Theme Of Dishonesty In The Crucible

Themes are evident in all works of literature. In any story, an author’s theme is an underlying lesson that they believe readers can learn by reading their work. Themes also can provide deeper meanings to stories. An author shows their theme in many careful and thought out ways. They can do this through characters, dialogue or thoughts, settings and even events or actions that happen in the story. Themes are an important part of stories because they provide a lesson or idea that allows the reader to connect more and become engaged with a story. The Crucible, has an overall theme of how dishonesty, greed and suspicion can lead to false accusations. One example of this theme in The Crucible is the dishonesty of the people and how that leads

An example of greed in Act Three would be how Thomas Putnam wanted all of the surrounding land and would do many things to get this land. Putnam wanted the land so much through his greed that he tried to have his daughter, Ruth, who was a member of the girls accusing people, try and accuse George Jacobs of witchcraft. “I have it from an honest man who heard Putnam say it! The day his daughter cried out on Jacobs, he said she’d given him a fair gift of land.” (96) If Jacobs was found guilty of witchcraft, Putnam would then be able to purchase his land. Putnam’s greed of how much he wants the land, leads to the false accusation of George Jacobs as a witch by Ruth. In Act One, an example of greed would be how Abby is willing to go through with such bad things to try and be with Proctor. She does this even after many times being told not to. She gets to a point where she even tries to kill Elizabeth to be with Proctor. “You did, you did! You drank a charm to kill John Proctors wife.” (19) Abby is willing to go through just about anything to be with Proctor, even if that means killing Elizabeth. Finally, a person’s suspicion is another way in The Crucible that lead to the false accusations of others. An example of suspicion in Act One would be when Giles Corey is suspicious about his wife, Martha, reading books. Giles says that his wife reads and hides book. “Martha, my wife. I have waked at night many a time and found her in a corner, reading of