the crucible theme essay

InTheCrucible,ArthurMillerusesthemestodisplaythoughtsthroughoutthebook.Thethemethat seemstobethecenterpointofthestoryisreligion.Religionisonthecharacter'smindswithevery actiontheydoWhensomethinggoeswronginthetown,religionissoughtoutasacauseWhenthe witchtrialsbegin,thedevilissupposedtobethesourceofthetroubles.ArthurMillervividlyuses religiontoshowthereadershowimportantreligionistothepeopleofSalem.AtthestartofThe Crucible,wefindReverendParrispraying.ArthurMillerautomaticallyshowsusreligionis important."ReverendParrisisdiscoveredkneelingbesidethebed,evidentlyinprayer."Whenthe peopleofSalemrealizesomethingiswrongwithBettyshowmorecontent "Theology,sirisafortressmaynotbeaccountedsmall."ArthurMillerusesreligiontodisplaythe livesofthepeopleinSalemthroughoutAct3.InAct3,thethemeofreligionhasadifferent meaningthanbeforeNow,thethemeofreligionisusedinamanipulativewaysothepeoplecanget whattheywant.AbigailandtherestofthegirlsareusingMaryWarrenbecauseshehasturned againstthem.AbigailpretendsMaryisayellowbirdandistakingovertheirspirits."Drawback yourspiritoutofthem!"AssoonasAbigailandthegirlsblameMaryforwitchcraftDanforth believesthemandstartstoaccuseMary."YouhaveseentheDevil,youhavemadecompactwith Lucifer,haveyounot?"MaryWarrenrespondstotheaccusationswithturningagainstProctorShe completelydisregardsthepacttheyhavemadeinordertosaveherself."I'llnothangwithyou!I loveGod,IloveGod."InAct4,ArthurMillerusesreligiontotestthecharacters.InAct4,the characterswouldeitherholdontotheirreligionandbeliefsorgiveintosavethemselves.John Proctoristhecharacterwhodoesnotwanttogiveinhoweverhedoesnotwanttodie.Hewantsto haveacompromisebuttheauthoritywillnotlethimdoso"Itisnopartofsalvation,thatyou shoulduseme!"RebeccaNurseisanothercharacterwhohasthechoicetoconfessbutshedoesnot givein."Anotherjudgmentwaitsusall!"

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"EventheGoodcanbeTwisted""Bewhoyouareandsaywhatyoufeel,becausethosewhomind don'tmatterandthosewhomatterdon'tmind."(Dr.Seuss)"EventhoughIwalkthroughthevalley oftheshadowofdeath,Iwillfearnoevil."(Psalm23:4)"Godhasgivenyouoneface,andyou makeyourselfanother."(WilliamShakespeare)Thesequotes,foundthroughoutmanydifferenttime periodsofhistory,allsaythesame:"Bewhoyouareanddon'tletanythingchangethat"Theseare greatwordstoliveby,but,intimeofweakness,doesonestaytrue?Caneventhegoodbetwisted?

ThisisathemethatisrepresentedthroughoutTheCruciblemanytimes.Characterssuchas ElizabethProctor,JohnProctor,andReverendHalehadgoodintentionsshowmorecontent Itwasamootpointthough,becauseElizabethdidthesamethingforhim,damninghimtobetried fortakingpartinblackmagic.OnlyintheenddidJohnProctorfeelanyforgivenesstowards himself.Inhismind,hedeservedthepunishmenthewasgoingtoendureandwasn'tgoingcondemn anyoneelseintheprocess.Allinall,Johnwasanoblemanbut,warpedbytemptation,wasmadea manofslanderFurthermore,ReverendHalewaspushedtochangealsoHalecameintoSalema stranger,butknewhowtofixtheproblemthetownendured.HeneverquestionedthatGodhada planandalwaysthoughtthatsomethingwaseithergoodorbad,withnograyareainbetween.This thinkingischallengedwhenElizabeth,apureperson,isaccusedandthenlaterwhenJohnconfesses. Heknowsthatthesepeoplearehonestandleavesthecourtforaperiodoftime.Intheend,Haleisa desperateman,andeventhoughknowingthereisnowitchcraftpresent,heurgesJohntoadmitthat heisnottheonethatshouldbepunished.Hehastoquestionalltheruleshehaslivedbyhiswhole lifeandpursuesomethingheknowsisincorrect.Inessence,ReverendHaleispushedtohislimits andisturnedintoamanthatwillbepermanentlyinsuspicionofanystandardsheeverthoughtwere true.Intheend,asareader,oneischallengedtothink,ifputinthatsituation,ifheorshewould falterfromwhatis

