The Crucible Argumentative Essay
Samantha Levers
Cassidy
Junior English
19 December 2013
How was the life in Salem representing the Crucible?
After reading 'The Crucible ', many questions popped into my mind. One of the most thought provoking question is "What was the life like in Salem of 1692 as represented in 'The Crucible '?" I have researched many sources and will present my answer in the following paragraphs.
Life in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692, as represented in the play ‘The Crucible’, was harsh and full of fear. “Even without the witches, Massachusetts in 1692 was a pretty scary place” (Balée 377). Located in New England, winters were long and miserable and summers were just as harsh. Disease was a common occurrence. Being a new colony, Massachusetts …show more content…
was still growing and expanding and dealing with the natives. Threats of being captured by the native Indians and brutally tortured, was at the forefront of living and surviving in the colonies. Also, the colonists needed to build everything from scratch, not having the ability to go to a local town filled with skilled artisans. If you were not skilled, you may not make it through the seasons.
Anywhere you looked in Salem, the townspeople went about their business without saying a word to each other. Even though they were in the colony together, each fended for themselves. There was fear of speaking and it being interpreted for something else. They were quiet and suspicious of one another. No one dared to speak to another, even in their own family. Fear was taking over this small village. The people in this small village of Salem had to thrive on their own resources to sustain themselves, which meant working diligently and worshipping and keeping to ones’ self.
However, the fear of witchcraft appeared to take over each colonist’s daily life. “The Crucible presents us with the picture of a small village falling prey to collective fear that witchcraft is about, lurking in some of its citizens” (Bonnet 32). Every townsperson passed each other in the street and stared, waiting for the evil to appear. Many stayed in their homes and didn’t come out to mingle with the other townspeople at town gatherings or even at weekly prayer. The town clergy were very concerned and had to …show more content…
intervene.
With the intervention of the clergy, the thoughts and facts of fear and witchcraft were brought to the town. As the mainstay of Salem, the clergy needed to bring the citizens back to their religious beliefs and to reassure about good over evil. Many towns during the late 1600s were governed by the clergy and the fear of evil was pounded into their minds. “Miller changed a few of the circumstances of Salem 1692.” (The Salem Witch Trials: The History Behind Characters) reinstates the power of the clergy and how townspeople behaved. The townspeople were Puritan and believed in good over evil. They lived by the principles of obedience and discipline. There was no tolerance for any opposition or dissent. Therefore, any thought of evil and disobedience from any of the citizens was not tolerated and had to be dealt with, and very quickly.
The 17th century was a period of strong religious beliefs.
It was almost to the point of people becoming religious fanatics. This thought was throughout the world, whether it be old Europe or the new world. So, the fear of witchcraft brought out this fanaticism to such a great point. “The number of those accused of witchcraft in Salem, and the numbers executed for this crime.” (Bailey 89) makes a strong point as to how far it went in Salem and how the percentage of executions to the total number of colonists was staggering. The small village of Salem became the base for any type of measurement. It was under the microscope for atrocities against its own citizens. How could a small village become so crazed? Many have reviewed history and are still torn as to the exact
reasoning.
Work Cited
Bailey, M. D. (2008). Escaping Salem: The Other Witch Hunt of 1692. Magic, Ritual & Witchcraft, 3(1), 88-91. Balée, Susan. "Captives Of Their Imagination: Salem In 1692." Hudson Review 56.2 (2003): 377-384. Literary Reference Center. Web. 11 Dec. 2013.
Bonnet, Jean-Marie. "SOCIETY Vs THE INDIVIDUAL IN ARTHUR MILLER 's THE CRUCIBLE." English Studies 63.1 (1982): 32. Literary Reference Center. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.
"The Salem Witch Trials: The History Behind The Characters." Literary Cavalcade (Teacher 's Edition) 54.6 (2002): T5. Literary Reference Center. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.
Cassidy
Junior English
19 December 2013
How was the life in Salem representing the Crucible?
After reading 'The Crucible ', many questions popped into my mind. One of the most thought provoking question is "What was the life like in Salem of 1692 as represented in 'The Crucible '?" I have researched many sources and will present my answer in the following paragraphs.
Life in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692, as represented in the play ‘The Crucible’, was harsh and full of fear. “Even without the witches, Massachusetts in 1692 was a pretty scary place” (Balée 377). Located in New England, winters were long and miserable and summers were just as harsh. Disease was a common occurrence. Being a new colony, Massachusetts …show more content…
was still growing and expanding and dealing with the natives. Threats of being captured by the native Indians and brutally tortured, was at the forefront of living and surviving in the colonies. Also, the colonists needed to build everything from scratch, not having the ability to go to a local town filled with skilled artisans. If you were not skilled, you may not make it through the seasons.
Anywhere you looked in Salem, the townspeople went about their business without saying a word to each other. Even though they were in the colony together, each fended for themselves. There was fear of speaking and it being interpreted for something else. They were quiet and suspicious of one another. No one dared to speak to another, even in their own family. Fear was taking over this small village. The people in this small village of Salem had to thrive on their own resources to sustain themselves, which meant working diligently and worshipping and keeping to ones’ self.
However, the fear of witchcraft appeared to take over each colonist’s daily life. “The Crucible presents us with the picture of a small village falling prey to collective fear that witchcraft is about, lurking in some of its citizens” (Bonnet 32). Every townsperson passed each other in the street and stared, waiting for the evil to appear. Many stayed in their homes and didn’t come out to mingle with the other townspeople at town gatherings or even at weekly prayer. The town clergy were very concerned and had to …show more content…
intervene.
With the intervention of the clergy, the thoughts and facts of fear and witchcraft were brought to the town. As the mainstay of Salem, the clergy needed to bring the citizens back to their religious beliefs and to reassure about good over evil. Many towns during the late 1600s were governed by the clergy and the fear of evil was pounded into their minds. “Miller changed a few of the circumstances of Salem 1692.” (The Salem Witch Trials: The History Behind Characters) reinstates the power of the clergy and how townspeople behaved. The townspeople were Puritan and believed in good over evil. They lived by the principles of obedience and discipline. There was no tolerance for any opposition or dissent. Therefore, any thought of evil and disobedience from any of the citizens was not tolerated and had to be dealt with, and very quickly.
The 17th century was a period of strong religious beliefs.
It was almost to the point of people becoming religious fanatics. This thought was throughout the world, whether it be old Europe or the new world. So, the fear of witchcraft brought out this fanaticism to such a great point. “The number of those accused of witchcraft in Salem, and the numbers executed for this crime.” (Bailey 89) makes a strong point as to how far it went in Salem and how the percentage of executions to the total number of colonists was staggering. The small village of Salem became the base for any type of measurement. It was under the microscope for atrocities against its own citizens. How could a small village become so crazed? Many have reviewed history and are still torn as to the exact
reasoning.
Work Cited
Bailey, M. D. (2008). Escaping Salem: The Other Witch Hunt of 1692. Magic, Ritual & Witchcraft, 3(1), 88-91. Balée, Susan. "Captives Of Their Imagination: Salem In 1692." Hudson Review 56.2 (2003): 377-384. Literary Reference Center. Web. 11 Dec. 2013.
Bonnet, Jean-Marie. "SOCIETY Vs THE INDIVIDUAL IN ARTHUR MILLER 's THE CRUCIBLE." English Studies 63.1 (1982): 32. Literary Reference Center. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.
"The Salem Witch Trials: The History Behind The Characters." Literary Cavalcade (Teacher 's Edition) 54.6 (2002): T5. Literary Reference Center. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.