The theme of guilt is one that is deeply relevant to John Proctor's character development throughout the play. Both flaws led him to delay telling the truth about Abigail's fraudulent claims and their previous relationship, thus dooming himself and many others to death or imprisonment. The power of collective hysteria ultimately becomes insurmountable because it grows larger than the influence of the few rational voices in the community. makes them feel the best about themselves. Abigail William is hypocritical because she does not follow the rules of the Salem trials. The hysterical atmosphere and the dramatic performances of some of the accusers cause people to believe they have seen genuine proof of witchcraft. The second major theme in The Crucible (and one that teachers often ask about) is fear and hysteria. Parris is hypocritical because he is not a . He says, I would to God it were not so, Excellency, but these people have great weight yet in the town (pg. Even before Abigail makes accusations, rumors of witchcraft have morphed into accepted truths in the minds of the more superstitious members of the community. Concern for reputation is a theme that looms large over most of the events in The Crucible. Giles got arrested for contempt. In addition to grubbing for a few extra pounds every year, Parris makes a show out of needing golden candlesticks for the altar to replace the pewter ones that have served the church since it was built. She continues to act under the assumption that his reputation is of the utmost importance to him, and she does not reveal the affair. Hales involvement is taken to mean that there must be a supernatural element to Bettys illness. She is clearly outspoken and dominant, but her initial position in society is one of very little influence and authority. Elizabeth is a victim of cruel irony in this Act when she is summoned to testify on the reasons why she dismissed Abigail from her household. Abigail's version of events is held to be true even after John confesses to their affair in a final effort to discredit her. Goody Proctor is a gossiping liar!" Flaws in Human Reasoning Create a Tragic Figure One tragedy is a result of numerous conflicts and wrongdoings. The town slips further and further into chaos and paranoia until it reaches a point of total devastation. Elizabeth notes that Mary's demeanor is now like that of the daughter of a prince (pg. Abigail Williams was the main accuser of withes in Salem, and in her accusations she gained power in the town. He believes there is a group of people in town determined to remove him from this position, and he will say and do whatever it takes to retain control. All rights reserved. He shows the hypocrisy of the Puritans by showing their belief system and how they have not acted in accordance with those beliefs. This fact could destroy his credibility, so he is biased towards continuing to trust Abigail. -Hypocrisy is the state of falsely claiming to possess virtuous characteristics that one lacks. A theme is a central topic that is addressed by a work of literature. Ann Putnam jumps at any opportunity to blame supernatural forces for the deaths of her children. By the end of class, you should be able to: Identify basic elements of McCarthyism, including the following terms: The Salem villagers exhibit failings, including greed, vengeance, and fear, which eventually lead to the downfall of their town. He believes that Postponement now speaks a floundering on my part; reprieve or pardon must cast doubt upon the guilt of them that died till now. John Proctor is the tragic hero because he is loving, loyal, authoritative, but his tragic flaw is his . At first, Mary is being honest by admitting that Elizabeth . Being a hypocrite is one of the worst things you can be called youre someone who criticizes others and yet does the same sin yourself. Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Score, list of every single character in the play, details on the history and thematic parallels behind this connection. What is the difference between dissent and disloyalty? 22). Giles Cory was expelled from court because he would not list people who signed the document about Putnam wanting to take land. We hear a lot about hypocrisy, or when someone's actions don't match up with the professed values. In fact, we've all seen hypocrisy in our daily lives. 118). Danforth also acts out of concern for his reputations here. In the play there was a character by the name of John Proctor; Proctor was a family man that made a huge mistake. Danforth makes a shocking argument defending the way the trials have been conducted, insisting that only the victims testimony can serve as reliable evidence in this type of trial. Proctor's wife, Elizabeth, is accused of being a witch and Proctor has to make a moral decision . 12) The first act of The Crucibleclearly establishes the fact that a bad reputation can damage a persons position in this society severely and irreparably. The fear caused by the thought of supernatural evil in Salem causes the characters in the play to turn a blind eye to logic and instead believe in claims not backed by actual "hard as rock" proof. 