Telling the truth may seem like the right path to take, but in the Puritans’ society it leads to nothing but consequences. In Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, reasoning and logic play a huge role in the society’s fear and paranoia. Proctor, Hale, and Giles are the main characters who have reasonable explanations for the chaos that has occurred.
The Crucible by Arthur Miller is a dramatic play that expresses a very important message and that is how far people would go to save themselves from the hands of death. There are many characters in the Crucible who are guilty of taking innocent lives, but there are three major characters who, without a doubt, are the most at blame. The play takes place in the city of Salem, a city filled with people that would do anything to keep their reputation clean. Throughout the play, Miller is introducing multiple characters that experience changes in their decisions and negatively influence more people eventually leading up to the witch trials. The main point that the story revolves around is that people would rather lie and blame someone else instead of confessing and accepting the punishment. By examining the characters of the play, I believe that the three major characters who should be blamed the most for the witch trials are Abigail Williams,
“Controlled hysteria is what’s required. To exist constantly in a state of controlled hysteria. It’s agony. But everyone has agony. The difference is that I try to take my agony home and teach it to sing” (Arthur Miller, AZ Quotes). In the play, the Crucible, by Arthur Miller, Salem, Massachusetts was a place of constant hysteria in the 1600s because of what would come to be commonly known as the Salem Witch Trials. This was a full-blown witch hunt for people found to display signs of witchcraft. Abigail Williams was the main person to blame for this pursuit of witches in Salem because, first off, she was the one who caused hysteria about witchcraft just to cover up the fact that
The definition of “crucible” - in context to the theme of the play - reads, “a situation of severe trial, or in which different elements interact, leading to the creation of something new.” In The Crucible, many people are tested in scenarios they would never have imagined would happen to them. Many different groups and families are drawn together, whether it’s to fight for one another, or against. As well as coming together, or being torn apart in a time of hysteria, every character’s morals are put to a severe test when truths and lies seep to the surface of their daily lives.
When push comes to shove, everyone makes a tough decision, but in the end the decision was either out of fear to protect themselves, or a strategy to gain a designated amount of authority. In today 's society, many of the decisions people make lead to riots in the streets and people getting hurt. Similarly, the Ferguson riot in Missouri years ago, where many civilians were injured because of decisions made by everyone involved. Whether it turned violent because they wanted to prove something or because they feared the police when they showed up. In the story, The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, the characters also illustrate the fact that it is human nature to defend oneself, to strive to survive despite the harm such actions can cause to
All the accused is put on trial and the girls continue to lie ,saying that they work with the devil. Elizabeth discovers that Abigail accused Elizabeth of witchcraft. Rebecca Nurse, Elizabeth, and many others were taken away to holding cells. When asked about Elizabeth, Mary told the truth and said that she did not work with the devil. Mary continues to testify in Elizabeth's behalf, attempting to prove her innocence.The other girls isolate Marry Warren after her betrayal. The girls scream and cry that Mary is still working with the devil.The girls continue to accuse new people and put on a different act each time a person is charged.In Act 2 of The Crucible Mary Warren realizes that her actions are cruel. She begins to oppose the girls and their accusations, but the girls cut her off and separate themselves, which later pressures her to join the group of girls again. Abby screams “Mary, please don‘t hurt me!” (Miller, 1953, pg.115). Abby screams as though Mary is trying to hurt her. She later says she is sending out spirits claiming she works with the devil. This can relate to a personal narrative because in both stories someone is pressured into doing something they know is wrong
Mob Mentality: That escalated quickly… The website Investopedia defined mob mentality as “a form mentality characterized by a lack of individual decision-making or thoughtfulness, causing people to think and act in the same way as the majority of those around them”(Investopedia). Mob mentality usage was prominent in the world's history
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. A small group of teenage puritans broke several rules and lied a seemingly innocent lie. That lie turns into a series of hearings where the defendant has two terrible choices. They can either lie and confess to witchcraft that they didn't commit, or hang. That one lie leads to 19 deaths. In Arthur Miller's The Crucible, many characters made crucial decisions that led to the disaster
In act three of the crucible, Mary Warren accused John Proctor of witchcraft. The reason being, either way, she would be going to jail but if she found some way to soften the blow a little she could be let of a little easier. The way she picked in the heat of the moment was blaming John Proctor of witchcraft. She was being blamed by the girls that she was a witch and had absolutely no way to defend herself because the judges already are on Abigail's side. She then dropped the bomb and said that John was a witch and made her do it all. John forced Mary to go to the court and tell them everything that she knew and that everything was a hoax. Mary refused to go with John because she was scared of Abigail. John was not having it, “My wife will
A crucible is a laboratory instrument used to heat off any excess water. In the same sense, when “heat” is applied to the Protestant society in Salem, Massachusetts, the readers are able to see the true characters of the townspeople. The readers see whether characters are motivated by greed, by pride, by integrity, or by other impulses. Most people are motivated by pride in one form or another. In the play The Crucible written by Arthur Miller, prides of John Proctor, Abigail William, and Judge Danforth leads to the complete downfall of Salem, Massachusetts.
Imagine being innocent, but no one will listen to you. Instead, everyone goes to a group of teenage girls for the answer. They are the deciding factor on whether you’ll be set free or sent to the gallows. Imagine the judge of your trial being so powerful that no one will stand up to him even when they know he’s wrong. That’s what it was like during the Salem witch trials. In the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller, we see how unfair these trials were, and how much power someone can have when people are afraid. This play was based on true events, and all throughout history we see events like this. Even in modern day society, leaders like Kim Jong Un have been so empowered in their dictatorships that they can do anything, this leads to the situation
Arthur Miller’s book, The Crucible, tells the story of the Salem witch trials that took place in Massachusetts in 1692. Many still consider this as one of the greatest tragedies in American history, as many innocent people lost their lives as a result of false accusations. In this novel, the characters Abigail Williams, Judge Danforth, and Reverend Parris all contribute a significant amount to the continuation of this disaster.
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.
In the late 1600s, many unspeakable things happened in the Massachusetts Bay Colony due to some people’s ways. In Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, there is a wide range of characters with a variety of conflicting personalities. A crucible is a situation of severe trial leading to the creation of something new. The play tells a story of a town’s obsession with accusing innocent people of witchcraft through an unrealistic test. This play is important because of its historical content relating the Salem witch trials to the Red Scare. Miller creates a strong contrast with his characters: Abigail Williams, who is violent, and Elizabeth Proctor, who is caring.
100% trials begin in conflict. Such is the case in The Crucible, a play by Arthur Miller, which depicts the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. The play opens to Rev. Samuel Parris, his niece, Abigail Williams, and his comatose daughter, Betty Parris. Several other people come in to see how Betty is, including Ann Putnam, a mother of one living, but sick, child, Ruth Putnam, and seven dead children, and John Proctor, the rebel who is having an affair with Abigail Williams. Ann Putnam struggles with the death of seven of her children. Proctor struggles against the society supporting the trials and his servant, Mary Warren. These conflicts are necessary to move the trials along, each having an effect on the final scene, John Proctor being taken to be