In the background of the Salem witch trials, Arthur Miller's timeless masterpiece "The Crucible" explores the themes of hysteria, power, and truth. The play, which is a metaphor for the McCarthy era of the 1950s and is set in the puritanical culture of Salem, Massachusetts in 1692, was written by Arthur Miller. "The Crucible" investigates how fear may proliferate like wildfire and result in devastating conduct, especially toward helpless people. Miller makes a statement in his writing on the perils of groupthink and the necessity of maintaining personal integrity in the face of peer pressure. The characters are captivated by their fear of the devil and the presence of evil throughout the entire play. "The devil is precise; the marks of his …show more content…
He tries to bury any evidence that could disprove the accusations of witchcraft, showing that he values his standing in society more than the truth. He begs his peers, "I pray you, leap not to witchcraft. I know that you-least of all, Thomas-would ever wish so disastrous a charge laid upon me. We cannot leap to witchcraft. They will howl me out of Salem for such corruption in my house" (Miller 14). Reverend Parris makes clear how important his reputation in the community is to him and how afraid he is of jeopardizing it. He makes choices that ultimately contribute to the tragic events of the play because he is fixated on upholding his reputation at the expense of his parishioners and the community as a whole. This serves as a reminder that reputation may affect others and motivate both positive and negative …show more content…
Proctor, who won't admit to being a witch and forsaking his friends and principles, is willing to take any danger necessary to reveal the truth and stand up for the weak. Proctor grapples with the essence of justice and truth throughout the play and becomes caught up in the witch hunts before realizing how crucial it is to stand up for what is right no matter the cost to one's safety. Miller's assertion "I cannot mount the gibbet like a saint. It is a fraud. I am not that man. My honesty is broken, Elizabeth; I am no good man. Nothing's spoiled by giving them this lie that was not rotten long before" (Miller 136). demonstrates how much value Proctor places on his reputation and ethics. The tragic tale of John Proctor is a moving reminder of the value of morality, particularly in the face of extreme
“It is part of a good man to do great and noble deeds though he risk everything.”, Plutarch. In the play The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, the actions of a good man are portrayed. John Proctor, a man during the time of the 1692 Salem witch trials, exhibits noble traits during the play. In the play, Proctor strongly believes in honesty, and attempts to find justice no matter the circumstances. Proctor is not a man who will put himself before others.
When reading The Crucible by Arthur Miller, some might think that John Proctor is a good and honest man right? Wrong. John Proctor is nothing but a fraud, a scoundrel; and even though he is respected and sometimes even feared in Salem, he has come to think of himself as a bit of a fraud. Although a sinner, Proctor keeps his secret of adultery from everyone in Salem. Abigail, John’s secret lover, and a group of girls were seen dancing in the forest.
The Crucible Playwright, Arthur Miller, wrote The Crucible in 1953. The Crucible is a play set in Salem, Massachusetts. The play is based on the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, but it has an underlying message that connects it to the Red Scare. In order to address the social issues during the Red Scare, Miller uses Abigail to symbolize Joseph McCarthy, logical fallacies in Danforth's dialogue, and motifs that represent the battle of good vs. evil.
In The Crucible, Arthur Miller uses characterization, setting, conflict, and motifs to explore the similarities between the oppressive society of the 1950s and the Salem Witch Trials of 1690. In Act IV of the play, Miller continues to build upon this commentary by demonstrating how the same tendencies of human nature can cause the same prejudice and suffering in both societies. In Act IV, the audience sees how the same human tendencies that drove the Salem Witch Trials continue to cause suffering in the McCarthy era. Miller uses Reverend Hale to demonstrate this.
The play, The Crucible, authored by Arthur Miller, took place in the time of the Salem witch trials, in which lies caused mass delirium and murder. Miller shines a light on the exploitative tendencies of people in power during periods of hysteria. The play also showcases the tendency for people to change when an event tests their morality. The Crucible proves that significant events can shift someone's moral compass, just as it had in the case of Reverend Hale.
His actions prove a sense of self- dignity. The court of Salem wants John Proctor to show proof to the village that he has confessed. The opening quote in the introduction explains his powerful mindset towards the end of his trial. Another aspect of his strengths is when Proctor forbids them to use him as an example to other prisoners. Miller writes Proctor saying, “ You will not use me!
In Act III, Proctor is faced with a difficult decision: confess to witchcraft or be hanged for refusing to do so. He knows that if he confesses he will be branded a witch but if he refuses he will be hanged for his refusal. Despite knowing this, Proctor chooses not to confess because he does not want to give into fear and compromise his integrity by lying about something he did not do. His decision shows how powerful fear can be but also how it can be overcome with courage and strength of
This part of the play Miller uses rhetorical questions to emphasize the seriousness of this scene as to who is telling the truth and who is not. The character Danforth is prompting Proctor to not try to be a lawyer in these cases of witchcraft due to the fact that witchcraft is a serious accusation that only the victim and the witch herself can come forward to on the matter according to Danforth. Before Danforth speaks Proctor says that he is not indeed trying to be a lawyer to these cases in which Danforth explains in his line that by bringing witnesses he is indeed trying to be a lawyer to the cases. Danforth then at the end of his line asks if he has made his point emphasizing that he knows what he has said was true and he feels strongly
Reputation is something that can be left to linger around, haunting people 's lives for years. In the Crucible, Reverend Parris feels the effects of reputation first hand. Parris is a godly man who wants nothing more than to preserve his image. Parris’s motives are portrayed throughout the story when he catches his niece and daughter dancing the woods, a sign of witchcraft. Yet, after this he is more concerned with how he is being viewed instead of their well being.
The first dishonest character mentioned in the play is Reverend Parris, a man who has worked to be a reputable, trustworthy church leader. After he saw his niece, Abigail, and daughter, Betty, dance in the woods, he suspects that they were involved in witchcraft. Angry with
Reverend Parris shows the first example of the importance of reputation in the Salem. In Act I, lines 63-66, Parris discovers the girls dancing in the forest; he recognizes the threat of witchcraft that has formed in his
In Arthur Miller’s, The Crucible, a man named Reverend Parris is a representation of all that is twisted and greedy in what is a seemingly positive religion. Parris is a foretold man of God, but realistically illustrates how a man in power wants to progress in his own selfish ideals. This trait is greatly exemplified in his personality, especially in the fact that he is evidenced as one who cannot be trusted, and seeks constant approval of others near him. Parris does change over time, however, from wishing for the advancement of his owns wants, to hoping for the downfall of those against him. Much of how Parris is described is seen in his placement with respect to other characters; he is given such a moral job to highlight to sharp contrast of his presumed actions against his existing ones.
At the court house, John Proctor was trying to prove his wife’s innocence to the court and admitted to cheating on her with Abigail. Proctor said, “I have made a bell of my honor! I have rung the doom of my good name-you will believe me, Mr. Danforth! My wife is innocent, except she knew a whore when she saw one!” (Miller 189).
Content: Miller is stating that Proctor is a man who is seen as a respectable figure of society within Salem, however, he is truly a hypocrite who commits sinful acts despite his own beliefs. 8.e. Significance: This quote is important because it reveals the true characteristics of John Proctor, who is a crucial and impactful character within the story. 9.a.
The Crucible is a tragic play written by Arthur Miller in 1953. It dramatizes and fictionalizes the Salem witch trials. The play has many prevalent themes, and the main characters both advance and facilitate these themes. The three most prevalent themes in The Crucible are intolerance, hysteria, and reputation.