Rebecca Nurse's Role In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

Mary Beth Norton (2002) explains that new accusations of witchcraft would spread beyond Salem’s outcasts and onto more respected members of society. Typically witchcraft was viewed as a working- class crime, but soon two upstanding Salem church members, Martha Corey and Rebecca Nurse, were accused. Rebecca Nurse was one of six women tried during the Court of Oyer and Terminer’s second sitting, from June 28th to July 2nd. Her trial proved to be particularly shocking. Nurse was convicted despite a petition of support from thirty-nine friends and neighbors, and active family efforts to discredit her accusers.

If I were taking advice from someone, I would listen to the person with the most experience and knowledge on the subject. In Arthur MIller's "The Crucible" Rebecca Nurse seems the most fit to hold that role. Since she is a peacemaker, wise and valued she is very important in the community. Rebecca is wise to child care.

For my life now lies in your grasp… " Though confronting passing, Rebecca Nurse never gave in and kept on arguing guiltlessness, never losing her religious confidence. Indeed, even in her March 24th, 1692 affirmation, she said "I can say before my Eternal father I am pure, and God will clear my innocency" and "I have no body to look to yet God," demonstrating her solid will and determined soul not to confer a wrongdoing against God. Without this solid feeling of religious uprightness, the Salem Witch Trials could have been finished

When Reverend Hale arrived he tells rebecca the he respects her and she is  a saint, but he becomes conflicted when she is arrested. He is told that she was mentioned in court, but he thinks that it is not a real problem. He sees rebbeca Nurse as a good person.   After Hale questions John Proctor Francis Nurse runs into the street trying to get help because his wife, Rebecca Nurse has been arrested for witchcraft.

In The Crucible, a lot of characters were not judged fairly. Most of them were jailed or killed and it provided little proof of witchcraft. One character for example was Rebecca Nurse. Rebecca was first brought to trial when her name was brought up into court and so she was brought in to determine if she was capable of witchcraft or not. During the trial, Mary Warren pretended that Rebecca has summoned her soul to choke her.

Nurse is a woman of power, honesty, and piety, and her arrest causes an uproar within the community because people begin to realize that if a woman of status like her can be accused, everyone is at risk. Nevertheless, disbelief continues to permeate the community, as even Elizabeth scoffs at the notion of Nurse committing witchcraft, “...never believe… that Rebecca trafficked with the Devil” (64). Throughout her conviction, she is still considered the “mortar of the church.” Nurse’s accusation is a turning point in the play, signifying a detrimental impact caused by Abigail and her companions. Her condemnation highlights the negativity and downfall that is bound to immerse Salem.

In the Crucible, by Arthur Miller, two of the most important characters are, Mary Warren and Reverend John Hale. The story takes place in Salem, 1692, when supposedly witchcraft ran rampant. John Hale gives us the knowledge of witchcraft and puritan beliefs, in the story, in order to decide whether someone was a witch or not, while Mary Warren assists Abigail Williams in the false accusations presented in order to alleviate the punishment they were facing for the actual practicing of witchcraft as well as dancing. In the story John Hale is intelligent while Mary Warren seems to want good, but is too nervous to take a stand on it.

Rebecca: The Mind Obsession Can Help or Haunt The human’s mind is one of the most interesting topics in the world. How does it work? Many ask this question, but the answer is still unknown.

It is ironic that the innocent people such as Nurse are punished, while the wicked go unpunished. The Salem witch trials can be compared to a crucible. A crucible is a pot used to melt metals and other substances. However, a crucible also symbolises a difficult test or trial. In the context of the play,

Rebecca was a 71-year-old woman, the wife of Francis Nurse who was a wealthy farmer and landlord in the Salem village, and had many children and grandchildren (Hill 87). She was very pious and everyone in the Salem village thought of her as an “exemplary piety” in the Puritan community (Linder). Rebecca had a very strong faith in God and told her friends on her sickbed that she recognized more God’s presence in her sickness than any other time in her life (Hill 88). Rebecca was a very respectable woman and supported by most of Salem villagers who believed in her innocence. After she was arrested and prosecuted because of the false accusations made by the “afflicted” women and girls’ against her, thirty-nine notable members of the community came forward, signed and submitted a petition to assure her innocence and piety (Hill 100).

She is accused of witchcraft for the murdering of Ann Putnam’s seven children. Rebecca Nurse is a very religious, reasonable, and caring women, who I can relate to based on my life. Rebecca Nurse is a religious woman in The Crucible and I am in life as well. In The Crucible, many people are accused of witchcraft and are put on trial to be hung. If the convicted admit to their witch actions, a sentence to jail, as well as a fine would be charged upon them.

Also, since The Crucible was written to be parallel to McCarthyism, the same idea is shown. The same situation can be seen in The Crucible as Arthur Miller was influenced by the events that occurred during McCarthyism. In the Crucible, anyone whose name that had been mentioned underwent an investigation and was asked to prove that they were not partaking in witchcraft. Because this task was impossible, the court made rash decisions such as sending people to jail or sentencing them to be hanged. This scenario is seen in the crucible when Rebecca Nurse is accused.

The Crucible Act 1-4 Reading Response Journal 1.a. Speaker: The speaker is Arthur Miller, who was the author of the book, as well as a popular essayist and playwright during the 20th Century. 1.b. Audience: Miller is addressing the reader of the book 1.c. Context: At the time the quote was written, Salem had been established for forty years and was involved in trade amongst other nations.

“Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.” (du Maurier 7) In the European classic, Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, the author establishes an atmosphere of fear and mystery through its suspenseful plot. Rebecca expanded the genre of modern gothic literature and gained the interest of readers throughout Europe. du Maurier makes the reader want to keep reading and find out how Rebecca de Winter died.

  But they’re speakin’ of witchcraft. Betty’s not witched.” (Miller 462).  Abigail feels it would be better to confess to dancing and be whipped than be accused of witchcraft.