22). is hypocrisy a natural human flaw the crucible. Hypocrisy: A Human Flaw How does the central tragic character change throughout the play, and how does this relate to the play's title? There are numerous connections between the flaws of individual characters and the overarching themes of the play that could be brought into this discussion. Abigails power skyrockets as the hysteria grows more severe. The Crucible by Arthur Miller, is a play based upon events that occurred in Salem circa 1690s. The seeds are planted in Act 1, when Abigail is questioned about her activities in the woods and ends up accusing Tituba of witchcraft to avoid punishment. Judge Danforth a well respected man in the society that has the supreme rule over the court. An example would be something like: "How are themes like hysteria, hunger for power, reputation, or any of a number of others functional in the drama? The power of mass hysteria is further revealed when Mary is unable to faint outside of a charged courtroom environment. 133). No one will listen to Tituba until she agrees to confirm the version of events that the people in traditional positions of authority have already decided is true, a pattern which continues throughout the play. It is not just, (Miller 129). In telling people they must confess to their crimes or be hanged, the officials show that they have already decided the person is guilty no matter what evidence is provided in their defense. Proctor, a score of people have already testified they saw [Rebecca Nurse] with the Devil (pg. Reverend Parris has fallen from his position of authority as a result of the outcomes of the trials. Why does Mary Warren warn John about testifying against Abigail? The evolution of his character is due to vairous . In each paragraph these traits will be further explained . Miller addresses a similar hysteria throughout his play. In The Crucible many examples of hypocrisy are shown. Danforth insists that John must know more about the Devil's dealings than he has revealed. Danforth and Mary Warren both embody hypocrisy, as seen when Mary says she cannot lie anymore and then lies when she becomes scared for her life, and Danforth when saying lying will send a person to Hell, but then forcing people to choose between lying and death. They're also revealed though events in the plot. In this play, the author illustrates the central idea that people should not allow jealousy to control their actions. flashcard sets. Where before she was just an orphaned teenager, now, in the midst of the trials, she becomes the main witness to the inner workings of a Satanic plot. They so fear the devilish consequences of challenging the accusers that theyre willing to take them at their word and ignore any defenses the accused have to offer. Miller explains this further: ''long-held hatreds of neighbors could now be openly expressed, and vengeance taken, despite the Bible's charitable injunctions.'' 67). In Act 3, Hale continues to make ironic statements about the existence of concrete proof for the accusations of witchcraft. They are extremely biased towards believing they have made the correct sentencing decisions in court thus far, so they are reluctant to accept new evidence that may prove them wrong. Hale tries to combat his guilt by persuading the prisoners to confess, refusing to accept that the damage has already been done. Once the accusations begin, Parris initiates an ironic thought process that persists throughout The Crucible: You will confess yourself or I will take you out and whip you to your death, Tituba! (pg. In The Crucible, there are many characters that feed into or contribute to the rapid spread of witch hysteria in the small village of Salem. Though hysteria overpowered the reputations of the accused in the past two acts, in act 4 the sticking power of their original reputations becomes apparent. There are several ironies in Act 1 that center around Abigail Williams. As mentioned in the overview, religion holds significant power over the people of Salem. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. How is Millers underlying message revealed in one of these themes and through the character?". In Act 2, the value of reputation in Salem starts to butt heads with the power of hysteria and fear to sway peoples opinions (and vengeance to dictate their actions). To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. One single example is ; Corporate and political greed and desire for power is the reason for most of the suffering as claimed by many. Through this statement he clearly demonstrates his belief that lying will send a person to Hell. The whole purpose of a trial is to hear both sides of the story before a verdict is reached. Download it for free now: hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(360031, '688715d6-bf92-47d7-8526-4c53d1f5fe7d', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(360031, '03a85984-6dfd-4a19-93c8-5f46091f5e2b', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); Samantha is a blog content writer for PrepScholar. Concern for reputation is a theme that looms large over most of the events in The Crucible. John finally comes to the realization that Mary's truthful testimony cannot compete with the hysteria that has taken hold of the court. Hypocrisy relates to The Crucible in that both Reverend Parris and Mr. Putnam are incredibly hypocritical characters. In a case like this, you'd be writing directly about a specific theme in connection to one of the characters. No one thinks a teenage orphan girl is capable of such extensive deception (or delusion), so she is consistently trusted. As mentioned in the overview, religion holds significant