Propaganda In The Crucible

The emotions a person feels can cause people to do unimaginable things to themselves and other people. Throughout the book, people's emotions bring out the worst of the people of Salem. The people of Salem begin accusing people of witchcraft for their own personal vendettas and gain. In the book “ The Crucible” by Arthur Miller the people demonstrate, When reason fails, emotions control and results in the destruction of what is morally right or good. Before the book begins, Abigail Williams was fired by the Proctors because of her affair with John Proctor, the husband of the Elizabeth Proctor.

Lastly Giles talks about how Thomas Putnam is accusing his neighbors to gain land for himself, “My Proof is there! If Jacobs hangs for a witch he forfeit up his property-that's law! And there is none but Putnam with the coin to buy so great a piece. This man is killing his neighbors for their land.” (Miller 1195). People were willing to do anything for their own gain, including take land that is not theirs.

You drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor!” (Miller 1244) Even before we know a lot about Abigail we find out that she resorted to “devil work” to try and get rid of John Proctor’s wife. She is still in love with Proctor to a point of destroying her and anyone who gets in her way. Another quote is by Abigail herself that says, “Why, look at my leg. I’ve holes all over from their damned needles and pins. The jab your wife gave me’s not healed yet, y’know….

“Common history has painted Annand her young peers as selfish, vicious fakers who fueled the witchcraft trials out of boredom or spite. This portrait, however, is somewhat flawed as it appears that in Ann’s case at least, the parents of the afflicted must have a strong influence with the child, as did the other adult accusers. Initially, Ann was fed names by her parents and minister”(-Minerdescent). The girls that were tricked into believing that the accused were guilty were most likely convinced that this was pious and that God wanted them to accuse the innocent. Or the girls might be influenced by their religion, reverends, and ministers.

The people were humiliated in front of everyone because they used the 5th amendment and decided to not answer anything they were asked. Therefore, we know that Arthur Miller used the accusations and punishments in the play, to symbolize the Red Scare. During the Red Scare, there were many accusations, people, punishments, and trials. Arthur Miller, author of The Crucible, wrote this play as an allegory to demonstrate what happened back in the 1950’s with the spread of Communism. Arthur Miller wanted to talk about the Red Scare and used the Salem Witch Trials to explain what happened through an allegory.

Hale’s confusion gets the best of him, but shows that he does not agree with the girls’ beliefs anymore that the devil has scouted the accused. He realizes that the court is corrupt and what they are doing is unfair, in the sense that believing the girls was wrong. Quitting the court ends Hale’s confidence and shows he is doubting the validity of his own conclusions that he had made initially. The morning that was set for John Proctor, Rebecca Nurse, and Martha Corey to be hung; Reverend Hale was at the jail trying to get the accused to confess to witchcraft. Hale begs to Danforth, “If you postpone a week and publish to the town that you are striving for their confessions, that speak mercy on your part” (1223).

The men of the town have all the power and their rule is reinforced not only by law, but also by the supposed sanction of God. In this society, the lower rungs of the social ladder are unmarried youths like Abigail. Powerless in daily life, Abigail finds a sudden source of control in her alleged possession by the devil and the hysterical denunciation of her fellow townsfolk. The Puritans believe that the Devil is working to tempt human beings away from God. All references to witchcraft are connected with fear, suspicion and the collapse of normal social values.

The belief in supernatural beings and occurrences are responsible for mass hysteria, social disruption, and devastating people’s reputations. The Crucible tells the tale of a Puritan village blinded by hysteria that goes on a witchhunt because of superstition and fear. Although many people denounce the existence of the supernatural, nearly all societies are defined and distinguished by their beliefs in the supernatural through religion and culture. In the drama, The Crucible, Arthur Miller uses the ignorance of Dr.Griggs, Mrs. Putnam, and Reverend Parris to prove the human mind suggests odd occurrences beyond human comprehension are caused by the supernatural. The most highly regarded members of Salem often stipulate odd occurrences and the

The author, Arthur Miller, wrote “The Crucible” that tells us the hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials. The society in Salem in 1692 was full of McCarthyism and fear because they thought their other citizens are doing witchcraft. Miller tells us that ignorance and fear combined can destroy a town’s social well-being. On the play, “The Crucible”, the citizens of Salem’s reacted with fear when they hear that someone has a sign of being a witch. For example, when someone coughs, society thought he/she’s a witch.

In Defense of Rebecca Nurse     Your Majesties, Judge Corwin and Judge Hathorne, our defendant Rebecca Nurse, a highly respected member of the Salem community, has been wrongly accused of practicing witchcraft. We believe that these profound accusations against, the honest and trustworthy, Rebecca Nurse were fabricated by those who are trying to cause harm to the Nurse family. This accusation of practicing witchcraft is serious and is not to be taken lightly. A warrant for the arrest of Rebecca Nurse was issued on March 24, 1692 (Salem Witch Trials Notable Persons). This warrant was issued due to the Putnams accusation that our defendant practices witchcraft.