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TheCrucibleTheme(S)Analysis

JamieDavisProfessorForestEnglish2030–8112/02/2011HysteriaandSufferingJumpingto conclusions,badassumptions,andfalseinformationcancausemuchhysteriawithinasociety.This canbesurelybadifyouaredealingwithpeoplewhoarehypochondriacs.InTheCrucible,Arthur Millerdisplayshowhysteriaisusedtocoverthetruth,butcancausesufferingformanyofthose whoareinnocentTheplaystronglyillustratesthehysteriathatbrushedthroughSalembecauseof thefearthatSatanhadhauntedthetown.Whenyouhaveanentiresocietyinanuproaritisusually becauseoffalseinformationbeingspreadandpeoplewhoarejustreactingwithoutthinkingabout whatcouldpossiblybehappeningTherearesomepeopleshowmorecontent JohnProctorstates,"Ineverspokeonwitchesonewayortheother.Willyoucome,Giles?"(Miller, 82).AbigailisnotonlyJohnProctor'smistress,butsheisalsooneofthegirlswhoareaccusing innocentpeopleinthetownofbeingseenwiththedevil.Abigailisthecharacterwhohasthemost influenceonthetown'shysteria.JohnregretshisaffairwithAbigail,butshethinkswhattheyhad wasloveBecauseAbigailwantstobewithJohnProctor,sheandfewothergirlsfromthevillage, andTituba(aslave)dancearoundbecausetheybelieveitwillsomehowkillProctor'swife.Abigail isaskedaboutheraffairwithJohn,butshesaysnoneofitistrue.Sheisdoesnotwanttogetcaught. WhilecomingupwithmoreliesalongwithBetty(ReverendParris'sdaughter),shetellstheother girls,"Ifanyonebreatheawordortheedgeofawordabouttheotherthings,Iwillcometoyouin theblackofsometerriblenight(TheCrucible)"So,afterthenewsthatAbigailandtheothergirls' outlandishactionsbeginstospreadlikeawildfire,thehysteriainthecommunitytakeover.Abigail onlycontributestothehysteriabytellinglieafterliejusttocoverupherwrongdoings.Abigailis dreadingtellingthetruth,whichhastriggeredhysteriatoadangerouslevelthatotherwise,would nothavebeenachieved.Duringtheplay,theattitudeisawaitingdestinyinthepresenceof widespreadirrationalbeliefandgrowinghysteriaintheSalemsociety.Nearly

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TheCrucible:(ArgumentEssay)There'shasbeenpeoplewhoeitherhavebeenmanipulatedand thenthere'speoplethathavemanipulatedpeople.Beingexperiencedwithsituationcanmakeiteasy foronetomanipulateanyone.Forexamplein"TheCrucible"itdemonstrateshowoneyoungchild canmanipulateeveryonefromchildrentoanadultintobelievinghervengeancestory.Withtheright situationexperienceonecanmanipulatewithease,butitshouldn'tbeeasyforonetomanipulatehalf ofthepeopleinthetown.Inthestory"TheCrucible"Abigailandhercousinareaccusedofbeing witches.INactoneitstates"Wediddance,uncle,andwhenyouleapedoutofthebushsosuddenly, BettywasfrightenedandthenshefaintedAndthere'sthewholeofit"(AbigailPage1)Theygot caughtdancinganddoingthingstheywereforbiddentodo.Sincethatdaytheentiretownthinksof thenaswitches.ThatbeingsaidAbigailtriestomakethingsright.AdditionallyinactoneAbigail states"leteitherofyoubreatheaword,ortheedgeofawordaboutathingorIwillcametoyouin theblackofsometerriblenight"(Page19).FromthereforwardAbigailstartedtoaccuseTituba. Titubathenconfessed"HesayMrParrismustbekilled!AndNo!Idon'thatethatmanIdon'twant tokillthatman".Buthesays,"Youworkforme,Tituba,andImakeyoufree!"(Page44).This confessionandaccessiongive'sAbigailandBettyachancetoactInnocentandaccuserandom peopleaswell.Theaccessionkeepcomingandkeepaddingup.Atthebeginningofactonethere wereonly12peopleaccused,nowthereare55peoplewhoaregoingtobequestioned.Inacttwo MarytellsElizabeth"Imadeagiftforyoutoday,GoodyProctorIhadtositlonghoursinachair, andpassedthetimewithsewing"(Page53).ThenwhenMaryhandsthepoppetshewenttobed,and halecomestotalktothem.WhilehalewastakingCheevercometotakeElizabeth.Hethenfindsthe poppetandaskquestionsaboutitCheeverthenexplains"AbigailWilliam,sirshesattodinnerin reverendParris'shousetonight,andwithoutwordnorwarin'shefallstothefloor"hesaid"Andhe goestosaveherand,stucktwoinchesinthefleshofherbelly,hedraw