power over the people of Salem. Her goal is to help students adopt a less stressful view of standardized testing and other academic challenges through her articles. In this environment, whoever yells the loudest seems to get the most credibility. . And he goes to save her, and, stuck two inches in the flesh of her belly, he draw a needle out." Essay questions that ask about themes in this straightforward way can be tricky because there's a temptation to speak in vague terms about the theme's significance. How do the actions of authority figures encourage the girls to continue their accusations and even genuinely believe the lies theyre telling? The each profess to want truth and to desire to punish actual wrongdoers. John feels incredibly ashamed of his affair with Abigail, so he tries to bury it and pretend it never happened. It helped me pass my exam and the test questions are very similar to the practice quizzes on Study.com. As much as I loved Bernie Sanders, he made millions of dollars while preaching for democratic. In fact, we've all seen hypocrisy in our daily lives. There is a culture of keeping up appearances already in place, which makes it natural for people to lie about witnessing their neighbors partaking in Satanic rituals when the opportunity arises (especially if it means insulating themselves from similar accusations and even achieving personal gain). AbracaDENIAL! A 17-year-old girl named Abigail Williams had an affair with John Proctor, a wealthy, married man. Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com, allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. The play, The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller demonstrates the implications of a society in complete chaos over an irrational fear of witchcraft in the town of Salem, Massachusetts. For example, proctor waits till the very last minute to reveal Abigail is lying. These two institutions fuse together in The Crucible to actively encourage accusers and discourage rational explanations of events. At the end this act, John Proctor delivers a short monologue anticipating the imminent loss of the disguises of propriety worn by himself and other members of the Salem community. Danforth is convinced that there is a moving plot to topple Christ in the country! and anyone who doubts the decisions of the court is potentially involved. His only goal is to get on the good side of the community as a whole, even in the midst of this bout of collective hysteria. He claims that they must not jump to conclusions based on superstition in their investigation of Bettys affliction. By examining the characters of the play, I believe that the three major characters who should be blamed the most for the witch trials are Abigail Williams. It is part of our carnal nature to hold others to a higher standard than our own. Proctors good reputation is almost a burden for him at this point because he knows that he doesnt deserve it. This hysteria-based evidence of witchcraft includes the discovery of the poppet in the Proctor household with a needle in it. In her conversation with John, Abigail claims that he helped her realize all the lies she was told by two-faced people in Salem who only publicly adhere to the conventions of respectable society (pg. They could either confess to being guilty and is punished and put into jail or deny any relationship with the devil and be hanged and killed. In Act 1 he jumped on board with the hysteria to preserve his power, but he ended up losing what little authority he had in the first place (and, according to Miller's afterward, was voted out of office soon after the end of the play). Irony abounds throughout The Crucibleascharacters who believe they are combating the Devils handiwork actually perform it themselves. Tituba attempts to tell the truth about Abigail when she says, You beg me to conjure! Sign language interpreters, though extremely helpful, do not allow deaf audience members to fully experience a show. Why does Mary Warren behave differently when she becomes involved in the trials? In her conversation with John, Abigail claims that he helped her realize all the lies she was told by two-faced people in Salem who only publicly adhere to the conventions of respectable society (pg. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 88,000 The ruthlessness with which the suspected witches are treated is aimed at purifying Salem, but it achieves the opposite outcome. This well-intentioned mistake seals both of their fates. No one thinks a teenage orphan girl is capable of such extensive deception (or delusion), so she is consistently trusted. Throughout the play, Miller is introducing multiple characters that experience changes in their decisions and negatively influence more people eventually leading up to the witch trials. In Arthur Miller's play, The Crucible, the events that occurred during the Salem witch trials are dramatized, and the truth of judgement and vengeance is examined in a web of lies amongst the townspeople. Abigail, in particular, has quickly risen from a nobody to one of the most influential people in Salem. I have given you my soul; leave me my name! (pg. He is completely oblivious to the fact that the victims might be lying. Like a struck beast, he says, and screamed a scream that a bull would weep to hear. Nowhere is there any consideration of ulterior motives. Choose a single character and discuss how this person embodies one of the themes. The Crucible is set during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Most Important Themes in The Crucible, Analyzed. The Bible that the Puritans swore to live by is not being honored when they used the trials to condemn their neighbors to death. While it does provide an entertaining experience at face value, the true literary genius behind the work is Miller's . Abigail insists that she did nothing to deserve it and tries to put all the blame on Elizabeth Proctor. