The Injustice Named Salem In an era of super-constriction, hysteria, and the construct puritan belief of religion ruling all, Arthur Miller uses the conflicts of the Salem Witch Trials to relay many underlying messages in reference to the 1953 red scare and McCarthy era. One problematic theme Arthur Miller repetitively portrayed ignites that, because too much power can lead to corruption, Danforth is established as the center of authority in order to continuously display his lack of mercy throughout the unjust story of “The Crucible”. In doing so, Miller reveals Danforth’s hopes to demonstrate and with hold his power over the town. After giving evidence of Putnam’s greedy responsibility for the hangings of those who held threat to his land, Danforth, convinced, demands Giles “the name of who reported Mr. Thomas Putnam” or be put in jail (Miller 187). Although blatant Giles is guilty of nothing, Danforth looks past the incriminating evidence against Putnam only perceiving Giles’ rebellious refusal to his demand. So blinded by his compulsive obsession with his pride and place of authority, Danforth proceeds to have Giles Corey killed with “great Stones” layered upon him as they commanded he answer (Miller 207). Infinitely guided …show more content…
By doing so Proctor intended to prove Abigail’s hidden intentions that gave her motive to create such a deceitful lie that causing the exile of innocents, particularly his wife. Even after Hale is convinced Danforth, still condemning Elizabeth, chooses to show a blind eye to the apparent rationality that Elizabeth was only trying to protect her husband’s good name when questioned, claiming “She spoke nothing of lechery, this man has lied!” (Miller 195). As presented during this scene of act 3, when in possession of great power, a person’s moral compass is guided by irrational thoughts clouding their
The Salem Witch Trials was a time period where tension and controversy arose from personal religious pursuits. In The Crucible, Arthur Miller used the character of Reverend Hale, a minister, and expert on the demonic arts, to display the raw injustice and hypocrisy manifested from his bibliocentric beliefs. Hale’s confident, formulaic view of Christian faith and witchcraft gradually changed. But as He came to Salem with much devotion to the church and with good intentions, he soon realizes the very evil he is committed to brought chaos and the overpower of authority. Despite Reverend Hale’s deep religious convictions, his naivety showed the fallibility of his judgment of others.
The Crucible, Arthur Miller takes the reader into the society and community of Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. Introducing him or her to a densely populated cast of characters who represent all different sorts of personalities. Miller exposed just how easily and how quickly paranoia can spread throughout a society, and to what lengths people will go to protect the values and the institutions that they consider to be sacred. A tragic hero dies a good man when brought to trial over nothing more than child’s play and dishonesty. Miller dramatized his characters nicely, pitting extreme types against one another to show just how infectious and ridiculous paranoia can become
Danforth let’s his hubris override his mind, and acts on nothing but a frenzy, ending innocent
Political Representation in The Crucible Arthur Miller, the author, wrote The Crucible in 1952 during the Red Scare, an investigation into Communist spies in the U.S. Government. A result of the Cold War with the Soviet Union, numerous citizens, including Miller, were interrogated for being accused of association with the Communist party by Senator Joseph McCarthy. The author used the Salem Witch Trials in his play to represent and criticize the search for Communist party members during the rise of McCarthyism. In The Crucible, Abigail Williams and the other “afflicted” girls compare to Joseph McCarthu and his actions in the 1950s.
The crucible, based during the Salem, Massachusetts witch trials of 1692. A constant theme through out the play is your personal reputation, maintaining a good name. Judge Danforth a well respected man in the society that has the supreme rule over the court. He is known for making the right decisions and never going against them. Innocent and guilty people have been put to death underneath his Judgement, to him this demonstrates his superiority and power.
Secondly, Judge Danforth’s irrationality and ignorance brings about poor decisions on his part. One of the instances where Danforth reveals his following attitude is when he denies to even look at a deposition presented by John Proctor as described by his words “ No, no, I accept no depositions” (Miller 88). John Proctor hands him a deposition signed by Mary warren, stating that the accusations made by Abigail and the girls are false. In this regard Judge Danforth replies to John Proctor by repetitively says “No” thereby emphasizing his adamant view on this subject.
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.
People tend to justify their actions, regardless of the outcome. With knowledge of their actions, people misemploy their authority. A remarkable playwright of the American theater, Arthur Miller continues to capture his audience with The Crucible. In the play, Miller portrays several characters, who abuses their authority. However, of the very few, Miller creates a character who makes an important contrast to these corrupt people.
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.
Danforth: Judge, Jury, and Executioner Judge Danforth’s position in the crucible is the Judge assigned to the proceedings of the Salem witch trials. Instead of treating this immense responsibility with the respect and restraint that is needed, Danforth abused his power by betraying the people of Salem and the Law. He did not listen to the people of Salem defending themselves before inevitably being sent to death; and he cared more about his reputation and the law than he did about peoples’ lives. Danforth was a ruthless power over the people of Salem he demanded respect for himself and the court; and nothing was more important than that.
Overall, Danforth was wrong. He faces many difficult descions throughout the play, and yet he stays mostly consistent. He chooses to save his own reputation over the lives of innocent people. He knowingly sends three people to die, just so that he can look good. Danforth was the main cause of all of the heartbreak and struggle endured in Salem.
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
In our society, many people rely on the power of law and justice in order to protect themselves. Some powerful men abuse and misuse their power which brings many unfairnesses and tragedies. In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, Judge Danforth is a deputy governor of the state, and he is also the judge for the witchcraft trail. Judge Danforth represents the authority and supremacy in the entire play. Throughout the play, Danforth’s tyrannous and stubborn personality caused many wrong decisions that he made in the court.
Power, the ability to maintain control, command, or authority over others can often be determined by one’s reputation and his or her persuasiveness. This principle is displayed within The Crucible, a play written by Arthur Miller, in which follows the town of Salem, Massachusetts attempting to navigate through a “Witchcraft” outbreak supposedly lead by the Devil. Within such a theocratic society such as Salem, the Devil is often associated with death, fear, and uncertainty. While his name alone is often believed to be able to influence others in to following through in certain actions. The Devil, as a key figure behind the immense “witchcraft” occurring in Salem, is crafted by Miller as the most influential “character” due to his infamous reputation and his ability to control characters’ actions.
Salem in The Crucible from Arthur Miller is the home to chaos and murder due to witchery that is still unclear as to whether it happened or not. These events caused major changes in the characters from start to finish, at the same time a change in society. Furthermore, calling what happened in Salem a tragedy is an understatement when Salem is clearly in a state of anarchy. Similarly, authority is discontinued and Salem enters a “she said he said” state of mind which only further confuses Salem while also hiding the true slaughterer of innocent Puritan people right in front of their faces. Furthermore, this rising anarchy inhibits the people of logical thinking and hides major perpetrators right in front of them.