How Human Behavior Is Comparable to the Crucible

The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, deals with erratic superstitions of alleged accusations of witchcraft along with trials of those people who are linked to the devil. The alleged accusations of people along with trials of those people who are linked to the devil relate to themes in our lives. These themes include power, fear, hysteria, logic, illogic, and pride. Based on the behavior of the characters in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, it is not unlike our society as ideals that are unfamiliar to us may drive us into fear and hysteria as well. In Act IV, John Proctor is at a trial for witchcraft. John Proctor states, “I speak my own sins, I cannot judge another.” Proctor states this as he confesses that he was the one who committed the act of witchcraft. When he states, “I cannot judge another,” he is implying that he is referring to his affair with Abigail, is being accountable for the fault in his matter, and does not wish to place the blame on anyone else. A theme of fear is prevalent when John Proctor is saying, “I speak my own sins.” This holds true because he knows that if he does not tell the truth, he knows that he will likely be executed at the gallows. There is also a sense of logic when John Proctor states, “I cannot judge another.” By saying this, John Proctor is using accountability to not place his wrongdoings on Abigail Williams. Not unlike John Proctor, most people will usually tell the truth out of fear if they want to avoid getting killed. People tell the truth out of fear as they believe that their life is more important to them than the punishment, if there is any that may await them. While many people demonstrate a sense of being illogical by avoiding punishment by using a scapegoat, there are other people, like John Proctor, who states, “I cannot judge another, he is admitting to his crime and does not place the blame on Abigail as he knows that he should tell the truth. When John Proctor stated, ““I speak

my own sins, I cannot judge