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TheCrucibleisacomplexandintriguingnovelwithevents,charactersandthemescomparableto almosteveryperiodofhumanhistory.Itiscommonforhumanstofearchangeandwhatis unknown,intheplayTheCruciblethisiswitchcraftandthedevil,inmorerecenttimesitcanbe seeninpostWorldWarTwoandColdWarUnitedStates,throughMcCarthyism.Thethemesinthe crucibleareasimportanttopeopleinthe21stcenturyasinSalemin1692.Theseincludejustice, reputation,hysteria,intoleranceandempowermentAllofthesearecommonthemesthroughout humanhistory.ThecharactersinTheCruciblearealsoimportanttopeopleofthe21stcenturyas theycanteachusalittlebitaboutpeoplearoundusandtheirreactionswhen...showmorecontent... Reputationshinesasathemeintheplay.Throughreputationcomesdiscriminationandinthe cruciblealmostallthewitchesarejudgedonreputationandthisisimportantintoday'sworld especiallywiththingssuchasracismAnothercriticalthemeinTheCrucibleistherolethathysteria canplayintearingapartacommunity.Hysteriamesseswithlogicandenablespeopletobelievethat theirneighbors,whomtheyhavealwaysconsideredupstandingpeople,arecommittingunbelievable crimesIntoleranceiskeyinthecrucibleBecauseSalemisatheocraticsociety,moralandstate lawsarethesameandthereforethereisnoroomforerrorandintolerancebecomescurrent.Danforth showsthiswheninActIIIhesays"apersoniseitherwiththiscourtorhemustbecountedagainst it."EmpowermentiscentralinmoderndaysocietyandappearsinTheCruciblemanytimes.The playshowshowpowercorruptsandhowcertaincharactersusetherepowerinassociationwithfear, togettherewayThecharactersinArthurmillersTheCruciblecanteachalotaboutpeoplePeople canbehorribleandterriblydeceptive.Whenplacedunderpressuresandafterexperiencingtrauma peoplesrealcharactercancomeout.InthecaseofTheCrucibleAbigailisshownforwhatshe reallyis.ShegetsakindofpowerandthiscorruptshertousethesituationtohaveElizabethProctor senttojail.Abigailisnottheonlyonewhotakesadvantageofthe

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TherearemanythemesintheplayTheCrucible.Thethemewechosewasthatitisbettertoliveand fightanotherday.Mostpeoplehavemanyreasonstolive.Ifyouhaveanyreasonatalltolivefight anotherday.IntheplayTheCrucibleJohnProctorhaslotstolivefor,buthechoosestodie.Hehas afamilyconsistingofawifethreeboysandababyontheway."Tellmeyouhavethreechildren?" (pg59)–Hale"AyeBoys"(pg59)"Thechild?"(pg99)–JohnProctor"ItGrows"(pg99)–ElizabethProctor.AlsoHaleispersistentthatProctorshouldnotkillhimselfsothathecanlivefor hiskidsandprovideforhisfamilyandHalewillfeellessguiltforhiswrongbelieving."Man,you willHang!Youcannot!"(pg105)–Hale

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TheCruciblebyArthurMiller,waswritteninthe1950'sabouttheNazi'WitchTrials',andhas severalunderlyingthemes.Someofthethemescanbethoughtofasuniversalastheyrelatetoboth thetimeperiodthebooktakesplaceinandalsowhenthebookwaswritten.Hysteria,religionand familyarethemostuniversalthemeswithinTheCrucible.Hysteriacancauseconfusionwithina largegrouporareaAnexampleofthisinTheCruciblewouldbewhenMarryWarrenconfessesto beingawitchsoshecouldsaveherselfbutthenlateradmitsthatshewaslying.Whenthecourt decidestobringAbigailandothergirlswhohadconfessedofwitchcraftinforquestioning,they begintodenytheallegationsthattheyhadliedand

