Spencer Davis
Mr. DeMello
American Literature
3/16/2023
The Crucible Essay Rough Draft
Intro Paragraph: Truth/Lies
From 1692-1693, 25 people lost their lives as a result of the Salem Witch Trials. These trials were fueled by lies and misinformation. The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, details the severe effects of the Salem Witch trials on a Massachusetts Bay Colony in the late 1600s. Fear and hysteria are some of the primary themes that the story uses to underscore the significance and impact of concealed truth and misinformation in the screenplay. The characters throughout the story are shown struggling to tell the truth and reveal the lies and discerning them from each other. It shows the effect that manipulating the truth and spreading
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This common lying ruined relationships and only caused further damage and confusion in their community. One example of a character speaking out against this and pointing out these effects is when John Proctor says, "I speak my own sins; I cannot judge another. I have no tongue for it." (Miller 131) In the quote, John Proctor accepts his own faults and lies so he does not judge others for theirs. He knows that all people are not without sin and promotes the integrity and honesty of people. On the other hand, Abigail Williams does the opposite in this quote, "I will not have it said my name is soiled! Goody Proctor is a gossiping liar!" (Miller 12) In this quote, you can see how people can use this easily diverted fear and hysteria to, with ease, shift the blame off of her and make the opposer scared to tell the real truth. She is deceiving and lies to promote her own agenda, without regard for how it affects others and the community as a whole. Lies are very integral to the story of how things happen in this, but the truth is just as important to the …show more content…
People who held their integrity and the truth were destroyed, not giving up or losing their honor all until their untimely death. John Proctor, who searched for the real truth throughout the story, said this to Mary Warren when she would not reveal the truth. "We are only what we always were, but naked now. Aye, naked! And the wind, God's icy wind, will blow!" (Miller 76) John Proctor is saying that no matter what lies we use to cover ourselves and the truth, we will always be who we are, so there is no reason to hide the truth now, because eventually it will come back to you. He even later recognizes his own sin and lies, "I cannot mount the gibbet like a saint. It is a fraud. I am not that man. My honesty is broke, Elizabeth; I am no good man." (Miller 126) In this quote we can see how important it was to him to be a person of integrity and honesty. It broke him to hold his affair a secret, and up until his death, it was just as important to him. He would not lie to save his own life. He is a good example of how lies can destroy people and societies, someone will always be held at fault, whether it was the right person or
However, the truth behind that lie reveals his dislike for Parris, the minister of the church. He complains Parris uses his position in the town at his advantage. Elizabeth, who believes lying does no good, lies later in court to save her husband's life. Danforth, who took charge in the court, questions, "Look at me! To your own knowledge has John Proctor ever committed the crime of lechery?
Though his confession would be for witchcraft, Proctor believes that either way he is not a good man and that punishment would be justified either way. Proctor now sees his decision as practical instead of moral, telling Elizabeth that “it is hard to give a lie to a dog.” Subsequently, Elizabeth responds to John by saying “yet you’ve not confessed till now. That speaks goodness in you (Miller 126). Elizabeth is the only character in the play who understands John’s moral dilemma.
These crude acts of hypocrisy are frowned upon in most societies, as well as the town of Salem. Elizabeth Proctor makes the hypocritical comment to her husband, “I do not judge you. The magistrate sits in your heart that judges you. I never thought you but a good man, John, only somewhat bewildered” (52). Mrs. Proctor claims that only John judges himself, and no one else - not even her.
Act Ⅲ of Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible illustrates that lies can quickly spiral out of control and hurt people even if that wasn’t the initial intention. Lying is generally the response of someone is looking for self protection or to protect someone else. Children often lie to their parents because they feel the need to protect themselves and telling the truth could be detrimental to their protection (Smiley 1). More often than not, lies spiral out of control because they become too complex, as the lie typically needs to be covered up from another lie, which needs to be covered up by an additional lie and so on. Miller portrays that lies frequently become too complex and cause damage to the liar and the people involved mainly through Abigail
Terry Goodkind once said, “Once you place the crown of a liar on your head, you can take it off, but it leaves a stain for all time” This old adage rings true for many characters in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible. Many of them lied, cheated, omitted, and manipulated their way through the court and their own neighbors for the good of their own personal agenda; and the effects of those dishonest actions affected them for the rest of their lives. My whole life I have heard it said that little white lies do not matter. But they do, they matter a lot. They build on top of each other, snowballing into much bigger lies with much larger consequences.
It is clear that Proctor places importance on how people view him. For example, John Proctor is faced with a tough situation after he commits adultery with Abigail. “I mean to please you Elizabeth” (Miller 1268). Proctor says this to Elizabeth, making it clear to her that he holds more importance in the relationship with his wife than his reputation. Proctor goes with the hard decision to come forward with the truth, he could've easily denied it.
Nothing’s spoiled by giving them this lie that were not rotten long before” (Miller 1352). He is ultimately giving up his confession even though he knows it is not the right thing to do. A previous break to Proctor’s Christianity beliefs is when he commits adultery; however, instead of standing up for himself he gives into the court’s desire. When John Proctor confesses, his actions prove a huge weakness John Proctor has. However, his actions of confessing result in a strength.
I will not have it said my name is soiled! Goody Proctor is a gossiping liar!” (Miller
Then, John was accused of witchcraft. He was given the choice to tell the truth and be prosecuted or confess to a crime he didn’t commit and be set free. He chose to tell the truth and got sent to jail. During this time, he said “... what is John Proctor? I think it is honest” (page 138).
People lie for many reasons. Sometimes it’s to themselves, sometimes it’s to others. No matter who they are lying to, it always affects others around you. In the story The Crucible by Arthur Miller, lying is a very common theme. Many characters lie, which include John Proctor, Abigail Williams, Reverend Parris, and many others.
One example these actions being brought to life is on of page 109 when John Proctor tells Elizabeth “ My honesty is broke, Elizabeth; I am no good man”. This is quote has so much meaning because previous to this quote John had admitted to the court that he had had an affair with Abigail. By him admitting this he is putting himself in the state to be arrested for adultery, which would later lead to his death. Abigail had accused John's wife Elizabeth of being a witch in hopes that she would be hanged.
In the play The Crucible written by Arthur Miller, John Proctor was internally triumphant when he gained respect for himself, primarily due to his mission of personal redemption and his integrity. Overwrought by regret of his actions, John Proctor is driven on a mission to personally prove himself. He realizes the enormous mistake of committing lechery with Abigail, and wants to prove to himself he has a good will. Near the final pages of the play, Proctor was asked if he was accompanied when doing the devil’s work, he responded “I speak my own sins; I cannot judge another. I have no tongue for it” (Miller 141).
Proctor talks good about the people who decided not to confess. He Doesn't want to say anything that will harm them. Proctor doesn't think he’s doing the right thing by confessing and wants to change his mind to do the right thing. John proctor
During this time, he said “... what is John Proctor? I think it is honest” (page 138 - not cited).. This indicated that John Proctor was trying to maintain a good reputation by being truthful. And sees himself as honest in contrast to others who, in an effort to save their life. Falsely admitted to participating in witchcraft and only values honesty.
It shows whoever reads it why lying is a sin. A society or puritans, focused on perfection of religion, is shocked by an occurrence of witches. Witches are the Devil’s evildoers, and should be persecuted at once. Abigal, the drama queen of the play, attempts to kill the wife of the man she loves with witchcraft. They are found, but whenever Abigal and the others attending are being accused, they lie, blaming others of being witches.