The Search For Identity In The Crucible And 1984

The hunger for a sense of individuality is a fundamental human need which individuals are willing to pursue at all costs. When we think of individuality, we instantaneously link this to the concept of identity and the notion of individual human experience. When reflecting on identity, your name, age, culture, personality and appearance might all spring to mind. But what if this was stripped away and replaced with a collective identity which was a result of your society and surroundings? It is in instances such as these that the lengths that the individual is willing to go to protect their sense of self are truly revealed.

This search for identity is evident in George Orwell’s book 1984 (1949) and Nicholas Hytner’s film The Crucible (1996). These texts both explore the forceable stripping of identity within limited political freedom and its impact on the individual. Both texts were written as a response to the dangers the growing trends of nationalism and socialism in society. These texts represent the issues that were present at the time of publication and act as a warning to individuals to be critical and maintain a strong sense of self and identity.

The crucible focuses on the Salem witch hunt becoming an allegorical comparison to the blacklist and McCarthyism in the 1950’s focusing on the rise of communism in America.

In the Crucible we see a compromise through the characterisation of the protagonist John Proctor, whose identity is undermined in his community and ultimately the collective human experience. 1984 is a political satire about totalitarianism projecting concerns from the Cold War, Stalin and Nazi Governments through a dystopian world. The anomaly Winston Smith searches for his identity in the strict political climate of Big Brother likewise having his identity undermined and transformed due to the “thought police”.

A Totalitarian regime obtains power through the use of propaganda and inflicting fear to a society, essentially undermining individuality and independent thought. The anomaly Winston Smith in 1984 aims for individuality through rejecting the party’s ideas and creating resistance in his actions; choosing to keep a private diary, a secret sexual relationship and rejecting the Parties mantras. Orwell exclaims that “In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.” Which is replicated in the series of questions from O’Brien, “You are prepared to lose your identity and live out the rest of your life as a waiter or a dock-worker?’ / ‘Yes.” Emphasising through high modality that Winston will sacrifice the most import thing to him, his identity, in order to fight the oppressive force of the Party. Throughout 1984 Winston searches for absolute truth and questions himself on his own existence and sanity “He wondered, as he had many times wondered before, whether he himself was a lunatic. Perhaps a lunatic was simply a minority of one.” Highlighting the doubt in his identity through the interrogative tone. We see the importance of identity in the torturing scene where Winston can be seen experiencing Stockholm syndrome “he had never loved him so deeply at this moment, and not merely because had stopped the pain” emphasising how the party is able to inflict pain in to destabilizing a person’s identity. Ultimately through pain and torture the party is able to transform Winston’s ideology as “But it was all right, everything was all right, the struggle was finished. he had won the victory over himself. He loved big brother” representing how identity is able to be compromised through oppressive forces. Through the protagonist Winston and the use of 3rd person the audience is able to understand the importance of identity.

In a strict religious regime, the search for an individual identity is challenged by the collective human experience and continually undermined. This is explored through the Crucible where people are consistently scrutinised under the public eye and have to compromise their identity in order to stay alive. John Proctor, the anomaly of The Crucible, refuses to be quiet in these circumstances exclaiming in the ending scene that it is; “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies!” exploring his resistance to oppressive forces through his high modality reflects the need for identity within a sense of self. Furthermore, the repetition of “because” emphasises the many reasons for his fatal final decision of choosing to sacrifice his life rather than sign away his name. As the audience often situates a name is part of your identity, it is able to emphasise that without your own identity you become a product of your community. In this same scene the close ups of John Proctor are juxtaposed with the wide shots of the rest of the parish, emphasising the manic emotions and decisions of John Proctor. This scene is enhanced by the soft crescendo of diegetic music to further position the audience in a distressing state. Due to the theocracy during The Crucible language is diminished by citizens as one wrong word or action can be ultimately be used against you. Martha Corey is accused of witchcraft due to her husband innocently expressing his concern about her obsession with reading resulting in her hanging, emphasising the senseless actions of the church. The 19 people who were hung in The Crucible all chose to maintain a strong sense of identity rather than compromise their identity and become someone who they are not. Regardless that The Crucible and 1984 the anomaly faces different fates the sense of identity is important to both individuals and try resist the oppressive forces that undermine them.