Internal Conflict In The Crucible

Karol Dabrowski December 1, 2012
English III Period 2: Roll 12 Indicating Theme through Internal Conflict: An Examination of Miller’s Intent in The Crucible Theocracy is a method of government in which a divine being is formally recognized as the public Head of state and community officials are viewed as divinely guided. In a theocratic civilization, God himself is thought of as the head of state. Conscious of how a theocracy can destroy a society, Miller intends to imply – through his portrayal of John Proctor and Reverend Hale – the thematic idea that theocracy is essentially blind and corrupt. One indication of Miller’s intent, in this respect, is his formation of John
This is shown through Reverend John Hale. In the play, after Proctor is arrested, Hale denies the accounts and resigns from the courtroom. Hale informs the courtroom, “I denounce these proceedings, I quit this court” (3.120) Miller chose these words to show how Hale, once a supporter of the trials, now criticizes them and is against the courtroom. These words are an occasion of internal conflict because on one hand he wants to believe what he’s known all of his life but, on the other he believes the trials are corrupt and unfair. From a thematic outlook, Miller aims to imply that when a society is subject to a blind and corrupt government, such as a theocracy, nothing good can come of it much like in the words quoted when the society crumbled and even a once supporter of theocracy criticized it. In another segment of the play, Hale is attempting to get the prisoners to confess their crimes in a useless effort of thwarting their punishments. In the play Herrick says, “He goes among them that will hang, sir. And he prays with them” (4.123). Miller chose these words in order to show how Reverend Hale, a once supporter of the court, now denounces it and attempts to save the lives of the people he assisted in accusing. These words are an instance of internal conflict because Reverend Hale is going against what he believed in
In truth, however, such an examination is most likely wrong because Miller obviously suggests his belief that, in truth, a theocratic government is nothing but blind and corrupt. In the drama, Reverend Hale tells Danforth that none of the captives will plead guilty and informs him of what’s going on in the town. Reverend Hale states, “Excellency, there are orphans wandering from house to house; abandoned cattle bellow on the highroads, the stink of rotting crops hangs everywhere. . .” (4.130) As of a thematic standpoint, Miller infers that when people are being ruled by a theocracy pain and disorder are all it can convey because in the play, the town is left in wrecks because of the trials. In another scene of the story, John Proctor admits to witchcraft and Danforth tries to get him to accuse someone else. Judge Danforth states to Proctor, “You have most certainly seen some person with the Devil. Mr. Proctor, a score of people have already testified they saw this woman with the Devil” (4.140). From a thematic opinion, Miller seems to be inferring that a theocratic government is crooked because even after Proctor has confessed to witchcraft they try to get him to convict someone else. According to literary criticizer Muhammad Awan, the charges of the court were unfair and illegitimate. Muhammad Awan claims that, “The