Is honesty always the best policy? Are there times when dishonesty has a positive impact? In the fictional world of The Crucible, the author, Arthur Miller, explores how people can be dishonest for being purely selfish. In addition, the author shows that people can also lie for the sake of helping out others. In the real world, however, white lies can benefit your social life instead of hinder it. Ultimately, in my experience, lying is not that good unless it’s to cushion the blow of anything. In Acts 1 and 2 of The Crucible, people are often motivated to be dishonest because they do not want to suffer. In Act 1, Tituba lies because she does not want to be hung for her. Abigail told everyone that Tituba was doing witchcraft, which she then falsely confesses to simply because she knows she cannot win and be hanged if she denies it. Tituba states, “No, no, don’t hang Tituba! I tell him I don’t desire to work for him, sir” (42). …show more content…
Reverend Hale experiences a profound shift in his convictions. Realizing the gravity of the situation and the innocent lives hanging in the balance, Hale resorts to dishonesty, attempting to expose the flaws within the system. As he pleads with Judge Danforth, Hale says, "There is blood on my head! Can you not see the blood on my head?!" (131). Hale seeks to alleviate his guilt and save lives, recognizing the dire consequences of blind adherence to an unjust court. Likewise, John Proctor, torn between his love for his wife and his commitment to truth, makes a painful decision to falsely admit to adultery in order to save Elizabeth from possible death. Proctor declares, "I have known her, sir. I have known her" (110). Proctor lied to simply protect his wife. This act of sacrificial dishonesty shows the profound depths to which one can give up in order to save the lives of those they hold dear. Hale and Proctor both lied to save others, even at the cost of their own
In the last act Hale was speaking with John Proctor and began to realize that Proctor was lying. Though Hale is a reverend he realized how the
Once Proctor admits to the court that he has known Abigail and that she was being dishonest about the affair, the court starts to see that she if she is capable of lying about their affair then she must also be capable of lying about witchcraft. An additional example of heroism in The Crucible, is seen when Reverend John Hale tries to convince those accused of witchcraft to confess even though they aren't guilty. Hale speaks with Elizabeth and
Honesty is something we all want. Honesty describes person’s nature and builds more trust. Abigail gets affected by the witch craft and they try to find who is behind all of this. Honesty is a key to describe your nature. The crucible has a really unique story.
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.
The significance of lying only leads to more problems is conflicted in The Crucible by Arthur Miller. In a series of events the effects of lying are displayed with their own individual consequences and one problem leading to another and another and eventually to an tragic end. From the beginning of the play, The Crucible, the reader was introduced to the young girl Abigail who initially started the trails of lies that caused the downfall of Salem and its justice.
TITLE In The Ways We Lie, by Stephanie Ericsson, and Anton Chekhov’s, The Lady with the Dog both have messages about lying. Ericsson discusses a few of the many types of lies or deceit, such as white lies and facades. Chekhov, on the other hand, does not particularly talk about lying, but the characters lie and deceive each other. Although it is easier to lie than to tell the truth, I claim that people should tell the truth all the time because lying is morally wrong, and it leads to unforeseen consequences.
The Crucible by Arthur Miller has many lessons to learn from. One of The major lesson I thought that is important is honesty. The accusations throughout the story were built on lies from those trying to protect their own name, and putting the town into confusion. Nobody in Salem, Massachusetts felt like they could trust anymore, after all of the false allegations made. If Three characters in the story would have been honest from the beginning, the town would not have been in such confusion.
It is mistaken law that leads you to sacrifice. Life, woman, life is God 's most precious gift; no principle, however glorious, may justify the taking of it” (Act 4, 132). In fact, Hale doesn’t suggest Elizabeth to use religion to get Proctor to confess, but rather just a simple word of telling him to survive. In conclusion, Reverend Hale finds that going against the court is obligation that is needed to be done because no one has done that and the society needs rebellion
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.
Hale acknowledges human’s mortality more so than Danforth who believes his word is the final say. Furthermore, Judge Danforth appears to only be concerned with having those who were jailed, confess to being witches whether they were or not. All those who do not confess to conspiring with the devil in his eyes are evil and those “who weep for [them, therefore] weep for corruption” (134). In contrast, Hale is desperate to save the innocent from their inevitable doom because he believes “life is God’s most precious gift” and “no principle [] may justify taking it” (122). He even encourages Elizabeth Proctor to “prevail upon [her] husband to confess” because “God damns a liar less than he that throws his life away for pride” (122).
Integrity is an essential piece of heroism, this can especially be seen in the novel "The Crucible" as the two ideals of integrity and heroism collide. Many different conclusions could be made from reading this novel when it comes to both integrity and heroism. While there are characters like John Proctor whom exhibits heroism through integrity, selflessness, and bravery, there are other characters whom sacrifice their own integrity in order to preserve their own imagine. These characters are portrayed as dynamic villains like Reverend Parris and Abigail Williams and others like Salem's own Sheriff whom is less dynamic and a greater linear character. Each individual's integrity would change constantly throughout the story due to a constant stacking of lies, all of which is rooted to one's struggle to keep a good image by forfeiting her own integrity.
This quote says that lying happens frequently; no one can resist it. It also says lying is deadly, which is also shown in the Bible within the story of Adam and Eve, when the serpent lies to Eve, convincing her to consume the sacred fruit. In modern society, lying is a common practice. A person may lie protect themselves, or to gain something wanted. This may be due to religious diversity or the decay of respect in society.
In The Crucible, a drama by Arthur Miller, John Proctor demonstrates courage by speaking out for what he believes in while knowing his consequences, admitting his wrong doings with Abigail to save Elizabeth’s life, and choosing to be hanged over having his name posted on the church door because the second his signed confession is posted, his and his loved ones reputations will be ruined. In the beginning of the play all John Proctor cared about was his reputation. However, ultimately he sacrificed his reputation by telling the court he committed adultery. John telling the court he was guilty ruined his reputation, which made all hell break loose.
Likewise, when Elizabeth is brought before Danforth to verify Proctor’s confession, she lies to protect her husband, whom she refers to as a “goodly man,” from suspicion (Miller, 113). The affair may have caused Elizabeth to doubt Proctor but both parties still care deeply for each other and try to protect each other from harm. Even in his last moments, Proctor’s last words- “Show honor now, show a stony heart and sink them with it!”- were directed toward Elizabeth and were full of love and care (Miller, 144). Proctor may have sinned but his regret over his affair with Abigail and the trouble he had brought upon his wife justifies his
Many people have told lies and been told lies ,however the biggest lie of all is lying to oneself. Everyone has been told to share the truth because even though the truth will hurt others now, a carried out lie will hurt them a lot more in the future. It 's better to do right than to live in lies such as don 't hide all your faults they won 't just go away, you need to learn from your mistakes. In Les Miserables and The Kite Runner a man 's reputation is not as important as his family. As in giving up yourself for another and to be happy, like leaving your homeland where you are known and in charge to become a working man and make your family happy.