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you Many villagers, especially Abigail . Tituba is forced to accept her role as a pawn for those with greater authority and a stepping stone for Abigails ascent to power. Tituba is conscious that she is in danger, she is also very frightened because her slave sense has warned her that, as always, trouble in this house eventually lands on her back (Miller, pg. Hale doesnt realize that his own fears and suspicions are the real powers of the dark. By Act 2, there have been notable changes in the power structure in Salem as a result of the ongoing trials. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. "She sat to dinner in Reverend Parris's house tonight, and without word nor warnin' she falls to the floor. you are exactly right. Danforths image is extremely valuable to him, and he refuses to allow Parris concerns to disrupt his belief in the validity of his decisions. However, this runs up against Danforths desire to preserve his reputation as a strong judge. Thomas Putnam who has grudges against the people of Salem, and Abigail is a shameless liar who leads the accusations against the people of Salem. (Cheever pg. If you argued that John Proctor was the central tragic character, you could say that his flaws were an excessive concern for his reputation and overconfidence in the power of reason to overcome hysteria. The girls are essentially given permission by authority figures to continue their act because they are made to feel special and important for their participation. Rebecca Nurse is a pure soul, who always took care of other people's children. Before I get into the nitty-gritty of howThe Cruciblethemes are expressed, let's do a quick overview of what themes are and why they matter. A constant theme through out the play is your personal reputation, maintaining a good name. Other essay questions may not ask you directly about the themes listed in this article, but that doesn't mean that the themes are irrelevant to your writing. He is known for making the right decisions and never going against them. Throughout the play, Miller uses the Salem Witch trials as a catalyst for Proctor's crucial development. Along with the final say in the putting to death of people during the Salem witch trials. Though Rebecca Nurse's involvement has already been corroborated by other confessors, Danforth demands to hear it from John to confirm that John is fully committed to renouncing his supposed ties to Satan. Parris is extremely dismayed by this revelation because of the damage it will do to his reputation. Tituba is forced to accept her role as a pawn for those with greater authority and a stepping stone for Abigails ascent to power. The importance placed on reputation helps perpetuate hysteria because it leads to inaction, inflexibility, and, in many cases, active sabotage of the reputations of others for selfish purposes. As the story progresses, Danforth and many other officials begin to realize that the entire situation in Salem progressed to far and honest people will continue to die unless they can convince people to lie in order to save themselves. By Act 4, many of the power structures that were firmly in place earlier in the play have disintegrated. The petition he presents to Danforth is used as a weapon against the signers rather than a proof of the innocence of Elizabeth, Martha, and Rebecca. John Proctor sabotages his own reputation in Act 3 after realizing it's the only way he can discredit Abigail. These people are the only ones who refuse to throw out false accusations or lie about involvement in witchcraft, so they find themselves condemned (this is the fate of Rebecca Nurse). This leads to Marys hysterical accusation of Proctor after she finds herself targeted by the other girls and about to be consumed by the hysteria herself if she doesnt contribute to it. This immaculate proof that has led him to sign numerous death warrants is nothing but the fabrications of teenage girls and other townspeople seeking petty revenge. These hypocritical actions take away from the authority of the person or people committing them. Well, it's not. Hale pg. Great, character-driven stories often have deeply flawed characters at their heart. This is interesting because the children are the ones that the rest of the village relies upon to condemn people to death. To Danforth, anything that doesnt confirm that he was right all along is a lie. The Crucible provides an example of how convenient lies can build on one another to create a universally accepted truth even in the absence of any real evidence. Miller writes: ''As for Rebecca herself, the general opinion of her character was so high that to explain how anyone dared cry her out for a witchwe must look to the fields and boundaries of that time.'' The court refuses to challenge anyone who claims to have been afflicted. 