To live or to die? Seems like an obvious question, right? When the weight of another factor clouds the seemingly no-brainer question is it really so obvious? Die for a lie or live with dishonor? It’s not anywhere as obvious now. With this new question many personality factors will drive a person’s decision. In The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, John Proctor is faced with this weighted decision and Reverend Hale asserts that giving a false confession is better than dying for a principle. No principle or belief is worth a life; from the dawn of time, to puritan life, to present day–it is better to live for one’s beliefs and there are seven deadly sins are worse than death itself. Sacrificing oneself to his or her beliefs is regarded as more cowardly
“The Crucible'' is a play written by Arthur Miller in 1953 depicting the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. One of the key themes in “The Crucible” is the abuse of power. Abigail Williams and Judge Danforth are just two main characters of the story who use their power and authority in varying yet destructive forms. While Danforth is a stern judge who upholds the law and attempts to maintain order during the Salem witch trials, Abigail is a cunning and deceptive young woman who uses her influence to cause chaos and manipulate others. The results of their actions only create more issues instead of fixing pre-existing ones.
In 1953 Arthur Miller took out a play called The Crucible. People started to noticed that it has some similarities to Joseph McCarthy's life. Because they both were related on some subjects. So thats why The Crucible parallels McCarthyism in three significant ways:Naming names,lack of proof and resistance.
Ashton Franquiz AP Lang Eairheart 4th 31st october 2016 Hots Questions What made Miller use irony a a lot in his writing, did it help his cause and purpose of writing it? Miller’s use of irony in his writing helped him get his points across and give a sense of comic relief to the readers, in his example of Proctor reciting the Ten Commandments and forgetting the one about adultery gives a laugh for the audience seeing how he was unfaithful to his wife and had an affair with Abigail. 2.
During ‘The Crucible’ by Arthur Miller, a story about the Salem witch trials in early American colonies, people constantly fight over what they believe is right as well as their personal authority. Throughout the story, the thought that people will abuse the sometimes small bit of authority that they have is prominent, one case being how Abigail and how she affects the trials. In many cases this authority also affects the capacity of independent thought throughout the colonies at the time much like the laws set in place that require the population to be Christian. Abigail, the daughter of parris, is a major part of the abuse of authority throughout the play and this is primarily due to the fact that she is the niece of the town reverend, Parris.
When Arthur Miller wrote The Crucible, it was during the era of McCarthyism in postwar America. Artists, creators, and people from all walks of life were being accused of conspiring with Soviet Russia and spreading Communism throughout the United States. These citizens often lost their jobs and had their lives destroyed because of the aggressive accusations coming from the US Government and those who thought its cause just. Similarly, during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, many innocent civilians were hanged because of their suspected connection to Satan. During both of these eras, people rightfully feared that even their closest friends and neighbors would turn them in due to pressure from authority.
The Hidden Meaning “Until an hour before the Devil fell, God thought him beautiful in heaven,” quoted by Reverend Parris, in the novel, The Crucible. The Salem Witch Trials emphasized the evil in everyone. Whether you were affluent or insufficient, people still had the courage to throw one under the bus. Not only did the witch trials bring out the evil, it also exemplified the righteousness. As various people read about the trials, one may ask, what started the witch trials?
To purify metal you have to melt the ore in a crucible, or a container that can resist great heat. A crucible, such as a steel container, clay, and some ceramics can withstand great heat. Crucifixion, the SAT’s and Mr.Maloney's class are all examples of a crucible. Where everyone who enters or gets chosen is severely tested.
Scapegoating: Taking Heat From Someone Else's Flame In an interview on Faith and Religion with Bill Moyers from PBS, Margaret Atwood once said, “Under stress, society will always scapegoat a person or a group of people.” This belief is shown in the texts The Crucible by Arthur Miller, the cartoon “It’s okay -- We’re hunting Communist” by Herb Block, and her own poem “Half Hanged Mary”.
Shawn Jande Ms. Clancy American Literature B3 15 November 2015 The Crucible Analytical Essay Imagine, being accused of a crime you didn’t commit by your neighbors and friends out of jealousy, and desire. This is what many people in the town of Salem had to go through during the time of the Salem Witch Trials. People's motives such as: gaining and maintaining power, and aspirations for what other people had caused them to make irrational, and atrocious decisions. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, desire and power drive characters to create chaos in the community.
Goodness and nobility is determined by an individual’s morality and their willingness to follow a virtuous path in their life. It is also determined by the ability of an individual to acknowledge their shortcomings and become more self-aware. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, John Proctor is a good man as he showcases righteous morals and principles. This is shown, as he ends his affair with Abigail, protects his wife and his friends’ wives, and dies to preserve his integrity and honour. First, John Proctor shows his goodness, by refusing the physical advances of Abigail, who wishes to continue their love affair.
The Crucible by Arthur Miller is an allegory to the communist witch hunts in the 1950’s, in which US senator Joseph Mccarthy and The House Un-American Activities Committee (H.U.A.C) accused people of having relationships with the Communist Party. Similarly, Abigail and the girls accused people of Salem Village for being in compact with the devil in The Crucible. For both of these situations, the only solution to clear the accusation is by accusing others of the same crime. Therefore, the theme of morality and integrity plays a part in a person’s decision to either confess and lie or live the truth.
Everyone longs for success. They desire the acceptance and approval for following their moral compass, being rewarded, and being acknowledged. However, one cannot maintain success without a purposeful and achievable position of power. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller the power of society is bound upon a pronounced hierarchy. Men naturally are deemed as having higher status than women in society.
One Choice Can Change Lives Who knew one seemingly innocent lie could cause 19 deaths and pit an entire town against itself? That’s exactly what happens in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible. Authors often use similar plot devices, and their favorite one is having their characters face a test. In a small town called Salem in early America, something terrible is happening.
The Crucible Act 1-4 Reading Response Journal 1.a. Speaker: The speaker is Arthur Miller, who was the author of the book, as well as a popular essayist and playwright during the 20th Century. 1.b. Audience: Miller is addressing the reader of the book 1.c. Context: At the time the quote was written, Salem had been established for forty years and was involved in trade amongst other nations.
Arthur Miller constructs his play upon the famous Salem witch trails. Miller's Crucible was written in the early 1950s. Miller wrote his drama during the brief reign of the American senator Joseph McCarthy whose bitter criticized anti- communism sparkled the need for the United States to be a dramatic anti- communist society during the early tense years of the cold war. By orders from McCarthy himself, committees of the Congress commenced highly controversial investigations against communists in the U.S similar to the alleged Salem witches situation. Convict communists were ordered to confess their crime and name others to avoid the retribution.