Crucible
Larkey 1
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The Crucible
A desire from deep within a person’s soul is often reflected by their life. People will usually act on whatever desire this is for their own personal gain. Be it greed for lust and love as represented by Abigail Williams, greed for power and authority as represented by Reverend
Parris, or greed for land, wealth and power as represented by Thomas Putnam. Arthur Miller points out all of these in his play “The Crucible.” He shows how it leads to the corruption of a once good community. The greed and quest for power blurs the truth of many in the town of
Salem, and causes great destruction in the families of a once moral Christian society.
Abigail is a wonderful example of this theme, Abigail feels that Mr. Proctor should still love her as he once had. This is displayed in the story when Abigail says, “…you loved me then and you do now ” (Miller 149). John Proctor admits to having an affair with Abigail Williams, “.. it’s a whore..” (Miller 193). He says the only reason that Abigail accused his wife of witchcraft is because she is a greedy whore and wants him all to herself. The only way this could happen is if
Elizabeth died, so Abigail accuses her of being a witch so that Elizabeth Proctor will hang so that
Abigail can be with John. Since John had denied her earlier in the play she was upset. Abigail also shows her greed for love by stating “You loved me, John Proctor, and whatever sin it is, you love me yet” (Miller 150).
In Salem someone who owned a lot of land had power and status in the community. This was the case for Thomas Putnam. He would do anything to convince someone that another person had committed witchcraft. When talking to Parris about the girls dancing in the woods he says, “ Wait for no one to charge you- declare it yourself. You have discovered
Larkey 2 witchcraft-“ (Miller 146). He even had his daughter accuse more people that lived around him of being witches they would be hung. As a result,
"
The Crucible
A desire from deep within a person’s soul is often reflected by their life. People will usually act on whatever desire this is for their own personal gain. Be it greed for lust and love as represented by Abigail Williams, greed for power and authority as represented by Reverend
Parris, or greed for land, wealth and power as represented by Thomas Putnam. Arthur Miller points out all of these in his play “The Crucible.” He shows how it leads to the corruption of a once good community. The greed and quest for power blurs the truth of many in the town of
Salem, and causes great destruction in the families of a once moral Christian society.
Abigail is a wonderful example of this theme, Abigail feels that Mr. Proctor should still love her as he once had. This is displayed in the story when Abigail says, “…you loved me then and you do now ” (Miller 149). John Proctor admits to having an affair with Abigail Williams, “.. it’s a whore..” (Miller 193). He says the only reason that Abigail accused his wife of witchcraft is because she is a greedy whore and wants him all to herself. The only way this could happen is if
Elizabeth died, so Abigail accuses her of being a witch so that Elizabeth Proctor will hang so that
Abigail can be with John. Since John had denied her earlier in the play she was upset. Abigail also shows her greed for love by stating “You loved me, John Proctor, and whatever sin it is, you love me yet” (Miller 150).
In Salem someone who owned a lot of land had power and status in the community. This was the case for Thomas Putnam. He would do anything to convince someone that another person had committed witchcraft. When talking to Parris about the girls dancing in the woods he says, “ Wait for no one to charge you- declare it yourself. You have discovered
Larkey 2 witchcraft-“ (Miller 146). He even had his daughter accuse more people that lived around him of being witches they would be hung. As a result,