Millers Presentation of Giles Corey
Throughout The Crucible we respond to Miller’s representation of Giles Corey by seeing him as a loyal, commendable character. Corey also provides us with a sense of amusement which given the situation is a trait we do not see from many of the characters. Miller makes us respond like this through Corey’s laidback, easygoing outlook on life and particularly the witch hunts which are currently occurring; also his loyalty is emphasised through his final sacrifice. In Act 1 our initial impression of Corey is influenced by Millers description of him as an “independent” character who “didn’t give a hoot for public opinion” – this makes us see Corey as a strong willed man who will not just sit back and watch this lie take anymore lives and ultimately makes us warm to him. Miller also makes us respect Corey through his friendship with another respected figurehead of the community Proctor as together they share a hatred for Thomas Putnam. Corey’s high values and kind nature are shown through this hatred as Putnam is depicted as “vindictive” and selfish which are clearly traits that Corey does not value.
Corey is also described as a “comical hero” in Millers introduction of the character – an aspect of his character which is shown throughout the play when Corey plays up to the stereotypical old man. This is shown when Corey misunderstands the question asked to him about “the strange behaviour of a hog” and the word “freighted” indicates early signs of Corey being a source of amusement in the play which overall adopts a serious tone. Corey’s amusing misunderstanding of situations is again when he boasts about “collect[ing] four pound damages” for Proctor supposedly “publically sayin’ [Giles] burned the roof of [Proctor’s] house”. Proctors denial of this when he is seen as a good man combined with Corey’s old age show us that he is perhaps confused and again reinforces the description of him as a “comical hero”. Not only do we as an audience see Corey as a “comical hero” but
Corey is also described as a “comical hero” in Millers introduction of the character – an aspect of his character which is shown throughout the play when Corey plays up to the stereotypical old man. This is shown when Corey misunderstands the question asked to him about “the strange behaviour of a hog” and the word “freighted” indicates early signs of Corey being a source of amusement in the play which overall adopts a serious tone. Corey’s amusing misunderstanding of situations is again when he boasts about “collect[ing] four pound damages” for Proctor supposedly “publically sayin’ [Giles] burned the roof of [Proctor’s] house”. Proctors denial of this when he is seen as a good man combined with Corey’s old age show us that he is perhaps confused and again reinforces the description of him as a “comical hero”. Not only do we as an audience see Corey as a “comical hero” but