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How Does Arthur Miller Present Elizabeth's Motivation In The Crucible

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In the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller many characters turn on each other accusing them of witchcraft. Many people are getting hung by these false accusations, and the town is chaotic due to this. In the play The Crucible, Arthur Miller shows that characters are motivated and will stop at nothing to get what they want. Miller shows this through the accusations made by Thomas Putnam, Judge Danforth, and Mary Warren. In The Crucible Thomas Putnam’s main motivations are greed and selfishness. He shows this throughout the book, by accusing people of witchcraft. Thomas Putnam’s brother in law was prevented from being elected the office of minister. “Thomas Putnam felt that his own name and honor of his family had been smirched by the village, and he meant to right matters however he could” (Miller1221). To right his name and honor from being smirched he accused many …show more content…

His main motivation is he doesn’t want to show weakness in the court. There is a deposition signed by ninety one landowning farmers attesting to the good characters of Elizabeth, Martha, and Rebecca. “No, No I accept no depositions. Tell me Mr. Proctor, have you given out this story in the village” (Miller 1251). Danforth will not accept this deposition, because he feels the deposition is an attack on the court. Some of the citizens signed a petition stating they never saw any signs that the arrested women had dealings with the devil, and Judge Danforth wasn’t happy. “... Mr. Cheever have warrants drawn for all of these arrests for examination” (Miller 1253). With this petition going around is showing that the court may be wrong, and it is showing weakness from the court. Judge Danforth will do anything to protect him and make sure no one questions the court. Judge Danforth’s motivations are based on selfish reasons and also fear of the citizens questioning the court, and the people turning on him. Him and Mary Warren both share the motivation of

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