129)He is still convinced that all the prisoners are guilty and is determined to force them to admit their guilt. Miller himself was blacklisted for refusing to testify in front of the HUAC, a committee that was created to investigate any person who might be a communist. Ironically, though she is normally honest to a fault, in this situation Elizabeth decides to lie to preserve Johns reputation, not knowing he has already confessed. Will you confess yourself with him? (pg. Goody Good, an old beggar woman, is one of the first to be named a witch. He wrote the play as an allegory of McCarthyism, when the US government discriminated communists. 71). Miller includes some commentary on Hale: ''One cannot help noting that one of his lines has never yet raised a laugh in any audience that has seen this play; it is his assurance that, 'We cannot look to superstition in this. Hale also contends with his guilt in act 4 for his role in condemning the accused witches, who he now believes are innocent. Just like generosity, honesty and kindness are natural in people with those tendencies. Other essay questions may not ask you directly about the themes listed in this article, but that doesn't mean that the themes are irrelevant to your writing. In the case of a play like The Crucible, themes are revealed mainly through the dialogue of the characters. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. If Tituba was permitted to explain what really happened, the ensuing tragedy might have been prevented. Examples Of Hypocrisy In The Crucible. Tituba, the slave of Reverend Parris, is the first to admit to dancing with the devil. He is appalled by Elizabeths lack of emotion when he asks her to help the court get a confession out of her husband (pg. As he says,How may I live without my name? South Plantation High School, one of the only schools to offer a program for the deaf, cast tradition aside to create a rendition of The Crucible that is truly one of a kind. Human flaws such as lust for power, greed and jealousy explain the errors many tragic figures from books make, from Mr Kurtz to Lord Voldemort. How is Parris fate in act 4 ironic when considering his role in the events of the play? Salem is under attack from the hysteria that is encouraged by the same people who seek to keep imaginary supernatural demons at bay. Tituba is pressured to confess and name the names of other witches to avoid execution, which leads to Abigail and Bettys accusations, now validated by a coerced confession. Thomas Putnam tells him to Wait for no one to charge you - declare it yourself.. Thus demonstrating how mob mentality can impact an individual and ultimately drive the action of the play. In today's world hypocrisy is demonstrated by everyday citizens and even political leaders. 133). Even before the witch trials, the people of Salem are doing lots of little magic tricks to make all their unholy thoughts and actions disappear. How does Reverend Hale make Tituba feel important? Ann Putnam jumps at any opportunity to blame supernatural forces for the deaths of her children. John has already confessed that the affair was the reason for Abigails dismissal. Abigail is told by John to move on but instead, Abigail starts accusing the townspeople of witchcraft, including John Proctors wife Elizabeth. Will you confess yourself with him? (pg. Reverend Parris' concerns about his reputation are immediately evident in Act 1. Johns concern for his reputation is strong throughout the play, and his hesitation to reveal Abigails true nature is a product of his own fears of being labeled an adulterer. This shows us how one person who starts. Parris begs Danforth to postpone their hangings because he fears for his life if the executions proceed as planned. Arthur Miller's 1953 play, ''The Crucible,'' features hypocrisy as a recurrent theme. Mary is a hypocrite, because she's supposed to be helping the church rid of conjurers of the devil but instead she is deceitful. Mary Warrens sense of self-importance has increased as a result of the perceived value of her participation in court. Salem is under attack from the hysteria that is encouraged by the same people who seek to keep imaginary supernatural demons at bay. What makes Danforth so unwilling to consider that the girls could be pretending? This is irony of the same type that I discussed in the overview of this theme. Ironically, he is the first to demand a confession from Tituba based on Abigail's dramatic but false testimony. The Crucible is not only a dramatization of . This act also sees the irony of Hale discussing the powers of the dark that are attacking Salem (pg. The two characters that could have ended the mass hysteria are Abigail Williams and Deputy Governor Danforth. Take a look at this article for details on the history and thematic parallels behind this connection. She is enraged when Parris questions her suspicious dismissal from the Proctor household. If you can show that you understand the themes of a work of literature, you've clearly mastered the material on a deeper level. He. When he starts to realize he continues to avoid people from getting mad at him for putting innocent people in jail and killing them. As he says, How may I live without my name? The idea that a witch's familiar spirit is capable of stabbing people is too scary for the superstitious and now hysterical people of Salem to give Elizabeth the benefit of the doubt.

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