Consider the following examples of irony. Classify each as verbal, dramatic, or situational and think about the purpose of each example.

• Danforth says "I judge nothing" in response to the evidence that Proctor plows on Sunday
• Elizabeth Proctor, an honest woman, lies after Proctor has already confessed
• Proctor screams at the end: "I say God is dead...I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face. And it is my face, and yours, Danforth..."
• Readers know the girls are faking it when Danforth and the courts believe their act

 

Finally, summarize the purpose of irony in this act of the play. Why did Miller include so much irony? Explain.

 

The crucible learning stations

 

Danforth says "I judge nothing" in response to the evidence that Proctor plows on Sunday

• This is an example of verbal irony. Verbal irony occurs when a speaker's intention is the opposite of what he or she is saying.

Elizabeth Proctor, an honest woman, lies after Proctor has already confessed

• This is an example of situational irony. Situational irony is when the outcome of a situation is totally different from what people expect. It was clearly stated that Proctor was an honest women yet she does the exact opposite in that scene/situation and lies.

Proctor screams at the end: "I say God is dead...I hear the boot of Lucifer, I see his filthy face. And it is my face, and yours, Danforth..."

• This is an example of verbal irony.

Readers know the girls are faking it when Danforth and the courts believe their act.

• This is an example of dramatic irony. Dramatic Irony occurs when the audience (of a movie, play, etc.) understands something about a character's actions or an event but the characters do not.

Based from the book, it is to believe irony was used by  Miller to show the characters' true colors and intentions throughout the play because everyone seemed seemingly flawless and perfect but majority of them had underlying demons which showed based on their actions.