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Examples Of Paradox In The Crucible

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Most communities in the world today believe that excluding harmful thoughts, ideas, actions, and sometimes people are ultimately the best course of action for uniting their group. An example is the exclusion of same-sex marriage in most states, but especially in the Catholic Church. By excluding same-sex marriage, the Catholic Church community unites with a feeling of purity towards their religious community. In the play, The Crucible, Arthur Miller presents the audience with a paradox that was exemplified through the Salem witchcraft trials. The paradox “Unity through Exclusion” means that a community will become closer together through the exclusion or exile of harmful people. However, the exile of the people hurt the conformity of the community …show more content…

In the small town of Salem, religion was a strict priority, and strange illnesses like these were often thought to be the devil’s work. Miller demonstrated the paradox in The Crucible from the beginning of the play by allowing Abigail Williams and the other girls to unjustly accuse whomever they wanted of witchcraft. The play presented us how too much power is dangerous, for the temptation was always there to abuse it. Under the justification of a theocratic government, the people in authority in Salem abused their almost absolute power, destroying many innocent people in the process. What theocracy illustrates is how the law is not always based on truth, and that if it is not we should stand up to it. (Core 5: Noun Clause as Subject). John Proctor stood up to the power by challenging the court. Proctor may have lost his life for his actions, but he did not lose his principles. In the play, he shows us how people chase what they think is evil, for example, not going to church, or not knowing the Commandments. Abigail, Mercy Lewis, and the other girls persecute good people while the true evil escapes and are even seen as the innocent victims (Core 4: Accumulation of

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