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Ineveryliterary,therearethemes.Athemecanbeexplainedasanideaormessageofanarrative.In ArthurMiller'splayTheCrucible,MillerusestheSalemWitchTrialsof1692torevealhoweasily peoplecanbedrawnintoakindofcrowdmentalitywhichultimatelyhurtsguiltlesspeople.The Cruciblehaspublishedlongagoandstillitisbeingreadallovertheworld.Themesofreputation, hysteria,andempowermenthavebeenanalyzedasbothuniversalandlong–lastingThefirsttheme analyzedintheplayisreputationbecausemanycharactersareconcentratedonmaintainingtheir publicandfinereputationinSalem.Mostofthecharactersworrymoreaboutreputationthantheir comfort"Abigail,Ihavefoughthereforthreelongyearstobendthesestiff–neckedpeopletome, andnow,justnowwhensomegoodrespectisrisingformeintheparish,you...showmorecontent... Manycharacterscanassumethattheirfellowcitizenshavebeensupernaturallyworshippingthe devil."IwillcometoyouintheblackofsometerriblenightandIwillbringapointyreckoningthat willshudderyou...Icanmakeyouwishyouhadneverseenthesungodown(Miller)."Thisquote showsthatifsomeonewasblamedandcontradicttheaccusation,theyarehungrightawaybutif theyconfused,theywillruintheirname.Thethemeofhysteriaisenduringanduniversalbecause therearesimilarthingsinmodernlife,forexample,theracialprofiling.Finally,thethemeof empowermenthasbeendevelopedinthisplay.AbigailWilliamshasagreatamountofpowerwith thewitchhearingsandshewasonlyseventeen–year–old."Nowlookyou...Iwillcometoyouinthe blackofsometerriblenightbringareckoningthatwillshudderyouIcanmakeyouwishyouhad neverseenthesungodown(Miller)."ThisquoteshowsthatAbigailWilliamsisincharge.Shehas nopoweratfirst,butthenbecameempoweredoverthegroupof

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TheCrucibleThemes

TheCrucibleusedfactualaccountsoftheSalemWitchTrialsandthematicelementstocreatea dramathataffectstoday'ssociety.Thisessaywilldetailhowthecharactersandeventsinterpreted themainthemesandhistoricalcontext.TherewerethreemainthemespresentedinTheCrucible: Puritanism,reputation,andhysteria.Ofthesethree,hysteriawouldbeconsideredthemaintheme throughouttheplayandisstillpresenttodayArthurMillerintegratedthemessuchas:Puritanism, reputation,andhysteriatoprovideinsightintotheSalemWitchTrialsandtoday'ssociety. PuritanismmadeupofthebeliefsandpracticesofthePuritans.Inthe16thand17thcentury, PuritanswereProtestantsthatpracticeandfollowstrictmoralrules

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THECRUCIBLE

Oneofthethemesinthecrucibleistoalwaystellthetruenomatterwhatarethecosecues.Inthe cruciblemostoftheconflictcouldhavebeenavoided.Iftheycould'vesaidthetrue.LikeAbigail tellingeveryonethatElizabeth'swasawitch,Abigaillyinginthetrailandthe39girlslyingabout seedemons

IfAbigailjustwould'vesaidwhatshefeelsforJohn.Hewouldn'tbedeadandshewouldn'tfeel miserable.When

JohndiedallherhappinessdiewithherJustifAbigailwouldofyestoeveryoneshewasinlove withJohnandstopmakingthingup.Likehalfofthetownhaveadealswithdemons.everyone wouldbestillatlifeandhappy.

AlsoAbigaillyinginthetrailthatdidn'thelpthesituationorjohn.Abigailshe ...Getmorecontent...

