Examples Of Theocracy In The Crucible
An Essay Regarding Intolerance and Theocracy
The Crucible, a play by Arthur Miller, shows how intolerance can corrupt a theocratic society. In The Crucible, this is achieved by a combination of three chief contributors. The paradox mentioned in his introduction to Act I, was and is entirely true in regard to the conflicting nature of the theocratic system and the human condition. First and foremost, conformity and forced control destroy the sense of trust between villagers. Secondly, intolerant attitudes ruin all creative thought and new ideas, which could have possibly freed Salem from its twisted thinking. Finally the Puritans created the same form of oppressive government they ran away from England during the 1620s.
In a theocracy, governing persons are overly empowered because they are supposedly ordained of God. This makes it hard for truth to stand because there is no tolerance for second notions. In a theocratic state, authority is especially distrusted because there is no way of proving direction from a higher power. Arthur Miller illustrates this concept in The Crucible when Salem's citizens are suspicious of new authority figures such as Parris and Judge Danforth.
In Miller's play, his characters rely on faith rather then reason. This is largely in part to fear of …show more content…
Miller reinforces this idea when Judge Danforth's declares, "A person is either with this court or he must be counted against it, there be no road in between." During Salem's witch trials, the general public felt they were powerless and kept to themselves. One could argue theocracy actually encourages wrongdoing. In a society with outrageous consequences, bad behavior is regularly kept secret. Miller exemplifies this theory by creating a veiled affair between Abigail and John Proctor. Fear and cowardice are the key fraudulent traits in The
The Crucible, a play by Arthur Miller, shows how intolerance can corrupt a theocratic society. In The Crucible, this is achieved by a combination of three chief contributors. The paradox mentioned in his introduction to Act I, was and is entirely true in regard to the conflicting nature of the theocratic system and the human condition. First and foremost, conformity and forced control destroy the sense of trust between villagers. Secondly, intolerant attitudes ruin all creative thought and new ideas, which could have possibly freed Salem from its twisted thinking. Finally the Puritans created the same form of oppressive government they ran away from England during the 1620s.
In a theocracy, governing persons are overly empowered because they are supposedly ordained of God. This makes it hard for truth to stand because there is no tolerance for second notions. In a theocratic state, authority is especially distrusted because there is no way of proving direction from a higher power. Arthur Miller illustrates this concept in The Crucible when Salem's citizens are suspicious of new authority figures such as Parris and Judge Danforth.
In Miller's play, his characters rely on faith rather then reason. This is largely in part to fear of …show more content…
Miller reinforces this idea when Judge Danforth's declares, "A person is either with this court or he must be counted against it, there be no road in between." During Salem's witch trials, the general public felt they were powerless and kept to themselves. One could argue theocracy actually encourages wrongdoing. In a society with outrageous consequences, bad behavior is regularly kept secret. Miller exemplifies this theory by creating a veiled affair between Abigail and John Proctor. Fear and cowardice are the key fraudulent traits in The