Supernatural Power In The Crucible

1692. Supernatural powers were relevant in the small Puritan community of Salem, Massachusetts. These powers stretch to the extremity, even as far as flying. These actions occur in the play, The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller. The play tells the story of mass hysteria and peculiar behavior, sweeping over a town, propelled forth by a cartel of giddy girls, the biggest being Abigail Williams. She and her posse start to “pretend” for fun, but the members and parents of the community think more of it than just that. This leads to assumptions made that the girls have been bewitched and involved in the practice of witchcraft. One of the main characters, John Proctor, a middle aged farmer, married, and father of three, cheats on his wife, Elizabeth, with their

To begin, Proctor is questioned as to why he has come to the court because there are rumors he has come to overthrow it. He declares, ¨Why, I- I would free my wife, sir¨ (Miller 180). His goal is not to overthrow the court, but only to free his wife from being accused of witchcraft. He testifies against her arrest by saying the poppet with the needle in it was given to her by Mary Warren as part of a set up to Abigail's plan to get rid of Elizabeth. She does this to take Elizabeth's place in John Proctor's life. Second, he proves his love and caringness to Elizabeth in Act III when defending her firing of Abigail Williams. He states to Danforth, ¨I have made a bell of my honor! I have rung the doom of my good name- you will believe me, Mr. Danforth! My wife is innocent, except she knew a whore when she saw one!” (189). This passage validates not only that he is 100% over Abigail, but that he cares about his wife, loves her, still wants to be with her, and desires to live the rest of their lives together. He is standing up in defense of his wife, just as any husband would support her in times of toughness. This holds true until the end of the