Ineveryliterarywork,therearethemes.Athemeisabroadidea,moralormessageofabookor story.Oneindividualmayconstruethethemesofabookorstorydifferentlythananother,butthatis thepurebeautyofthemes.OnegreatliteraryworkisTheCrucible,aplaywrittenbyArthurMiller. Succinctly,theplayisabouttheSalemwitchtrialsthattookplaceinMassachusettsin1692. Throughoutthestory,thetownspeopleindicttheirneighborsofbeingawitchandpracticing witchcraft.Onthesurface,thishistoricaldramahasafewuniversalandenduringthemes.Themes areuniversalbecauseregardlessofwhereintheworld,theideasstillrelatestoeveryoneandis understoodThemesareenduringbecausetheideasarefoundshowmorecontent AsecondthemerevealedinTheCrucibleisempowerment.Duringthetrialsintheplay,many charactersweregivenpower,whichtheyneverhadbefore.Thesecharacterswerethewomen. WomeninSalemaregeneralizedtobegovernedbythemenandhavenochoiceinanything.The womeneitherworkasservantstomenorgetmarriedandhavechildren.Anexampleofthisthemeis AbigailWilliamsShe'sseventeen–years–oldandhasagreatamountofpowerwiththewitchtrials InonescenewithReverendHale,ReverendParris,Abigail,Mrs.PutnamandTituba,Abigailis explainingtoReverendHaleabouttheincidentwithBetty.OncesheseesTituba,Abigailpointsat herandsaystoReverendHale,"Shemademedoit!ShemadeBettydoit!"Abigailalsosays,"She sendsherspiritonmeinchurch,shemakesmelaughatprayer!"Withtheseseriousaccusations, TitubaisimprisonedjustbecauseAbigailaccusedherofpracticingwitchcraftTheideaof empowermentisuniversalandenduringbecauseanyoneintheworldwithnosupremacy,can suddenlyhaveallthepower.Todayinmodernsociety,peopleallovertheworldsetaspirationsin ordertogainauthorityandbeaheadofeveryoneelseFurthermore,manypeopleintheworldhave powerandauthorityoverothers.Empowermentwillalwaysbeinsocietiesaroundtheworld.Athird themethatisdevelopedinTheCrucibleishysteria.Hysteriaisdefinedasastateofviolentmental agitation.Hysteriaplaysagreatroleinthestoryline

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ThemesinTheCrucibleInthecrucibleArthurMillertakesthechillingstoryoftheSalemwitch huntin1692andcombinesitwiththeissuesofMcCarthyisminthe1950s.TheplayreflectsMiller's ideasandopinionsaboutMcCarthyismandwhathethinksarethesimilaritiestotheSalemwitch hunts.ProctoristhemaincharacterMillersusestoreflecttheunfairnessoftheSalemandMcCarthy trialsandhowthetruthdiedinthe1950sThismakesProctor'sroleverydramaticandexciting Milleralsousesadramaticlicencetomakethisevenmoreso–addingthelovetoElizabethand guiltaboutAbigailgivesthestoryanintriguingtwist.ThewholenatureofProctormakeshiman excitingandcomplexcharacter;asaresultshowmorecontent

ThewholethemeofProctor'saffairaddsadramatictwisttotheplot.Affairsarestereotypically excitingandthedeceitfulness,lustandliesthatcomeintoplaywiththisparticularexamplemakeit especiallyinterestingfortheaudience.Thewrongthingsdonehereinthenameoflusthavea certainattraction–itisalmostintoxicating.OneofthethingsthatmakesProctorsuchanimportant characterintheCrucibleisthefactthathestandsforthetruthandfightsfortheinnocentsHis strongestweaponinthisfightishispowerfulspeaking.Hisspeechesandcommentsdon'tjusthave aneffectontheothercharactersintheplaybutontheaudiencetoo."YouarepullingHeavendown andraisingupawhore!"–thisisaverystrongstatementasHeavenisthesymboliseshighestgood andisaforceofGod.TopullitdownandsodenounceGodandplaceawhoreinGod'splaceisvery dramaticbecauseoftheextremes,it'salmostabsurdtotheSalemsocietyPersuasivetechniquesare evenusedinhislines,bypresentinghisopinionsasstatementsitseemsasthoughthey'refactsand unquestionable;"Godisdead"and"they'repretending"aregoodexamplesofthis.Thistechniques involvetheaudienceastheymaketheaudiencedevelopopinionsaboutissuesintheplayandcare aboutwhathappenstocharacters.Proctor'suseofemotionwhenhe

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Oneconceptiscapableofmoredestructionthanalmostanythingelse.Itcanchangeaperson'slife, orendit.TheCrucible,byArthurMiller,isaplaythatissetinSalem,Massachusettsintheearly 1690's.TheplayrevolvesaroundtheinfamousSalemWitchHuntsandtheirproceedingsboth withinthecourtandoutsideofthecourt.Withinthisplotline,athemeofgreedfunctionsintheplay, influencingtheactionsofcertaincharacters,includingReverendParris,ThomasPutnam,and Abigail.ReverendParrisisoftenseenasoneofthemostgreedycharacterswithinTheCrucible.An exampleofthiscanbeseeninadiscussionaboutpayment,whereParrisannounces,"Mr.Corey, youwilllookfarforamanofmykindatsixtypoundayear!Iamnotusedtothispoverty;Ilefta thriftybusinessintheBarbadostoservetheLord.Idonotfathomit,whyamIpersecutedhere?" (Miller841).Here,Parrisexhibitsoneofthemostcommonformsofgreed.Parrisiscomplaining abouthispay,anddemandingmoreinordertobeproperlypaid.ReverendParrisisthinkingabout hissalarywhilehisdaughterisunconsciousandbelievedtobeunderthepowerofwitchcraft.Parris letshisgreedtakepriorityabovehisdaughterIcannotthinkofanyreasonthatafatherwouldput moneyaheadofhisunconsciousdaughter.Whileitisthefirstexampleofgreedintheplay,itis certainlynottheonlyexampleofagreedofpossession.Anotheroneoftheantagonistsoftheplay canbeseen

