’s left to stop the whole green world from burning.
flinch
Hale, pleading: Nurse, though our hearts break, we cannot flinch; these are new times, sir.
subtle
There is a misty plot afoot so subtle we should be criminal to cling to old respects and ancient friendships.
gingerly
Cheever: Why, a poppet--he gingerly turns the poppet over--a poppet may signify--Now, woman, will you please to come with me?
ineptly
Compare with the antonymous "gingerly" in this list. Both adverbs describe the manner of a court official, who is careful with a doll and clumsy with a real woman.
Cheever, ineptly reaching toward Elizabeth: No, no, I am forbid to leave her from my sight.
obstruct
I tell you true, Proctor, I never warranted to see such proof of Hell, and I bid you obstruct me not, for I--
avid
Mary Warren, glancing about at the avid faces: Why--I made it in the court, sir, and--give it to Goody Proctor tonight.
vengeance
I’ll tell you what’s walking Salem--vengeance is walking Salem.
wrath
Let you counsel among yourselves; think on your village and what may have drawn from heaven such thundering wrath upon you all.
lechery
Compare this noun to the adjective "licentious" in the list for Act 1. Lechery is focused on sexual activity and is used here as a punishable crime, while licentious (the Latin "licentia" means "freedom") people simply lack the moral discipline to restrain themselves in any activity that may or may not be a punishable crime.
Abby’ll charge lechery on you, Mr. Proctor!
grapple
Now Hell and Heaven grapple on our backs, and all our old pretense is ripped away--make your peace!

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