Use Of Sardonic Tone In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

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Sardonic tone reveals the characters’ true nature and hypocrisy to the audience through contradictions in writing. When introducing Mr. Putnam, Miller writes that “he was a man with many grievances, at least one of which appears justified” (Miller 14). The second part of the sentence undercuts the first, discrediting Mr. Putnam and his grievances. Miller’s sardonic tone indicates what he thinks, and by extension what he wants the audience to think, about Mr. Putnam. The tone also acts as character building for Mr. Putnam, revealing his personality. During the court scene Reverend Hale tells Danforth “I have signed seventy-two death warrants; I am a minister of the Lord” (Miller 99). Miller places Hale’s death warrant count next to his statement

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