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TheThemeofJusticeinTheCrucible

Thecruciblewassetin1692inSalem,Massachusetts.Theplayisbasedontruefactsaboutevents thatactuallytookplace.Itisaboutasmallsecludedtownthatreliesstronglyontheirreligionto keepthemfeelingsafeTheirenemyisthedevilandtheyarealwaysscaredofthedeviland constantlylookingforsignsthatthedevilisthere.

"WecannotleaptowitchcraftTheywillhowlmeoutofSalemforsuchcorruptioninmyhouse"

Thefearofthedevilgetssostrongthetown'sjusticesystemtakestrongactionstokeepeveryone safe.Theparadoxbetweenjusticeandfreedomisveryunbalanced.Thejusticeandcourtsareso strictnoneoftheSalempeoplehavetheirownpersonal...showmorecontent...

TheSalemjudgesthinkthatifsomeoneisreligiousthentheyaregoodpeopleThisisnotalways correct,oneladycouldnotrememberherprayersandtheythoughtshewasabadperson.The audiencerealizesthatrememberingsomethinghasnothingtodowithwhethertheyaregoodorbad. ThisissimilartotheUSinthe50'sbecausetheywouldhavedecidedsomeoneworthyofprisonif theyweresuspectedofbeingacommunistsympathizerMillerwastryingtoputacrossthemessage topeopletogetthemtothinkaboutwhattheirevidencereallymeansandifwhatpeopleare convictedoverisactuallymeaningless.

MillerhimselffelthowunjustthesystemcouldbeIntheUShewasaccusedofbeingacommunist HerepresentedhimselfintheplayasthecharacterofJohnProctor.ProctorsawthroughtheJustice systemandwasaccusedofplottingagainstit.

"Therelurksnowhereinyourheart,norhiddeninyourspiritanydesiretounderminethiscourt?"

Thisshowsbynotallowingpeopletospeaktheirthoughtsnocriticismcouldbeaccepted.Ifpeople cannotputforwardtheirargumentthenitisnotpossibletoconductafairtrial.LiketheUSsenators ifnoonewasabletospeakagainstthemthentheycouldcarryoutunfairjusticebecausewhatthey saidwouldhavegoneunquestioned.Millerwantedtoshowhowthecourtswere

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TheCrucible

Howwouldyoufeelifyougotblamedforsomethingyoudidn'tdo.TheCrucibliebyAutherMiller isaboutatownanditstartwithagroupofgirlsthatgetcaughtinthewoodsdoingwitchcraft.Then thegroupofgirlsstartstoblamethetownspeopletogetthemintroubleandtogetthemoutofitand thepeoplethatwereblamedgotexicutedorwenttojailiftheyadmittoit.Guiltandpowerarethe twomainthemesinthestory.Guiltisthefirstmainthemeinthecrucible."Ispeakmyownsins;I cannotjudgeanotherIhavenotongueforit(JohnProctor)Thatmeanshecannotjudgesomefor doingsomethingbecausehedidworsesohefeelsguilty."Becauseitsmyname!Becauseicannot haveanotherinmylife!Becauseilieandsignmyselftolies!Becauseiamnotworththedustonthe feetofthemthathang!Howmayilivewithoutmyname!Ihavegivenyoumysoul;leavememy name(johnproctor)."Heissayingthatdonttakehisreputationtoruinshissonsnamebecauseit willputabadreputationonhisshowmorecontent

Inact3danforthsaysthis,"Iwanttoopenmyself!...iwantthelightofgod,iwantthesweetloveof jesus!Idancedforthedevil;isawhim,iwroteinhisbook;igotojesus:ikishishand.Isawsarah godwiththedevil!Isawgoodyosburnwiththedevil!Isawbridgetbishopwiththedevil."this meansthatthejudgeandthegirlshavepowerbecausetheykeepblamingpeopletheydonotliketo makethemgotojailordie"Thereiseitherobedienceofthechurchwillburnlikehellisburning" saysParis.Whichmeansifyouarenotobedientthenthechurchwillburnlikehell.GuiltandPower aretwomainthemesinthecrucible.ThecruciblebyAuthormillerisagoodbookbecauseitshows peoplenottoblameothersforyouactionEveryoneblamespeopleanditdoesn'thelppeoplegetting outofbadsituation.Guiltandpowerhappensinreallifeallthe

