Question

Lines 502–513: Explain why you think Miller puts stage directions in quotes. What is revealed about the character of Elizabeth in these moments?
The Crucible Act 2

cite text evidence and and what lines the evidence is found

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Answer 1

In Arthur Miller's The Crucible, act 2, lines 502–513, the author includes "reasonably" and "conceding" as stage directions between quotation marks, differently from directions included for other characters. This may indicate that these attitudes are apparent to point out the difference between Elizabeth's apparent reaction and her actual feelings regarding the situation at hand. In lines 520-523 we can observe the writer include directions without quotation marks when Proctor goes for his rifle and she reacts with fear (trembling, fearfully) as she says "Oh, how unwillingly!". By the author's lack of quotation marks here, we could infer that Elizabeth's reaction here was not measured or masked in any way.