How Does Arthur Miller Use Power In The Crucible

Sophia Popescu &
Kirsten Watkins
English III AP ­ 1
30 October 2014
A community may not always be regarded as reputable, yet social norms and taboos are established to keep it afloat. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, societal conduct is violated and a community is capsized. In this socially awakening play, society is corrupted when a naivete community is immersed in power that enables insignificant people to manipulate the status quo to selfishly satisfy their own societal welfare and relationships. In times of distress, an individual may blindly diminish their societal relationships to consequentially benefit themselves. Once presented with power, Abigail takes advantage of it to manipulate those around her and accuse innocent people at will. When caught in the woods with Tituba and the other girls,
Abigail chooses to dispense tituba for how “she sent her spirit on [abigail] in church;she makes [abigail] laugh at prayer”, continuing to explain Abigail’s stressful ordeal by adding that “sometimes [she] wakes and finds herself standing in the open doorway and not a stitch on her body” (Miller 41).
When tituba confessed to what the girls were actually doing in the woods in Act I, Abigail sees her confession as a threat to the lies. Consequentially, she plans to cover herself and the other girls with a mask of fidelity. Childish behavior consumes maturity when an individual is presented with the ability of power. When the girls’ ordeal becomes public, it’s shown how they attempt to save their lives and reputation from entanglement with their own altercations. Abigail’s power was obtained and abused using her manipulation to save her self . Author Arthur miller gives us these examples to show us how power in certain people can be destructive and dangerous. Abigails childish jealousy got the best of her[john Proctor] “aye, but we did not... do you look for whippin?”denies any association with abigail.(Miller 22) She foolishly accuses Proctors wife Elizabeth of witchcraft just to get her out of the way of[abigail] being with Proctor. Abigail used the trials for a personal vendetta and saw a way to get exactly what she wants, without the consequences of the society they lived in. Power was the main issue in the society and
abigail was a prime example of how it will destroy people.
Darwin’s theory of survival of the fittest takes place here . She did exactly everything necessary to save herself and she did it no matter what it caused. By abusing his inherent authority in the courtroom, Danforth gains power from manipulating those citizens he has any suspicion of being witches. In the courtroom, Danforth pompously asserts that “near to four hundred are in jails… seventy­two hang by that signature” to try to relinquish his word after Francis Nurse accused the girls of being fraudulent (Miller 87). By using his status as a weighty judge to intimidate Francis and the court, he reminds everyone of the loftiness of the case and its irreversible implications. Being caught in his porous reasonings, Danforth threatens his community to justify his word and
power. If Danforth were to have his judgements turned on himself, he would have been hung himself, therefore it is fair to believe that he attempted to save himself, while continuing to condemn others. Danforth is guilty

of tactically warning his court to “sit down and take counsel with [themselves], or [they] will be set in jail until [they] decide to answer all questions” (Miller 98). Danforth’s certain limitations as the head of the court are violated as he disregards all civil respect for the people of his court. Justice belongs in all applicable court systems and condemns the entitlement of individuals who may tamper with its preservation as a just court. Yet, Danforth creates a hostile court by abusing his power and being influenced by personal conflict and interest.