The Crucible Literary Analysis

Literature is a wonderful thing; it explores the relationships between humans and their nature, historical events, and can be used to express one’s creativity. It can also be used to give moral guidance; this was Arthur Miller’s reasoning behind writing The Crucible. In this dramatic retelling of the Salem trials, Miller ensnares his reader with stories of adultery, betrayal, and material greed. His intention, however, is not to entertain with operatic drama. This play is a cautionary tale about finger pointing and its potentially fatal consequences. When people allow hysteria to take over their mind and warp their logic, they harm not only themselves, but their entire society. Communities enraptured with this chaos suffer. Some people, however,

Every single person has and will experience hardship; many of it against their own society. John Proctor, however, has a more severe case. He is forced to choose between his own life and his values — his name, his moral code. This is just another example of a hyper-religious society walking on the backs of the ones it is designed to protect. The children corrupt the system; they take over the reigns and twist the perceptions of their people until they became the ones in control. With a deadly mix of radicalism and hysteria, the once-peaceful village became a nightmare for those who didn 't fit the perfect Puritanical mold. John Proctor is given a disproportionately punishment to his crime — yes, he commits lechery. Yes, he lies to his community about the affair with Abigail Williams. No individual, however, deserves the suffering these accused witches are forced to experience. Their society turned its back on them; they are beaten, tortured, humiliated, excommunicated. These previously God-loving citizens were warped for straying from their religion’s ideals. At one point, Reverend Hale approaches Proctor and his wife begging the question, “. . . you are rarely in church on Sabbath Day . . . why are you so absent?” (1170). He is consistently targeted for his irregular attendance; he is even shamed when he confesses his dislike towards the current reverend. His society discriminates against him for having his own moral code; it forces him to

By forcing an individual to conform, they stifle any chance of thriving outside of the machine. John Proctor is forced to choose between his society and his morals; in the end, he chooses to take a stand against the church. He may have been hung, but his death means something more. His execution, along with many others, forces the people of Salem to wake up. It forces them to realize what they are doing is wrong. They 've murdered innocent people, they 've twisted the courts to suit their agendas, they 've let their own suffer for far too long. By fighting against society, Proctor has shown them their