Another place in this story that supports this theme is
Another place in this story that supports this theme is
Arthur Miller’s ‘The Crucible’ is based upon the Salem Witch Trials which occurred in the year 1692. The text also serves as an allegorical warning about much more recent events, in particular the McCarthy Trials of 1953. The McCarthy Trials were exploring communism. ‘The Crucible’ was written to highlight the similarities between McCarthyism and communism in the 1950’s in the United States of America and the witch hunts of Europe in the 17th century. The play is literally written about the witch trials but it is figuratively about the society Miller lived in, in 1953. Thousands of Americans were accused of being communists like in ‘The Crucible’; hundreds of the town’s people were accused of being witches. Three major ideologies that are still relevant in society today are evident in the play, intolerance, mass hysteria and reputation.…
Does a situation ever present itself where friends may do something wrong, lies sometimes protect friends, or others sympathize for pretended hurt? If these descriptions seem familiar, the characters in The Crucible by Arthur Miller may too. A crucible is a thorough trial or examination; therefore, the term coincides with the title of the play because the courts rigorously try individuals for the crime of witchcraft within the text (“Crucible” 1). The Crucible’s plot unfolds in the 1690’s in the Puritan town of Salem, Massachusetts (Miller 1038-1118). Within the story, several characters’ outlooks on life and their manner of interacting with the other characters change because of the trials, while contrastingly, a portion of the characters remains stagnant. Miller’s work properly illustrates how some characters, such as Elizabeth Proctor and John Hale, grow and subsequently improve relationships amongst themseleves as a result of interactions that provide opportunities for changes in ideals and relationships; while other individuals, like Judge Danforth, do not.…
Few experiences are as helpful for us to understand ourselves and our world as reading a great work of literature. When we read about interesting characters, we learn how to recognize the faults that affect us all. In Arthur Miller's play, the Crucible ,an examination of the characters teachers us about the dangers of hypocrisy, peer pressure, and personal, weakness. The hypocrisy of the characters in this play shows that they only care about the selves, and not about what they preach. For example, early in the play, there is a scene where Parris taking to Abigail about seeing girls dancing in the forest, and his worried about losing his job if people of the village find out. Parris tells Abigail "But if you trafficked with spirits in the forest…
The overall message of Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, is that when uncontrolled hysteria is combined with ignorance, the outcome is tragic. While Miller offers his audience some comic dialogue to soften the events it does not mask the horrifying reality of the witch hunt and its aftermath. Rather, the humorous insights serve to reveal the simplicity and innocence of people living rustic lives in a God-fearing community. Several characters, Paris and Hale, Mary Warren and John Proctor, provide the audience with some comic dialogue, and Giles Corey is the most amusing character of them all.…
Although Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, focuses primarily on other characters, Giles Corey presents an interesting view of how circumstances can force a man to examine his own views and step into becoming a staunch advocate for the truth and a role model for others.…
In the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller, there are multiple examples in which the characters get too involved into others’ business. It keeps the community safe to be aware of surrounding issues. To keep updated on what is happening in the world and distinctly in one’s home town is very crucial. It is difficult to not question someone of gossip about them if not ever taught of common courtesy, but there should be a feeling of guilt if something is done that is known as wrong or inappropriate. Being aware and having judgement in another’s doings have well opposing differences.…
While reading Arthur Miller’s, The Crucible, the audience may believe the play is a literal representation of the events that occurred in the Salem Witch Trials. Despite this, many aspects of the play are in fact fictional. Arthur Miller concocted each of the fictive details in the play purposely. Behind each of the modifications Miller made, lies a specific reason for that particular change. Within The Crucible, Arthur Miller altered the relationships between characters, ages of characters, and small details within characters’ lives in order to benefit the overall plot of the play.…
Honesty is the most important thing in life,and what keeps relationships healthy between people,and hysteria is widespread in many countries. People accuse each other for wrong doing even though they weren’t sure. In The crucible by Arthur miller written in 1692 proposes how people long ago used to act concerning witchcrafts ,and to face in certain situations in Salem, Massachusetts. Most of the people were fanatics and they were involved in prayers and church , they punished the people who don’t obide by the rules of the church.They also weren’t honest to each other , like manipulating and hysteria.There are many themes which are clearly stated in The crucible but the main theme is dishonesty , accusing people for committing wrong doingand hatred between them.…
The era of McCarthyism was one of blame and accusations. McCarthy and his followers looked for anyone and everyone they could to victimize as communist believers. Arthur Miller, the author of The Crucible, was one of those many. As a famous play-writer during this time, Miller was blacklisted by McCarthy for refusing to testify in front of the HUAC (House of Un-American Activities Committee), and through this he realized a common social issue that can be applied world wide. Arthur Miller argues that during times of crisis, in order for strong people to preserve their own power and reputation, they often point fingers at the weak first to distract others from their own guilt.…
Have you ever thought it could happen again? In the Crucible there were many instances that left the townspeople wondering what was going to happen next. After countless times of innocent people becoming executed of witchcraft, it scared the townspeople so bad they were afraid to speak of anything to do with witchcraft. The mass hysteria and fear seen in The Crucible is similar to the hysteria and fear seen after 9/11 because people were scared of the future.…
“There are wheels within wheels in this village, and fires within fires,” (Miller 152). Here, Mrs. Putnam argues with Rebecca Nurse over the cause of the death of her miscarriages. Instead of looking for a logical answer, like Rebecca, Mrs. Putnam believes that the cause was supernatural. Abigail preys on many villagers on the belief of supernatural events and incites them into hysteria. Her exaggerated acts not only scare the villagers but also distract them from reason and logic causing mass hysteria. Mary Warren falls prey to hysteria and figuratively throws John Proctor under the bus instead of speaking the truth. Abigail with the other girls accused of witchcraft perform fake hallucinations and mind control to scare and bewilder others into believing witchcraft is truly being committed. The strange and sudden events of so many women being accused of witchcraft caused Salem as a whole to become enveloped in hysteria. In The Crucible, by…
When present, fear can often be exploited for one’s personal gain. The Crucible, a play written by Arthur Miller, exemplifies the power of fear due to the imaginary idea of witchcraft in the small village of Salem. During the time this play was written, the United States was overcome by the fear of communism, which had led to the government accusing many innocent people for ridiculous reasons. Miller uses The Crucible to show how many of the accusations in the Salem Witch Trials, a similar event, often had underlying, selfish, and personal reasons behind them. In the play Abigail Williams, and Thomas Putnam’s take advantage of the pervasive fear in the village, allowing them to fulfill their selfish and exploitative motives which are what truly fuel the Salem Witch Trials.…
“It is better to die with integrity than it is to compromise a principle in order to live.”…
“The trust of the innocent is the liar’s most useful tool.” According to award-winning author and screenwriter Stephen King, liars have the ability to utilize the trust of the innocent to accomplish their own agenda. Similarly, Arthur Miller’s The Crucible delves into the inner workings that motivate people to lie. To illustrate this, Miller uses the various characters of the play to represent the different motives to lie which include fear, lust, and greed. As the play progresses, it becomes clear that all of these motives occur mainly due to self-interest and desire.…
Learning and speaking the truth are not always the easiest things to accept. In The Crucible accepting the truth is one of the main issues that occur throughout the play. Though everybody now knows that most or all depending on what the reader wants to believe were not witches, and consequently died for something they never did. Many characters lie throughout the play for their own reasons some to due with land while the others for more personal reasons. The death of many were caused by the others failing to accept the truth.…