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ForthisbookreviewIdecidedtoreadTheCrucible.Inthisplaythereareawidevarietyofthemes fromhysteria,conformity,empowerment,reputationandmanyothers.Eachaspectofthesethemes withintheplaycomeswiththeideaofwitchcraft.SoIdecidedtopickapartthetopicofwitchcraft anddecidedtoseewheretheideaofawitchtrialoriginated,andIfoundthatitstartedinearly Europe

ForthreecenturiesofearlymodernEuropeanhistory,diversesocietieswereconsumedbyapanic overallegedwitchesintheirmidst.Witch–hunts,especiallyinCentralEurope,resultedinthetrial, torture,andexecutionoftensofthousandsofvictims,aboutthree–quartersofwhomwerewomen Awitch–huntisasearchforpeoplelabelledaswitchesorwhohaveevidenceofwitchcraft.The classicalperiodofwitch–huntsinEuropeandNorthAmericafallsintotheEarlyModernperiodof about1400to1700,spanningtheupheavalsoftheReformationandtheThirtyYears'War.The beliefinwitchcrafthasbeenshowntohavesimilaritiesinsocietiesthroughouttheworld....show morecontent

Thetrialsweresparkedbythebeliefthatwitcheswereoperatingasanorganizedthreat.Those accusedofwitchcraftwereportrayedasbeingworshippersoftheDevil.Manypeoplewereaccused ofbeingwitches,andwereputontrialforthecrime,withvaryingpunishmentsbeingapplicablein differentregionsandatdifferenttimes.Thepeakofthewitch–huntwasduringtheperiodofthe Europeanwarsofreligion,between1580and1630Thehuntsdeclinedintheearlyeighteenth centurywiththegrowthoftheEnlightenmentandrationalismamongtheeducated

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TheCrucibleThemeEssay

OneofthemanyworkswrittenanddrivenbyPuritaninfluence,TheCruciblebyArthurMillerhas continuedtoinfluencelifeandthinkings.Itsstorytracingthe1692SalemWitchTrialshasbeen widelyread,receivedandunderstood,alongwithinfluencingthereaderandtheirideals.Theplay hasmanifestedintomorethanwordsonapageandhasbecomeofthegreatestinfluences,evensixty yearsafteritspublicationThoughitsstoryhasnotchangedandismerelyaretellingoftheoriginal itself,itsthemeshavegreatlyimpacteditsuniversalandenduringstate.

ThefirstthemethathelpedcreateTheCrucible'suniversalstatewasintolerance.Intolerancebegan, withinhistory,yearsbeforetheSalemWitchTrialsandyearsbeforethecreationoftheNew EnglandColonies.PuritanbeliefswereoutcastedbytheKinganditsgovernment,causingtheir migrationtothenewterritoryofwhatwouldbecometheUnitedStates.ThiscreatedthePuritan coloniesandthecityofSalem.Withtheirmigrationbasedonthewantofreligiousfreedom,a theocraticsocietywascreated.Everymemberofthesocietywasexpectedtoworshipandbelievein Godandthosethatopposedthecourt,thementhatdecidedGod'swill,alsoopposedGodhimself DuringActThree,Proctorisaccusedoftryingtooverthrowthecourt,thushavinghisintentionsto overthrowGod.Danforthstatesthat"thesetrials...[are]thevoice[s]of...showmorecontent...

Thehistoryofreligiousandgovernmentintolerancecreatesabridgebetweenthe1692witchtrials andpresentsociety,includingtheimpendingMcCarthyismofthe1950s.Hysteriacontinuestocause riotsanduprisingswithintheworldandreputationisstillheldtoahighlevelofrespectWithout thesemainthemes,TheCruciblewouldnotbeapieceofworkthatisstillprevalentwithinsociety andcontinuestoteach

