Perceptions In Arthur Miller's Play 'The Crucible'

Belonging – basic human need
Experienced through external forces (relationships, place, groups & communities)
Can further be shaped by individual perceptions (values & beliefs)
Some societies enforce strict rules for citizens to live by
Crucible by Arthur Miller – set in 1692 with a theocratic government (church head of state)
Danforth (state judge) – represents town law:
Shows rigidity towards law when speaking to Francis – “a person is either with this court or he is to be counted against it.”
Shows his power when he says “Near to 400 are in jail and 72 to hang by that upon my signature.”
Very dangerous for citizens to ignore rules so they resort to conformity
Individuals who reject the external expectations are disempowered
John Proctor (protagonist):
Questions the external values & perceptions because of self-identity
Values his marriage higher – but was broken because of an attempted affair with Abigail (a girl who accused Proctor’s wife of witchcraft)
Abigail reattempts to seduce Proctor, he replies “I will cut off my hand before I ever reach for you again.”
Tries to rekindle relationship with wife – “On Sunday let you come with me and we’ll walk the farm together.”
Miller’s play is based on true historical events – often recognized as analogy of anti-communist hysteria and witch hunts lead by Senator McCarthy in the 1950’s.
Award winning picture book “The Island” by Armin Greder
Has a fable quality
About an outsider washed up on an inhabited island and is taken in but is later sent back out because of incompatibility
Just as Miller shows innocent lives destroyed by the strict enforcement of conformist belonging in Salem, Greder depicts a total rejection towards the outsider
Outsider:
Depicted as skinny, vulnerable, naked, short (polar opposite to islanders)
Lacked skills to perform any job
Alienated
Teacher referred to him as a
savage
Inn keeper says “he eats with his hands!” – even though he was never given utensils
Mother tells child “He will come and eat you if you don’t finish your soup!”
Villagers couldn’t tolerate his presence any longer – sent back out to sea where death awaits him
Incompatibility resulted in segregation & punishment - visuals show that when he was being taken in and sent back out that outsider was always alone and the villagers always stayed together
Individuals may choose to question/reject social expectations because of inner perceptions
As Proctor rejected the values of Salem, in turn the fisherman questions the moral foundations of the villagers.
Fisherman:
Began dispute to take in outsider – “But the fisherman knew the sea. If we send him back it will be the death of him.”
When the outsider wanted food, the fisherman questioned the morals again “the fisherman suggested that someone should give him a job so that he could earn his keep.”
After the outsider was sent back out to sea, they set the fisherman’s boat on fire “because he had made them help the man.”
Individuals can question conformity but may open opportunity for punishment.
External expectations are forced my authoritarian communities.
Outsiders in “The Crucible” had a choice to or not to conform but the outsider of “The Island” had no choice and was forced to segregation. Both depictions of outsiders were still treated similarly being alienated, ignored and sentenced to death.

Both texts explore tragic ways and consequences that both communities experience.