The Crucible: Hyperbole 4 key examples

Abigail and Proctor had a brief sexual relationship when she worked for him and his wife as their housemaid. Proctor ended it, but Abigail was not ready to let him go. The hyperbole in Abigail’s statement that she will "tear the light out of [her] eyes" exaggerates the significance of Proctor in her life. By equating Proctor to the "light" in her eyes, Abigail implies that he is all that she sees. It’s also interesting to note that before contemporary physics proved that light came from an external source, many people believed that vision was made up of “beams” the eyes emitted. The suggestion that ending their relationship would be akin to tearing out the “light” in her eyes refers to the idea that despair could interfere with Abigail’s ability to see. Her claim that she cannot “tear the light from her eyes” just because it’s the “Christian” convention emphasizes how crucial Proctor is to Abigail’s sense of her own value.

The metaphor Nurse uses here—the "brick and mortar of the church"—aligns Rebecca Nurse to the fundamental building blocks of the Christian community in Salem. Nurse—and John Proctor—helped build the actual church the town of Salem uses for worship. The church and its laws are central to life in the town. By describing her as the "brick and mortar" of it, Francis suggests that his wife is not only an upright member of the church but also a person who holds the community together. This metaphor emphasizes her piety, underscoring the silliness of the accusations against her. Rebecca Nurse, as many other characters note, is considered to be an example of Christian behavior; it’s shocking that she would be accused, let alone arrested.

The hyperbole "there cannot be a woman closer yet to God than Martha" only further amplifies Francis’s argument that the women are innocent. By claiming that no woman is closer to god than his friend Martha Corey, Francis highlights her exceptional devotion to god and to Salem. This exaggerated statement is intended to make the accusations of witchcraft seem even more preposterous than Francis already knows they are. He is hoping to appeal to reason and prevent their condemnation. Although it’s ultimately ineffective, he’s trying to show how absurd the accusers are being.

The hyperbole in the idiom "your justice would freeze beer" refers to the idea that Elizabeth’s chilliness of manner is cold enough to actually turn liquid into ice. John finds her to be cold and unyielding to him, as he can see she doesn’t forgive him for having sex with Abigail Williams even after he confesses. By equating her sense of justice with something cold enough to “freeze beer,” Proctor is implying that she’s unnaturally cold to him. This idiom is particularly striking because of the difference between 17th-century and contemporary beer. Because water was often unsafe to drink, people commonly made and drank alcoholic beverages instead. However, there wasn't necessarily a good standardized way to regulate the alcohol content of these substances, so homebrews in that era could vary wildly in potency. Liquid with higher alcohol content freezes at a lower temperature than water. According to Proctor, Elizabeth is so frigid and rigid in her manner that her “justice” could make ice out of alcohol.

The hyperbole in Proctor's speech highlights the importance he places on his “name.” The reader has already seen that truthfulness is very important to Proctor and people who think like he does; he previously told Hale that his wife would “never tell a lie.” Truthfulness is his creed, and it seems especially important at a time when the lies of people around him are literally causing state-sanctioned murder.

At this point, Proctor knows that if he signs his name to the document, he will condemn not only himself but “good Christian” friends of his like Rebecca Nurse and her husband. By declaring that his name is the only one he will ever have and equating signing a lie with the loss of his selfhood, Proctor exaggerates to stress the gravity of the situation. This hyperbole underscores the moral indignity he feels at the prospect of falsely confessing to witchcraft and accusing his neighbors. Proctor’s declaration that he is "not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang" points to his sense of shame at the prospect of publicly lying to save himself. Those who “hang” have not “confessed” to false crimes to save themselves, and Proctor feels unworthy to be in their company. His repetition of "Because it is my name!" reinforces the idea that his name represents his moral standing in the community. By refusing to sign the confession, Proctor seeks to preserve his legacy. He knows he’ll die if he doesn’t do it, but he chooses to make a final stand for personal integrity at the cost of his life.