The Crucible Theme
Lies and deceit is a significant theme in The Crucible. Abigail and John’s lies and deceit precede the play. They had an affair before the play begins. However, this affair considerably affects the plot of The Crucible.
ABIGAIL: Give me a word, John. A soft word.
PROCTOR: No, no, Abby. That's done with. (Miller 1)
Through this quote the reader learns that Abigail and John have both told lies. They deceived people about their relationship. Throughout Acts One and Two of The Crucible, they continue to lie about the adultery. John and Abigail have secretive conversations about their affair. These secrets are full of lies and deceit on the behalf of other people.
Though John has told his wife the truth of the affair, he continues to lie to his wife about encounters he has with Abigail. One of these lies surface when he is talking to his wife. He tells his wife that Abigail was lying about the witchcraft. He has no witnesses because they were alone in the room. His wife, Elizabeth, was taken aback by this revelation: “You were alone with her?” (Miller 2). John is caught in his lie. Instead of owning up to his lie, John further deceives his wife by making a mockery of her. He could have apologized and but instead he scolds her for being out of line. Elizabeth is paying the price of John and Abigail’s lies and deceit.
The lies and deceit stretch farther than John and Elizabeth. There is also lies and deceit present between John and Abigail. Abigail tells the truth to John that she was dancing in the woods with the other girls. She tells John that the other girls were only frightened because Reverend Parris saw them dancing not because they were bewitched. However, she doesn’t tell him that she drank a potion so that his wife Elizabeth might die. Betty reveals this deceit to the reader, “You drank a charm to kill John Proctor’s wife!” (Miller 1). This deceit takes the theme to a deeper level. Not only are they still trying to hide
ABIGAIL: Give me a word, John. A soft word.
PROCTOR: No, no, Abby. That's done with. (Miller 1)
Through this quote the reader learns that Abigail and John have both told lies. They deceived people about their relationship. Throughout Acts One and Two of The Crucible, they continue to lie about the adultery. John and Abigail have secretive conversations about their affair. These secrets are full of lies and deceit on the behalf of other people.
Though John has told his wife the truth of the affair, he continues to lie to his wife about encounters he has with Abigail. One of these lies surface when he is talking to his wife. He tells his wife that Abigail was lying about the witchcraft. He has no witnesses because they were alone in the room. His wife, Elizabeth, was taken aback by this revelation: “You were alone with her?” (Miller 2). John is caught in his lie. Instead of owning up to his lie, John further deceives his wife by making a mockery of her. He could have apologized and but instead he scolds her for being out of line. Elizabeth is paying the price of John and Abigail’s lies and deceit.
The lies and deceit stretch farther than John and Elizabeth. There is also lies and deceit present between John and Abigail. Abigail tells the truth to John that she was dancing in the woods with the other girls. She tells John that the other girls were only frightened because Reverend Parris saw them dancing not because they were bewitched. However, she doesn’t tell him that she drank a potion so that his wife Elizabeth might die. Betty reveals this deceit to the reader, “You drank a charm to kill John Proctor’s wife!” (Miller 1). This deceit takes the theme to a deeper level. Not only are they still trying to hide