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FeminismIn"TheCrucible,"ArthurMillerusesthecharactersAbigailandthethreegirlsas feministstogainpower."Americanlawswantedtomovewomenclosertoequalitythroughan EqualRightsAmendmentthatwouldbangovernmentsdiscriminationbasedonsexes"."Feminism istheadvocacyofwomen'srightsonthebasisofequalityofthesexes."Heportrayedthisbywomen havingthepowerinapositiveandnegativewayInthetownofSalem,womenweregivenless amountofpower,withtheirabilitytohavejudgmentsuponotherwomenandmenasbeingwitches andwizards.Therewasnoneedofevidencetoproveifapersonwasawitchornot.Thispowerwas giventoAbigailandthegirlsimplyinglargercommentsonthenegativeeffectofwomenholding power.Althoughthereweregoodthingsandbadthingsaboutwomenhavingpower,Elizabeth ProctorlostpoweroverherhusbandbecauseJohnProctoristheheadofthehouse,but"sheis submissivetohim."ElizabethisnotsecuredwithinherrelationshipwithJohnProctorbecausehe hadanaffairwithAbigailWilliams.Elizabethisupsetanddeeplyhurt,andconstantlyreminding JohnProctorthatsheisstillhurtbecausehecheatedonherSociety'sviewahusbandhavingmore powerthanthewoman.Elizabethbegantohavethepositionofastereotypicalwife.Shedoesn'tlose power,butsuppressesherpowerandholdsherpowerprivately.Societyviewwomentobeweak, notintelligent,sotheydeservetohavelesspower,and ...Getmorecontent...

TheCrucibleThemeAnalysis

TheCrucibleisaplaywithanabundanceofthemes.Eachofthecharactershaveathemethat contributestotheoverallthemeofthestoryaswell.TheCrucibleshowsunjustdecisionscontrolled bymanipulatedcourtsandenviousgirls.Thecourtofficialsput200peoplethroughthemiseryof beingaccusedofpracticingactsassociatedwiththedevil,andtheyexecuted20.Thethemethat comestomindaftertheseactionsarebroughtupisinequityAbigailaccusedmanypeopleinthe townofSalemofactionsthattheydidnotdo.ShemadethemarriageofJohnandElizabethProctor unstablebystilltryingtostealJohnfromElizabetheventhoughJohnwastryingtoregainthetrust ofhiswifeAnotherthemethatispresentisthatreputationscanbealteredeasilyGoingbacktothe AbigailandJohnincident,John'sreputationwasbroughtdownwhenthecourtfoundoutthathe cheatedonhiswife.AnotherexampleofhowreputationsarejudgedinthisplayiswhenJohndidn't wanthisnamepostedonthechurchdoor.Hisnamewouldhavebeenfrowneduponsinceitwould havebeenonthelistofpeoplewhopracticedwitchcraft,andheknewpeoplewouldthinklessof him(62)Abigailalsofedfalseaccusationsaboutwell–respectedpeopleinthetownofSalem AbigailhadtoldthecourtthatElizabethProctorhadbeenpracticingthedevil'swork,andElizabeth thengottakenawayeventhoughshehadn'thaddoneanything(37).Agoodreputationcanbeeasily faltered,anditisa

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KaylaKemp

Mrs.Canfield

JuniorEnglish 12October2017

TheCrucible

PuritanshadastrictanddisciplinedlifestylethatwaslivetoachievethegraceofGod.They believedthatpeoplethatweresinners,liars,andadulterersweredamnedintheeyesofGod.InThe CruciblethemainantagonistwasAbigailSheshowedtendenciestobespiteful,jealous,and vengeful.

OneofthemainantagonistwasAbigailWilliams,Abigailwoulduseherspitefulnesstoblameother peoplesheshowedhatetoo.Inthetextitstates,"sheisblackeningmynameinthevillage!Sheis tellingliesaboutme!Sheisacold,snivelingwoman,andyoubendher!(Miller22).Whatabigail wassayingisthatElizabethProctoristryingtoruinAbby'snameinthevillageInthetextitstates, "don'tlie!ToHale:shecomestomewhileisleep;she'salwaysmakingmedreamcorruptions!..

Sometimesiwakeandfindmyselfstandingintheopendoorwayandnotstitchonmybody!I alwayshearherlaughinginmysleep.Ihearhersingingherbarbadossongsandtemptingme–(Miller41).Abigailistryingtoblametitubabecausebeforeallthisthetensionwasonabbyandshe didn'tlikethetensionsosheturneditonTitubashowmorecontent

Inthetextitstates,"oh,imarvelhowsuchastrongmanmayletsuchasicklywifebe–"(Miller22). AbbyissayinghowstrongJohnistobeholdingbackherfeelingstowardher.Abbyisjustso jealousshesaysthingsjusttoweakenjohnInthetextitstates,"youdid,youdidyoudranka charmtokillJohnProctorswife,youdrankacharmtokillGoodyProctor!"(Miller18).Bettywas admittingthatAbbydrankacharmjustsoshecankillGoodyProctor,Abbyisthatjealousthatshe willdoanythingtogetridof

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