Keira Hine
Mr. Christensen
English III
01 May 2023
Throughout history, humans have always used the supernatural to explain things they could not understand: The seasons were explained by the corruption of Persephone, famine and plague by sin, and misfortune and success with karma. Just as these ideas were used to make sense of the world, they were also used to fearmonger groups of people and give power to a select few. These few elites will often do anything to maintain their power including destroying those in their communities. Arthur Miller uses The Crucible as an instrument to expose humanity's tendency to prosecute those who threaten the ones in powers narrative.
Arthur Miller inserts his beliefs that the elite abuse their status as leaders
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This group is known today for stepping its boundaries with who it accused and using its power to take down potential opponents of their agenda. I see this behavior translate even into today with, “cancel culture”. Just as today Twitter and in the 1950s HUAC would do, the Judges in Salem made unjustified decisions about situations without knowing all of the nuances of it. These characters also display how these committees are full of unqualified people who wrongfully pass judgment.“This is a strange time, Mister. No man may longer doubt the powers of the dark are gathered in monstrous attack upon this village. There is too much evidence now to deny it. You will agree, sir?” (Miller A1, pg. 64). This quote by Hale displays how …show more content…
For the Puritans in Salem it was through religion and punishment, for people in the sixties it was the cold war and the red scare, and for us today it is for-profit news. Those in power use fear to maintain control of the masses and get them to do what they want. They use threats of dishonor, and loss of property and instill thoughts that your neighbors are trying to control you or take your livelihood away for themselves. For example, In Act 2 Reverend Hale says, “Nurse, though our hearts break, we cannot flinch; these are new times, sir. There is a misty plot afoot so subtle we should be criminal to cling to old respects and ancient friendships. I have seen too many frightful proofs in court - the Devil is alive in Salem, and we dare not quail to follow wherever the accusing finger points!” This statement displays how fear has taken control of all sense left in the community, and how this has even led to the persecution and mistrust of established community members. “… And I bid you all do likewise. In an ordinary crime, how does one defend the accused? One calls up witnesses to prove his innocence. But witchcraft is ipso facto, on its face and by its nature, an invisible crime, is it not?...” (Miller Act 3, p.100). Again an example of how fear and control have led this community to unjustly try and convict people they see as
Arthur Miller’s 1953 play The Crucible is a story in which a group of adolescent girls destroy the bonds between citizens, and perfectly manipulate the trust and mindset of an entire community through fear, and prowess. Their reign of terror fueled by the desire to conceal inner shame, and sinful reputations. They use their newfound power and social hierarchy both irresponsibly and dangerously to damage others. This makes this play a working example of how inequality within a community can cause oppressed civilians to seek power, and use these powers irresponsibly.
Drawing inspiration from the Salem Witch Trials, Miller illuminates the devastating consequences of baseless accusations, fear-mongering, and the abuse of power. By exploring the historical context through the lens of a 17th-century witch-hunt, Miller unveils the parallels between the two eras and reveals the dangers of unchecked political manipulation. Miller's focus on the Salem Witch Trials highlights the destructive nature of McCarthyism. The hysteria and paranoia that plagued Salem serve as a cautionary tale, revealing the ease with which fear and ignorance can lead to the death of innocent individuals. When Miller emphasizes the themes of mass hysteria and the fragility of justice, he exposes the stupidity of the witch-hunt mentality that was present in both eras.
The Fate of Salem In the Hands of A Few The society of Salem in the 17th century was a state of deterioration. Some citizens of Salem were forced to lie about a crime they didn’t commit, or be killed because another citizen didn’t like them. What made this worse was the types of people who made these decisions on whether they were innocent or not. People who were regarded as having little influence under normal circumstances were making decision on people's’ lives. Everyone in Salem was paranoid about the devil, or that they might be the next person to be blamed of a fake crime.
In Arthur Miller’s, The Crucible, characters struggled for power and influence
People were tried with little to no evidence that witchcraft was present in Salem and the consequences meant life or death. " It is incredible what superstitions, jealousies, lies,
During the Salem Witch Trials, many people were accused of dealing with the devil and causing mischief among their neighbors and fellow citizens. These allegations caused rifts in the community and isolated nearly everyone from fear of being affected or accused themselves. Although it seems that they handled it as they saw fit, there are several ways that the community could’ve been a little more lenient. There are several courses of action that the Crucible should’ve taken that might have saved lives or more effectively condemned the accused: hold all court proceedings in private with an unbiased jury and judge, make sure all evidence was absolutely irrefutable in every aspect, also be sure to not to hold the accusers above the rest. Several people could’ve been spared and their personal standings upheld in Crucible, by Arthur Miller, if the trials would have been held in
The Salem Witch Trials was a time period where tension and controversy arose from personal religious pursuits. In The Crucible, Arthur Miller used the character of Reverend Hale, a minister, and expert on the demonic arts, to display the raw injustice and hypocrisy manifested from his bibliocentric beliefs. Hale’s confident, formulaic view of Christian faith and witchcraft gradually changed. But as He came to Salem with much devotion to the church and with good intentions, he soon realizes the very evil he is committed to brought chaos and the overpower of authority. Despite Reverend Hale’s deep religious convictions, his naivety showed the fallibility of his judgment of others.
For example, Annika L of the Salem Times states, “A fourth theory is that the girls behavior was caused by physical illness.” Despite the fact that such points could be defended with some logic, most of the support would be weak and loose. On the other hand, it can be concluded that the claim made by this essay is more logical and well supported if anything. All in all, it can be determined that the cause of the Salem Witch Trials was the attempt of Salem citizens to either defend or create family ties and enter or sustain continued community safety within the
Arthur Miller's play, The Crucible is a literary masterpiece showcasing its author's influence. By examining Miller's own statements, analyzing the play's thematic elements, and drawing on literary scholarship, we gain a deeper understanding of the profound impact of Miller's life on this extraordinary work. The Crucible skillfully explores themes such as mass hysteria, betrayal, personal integrity, and the relentless pursuit of truth and justice, making its relevance timeless and urging us to reflect on the persisting societal injustices of our world. The play's exploration of themes such as mass hysteria, betrayal, and the relentless pursuit of personal integrity serves as a testament to the significant influence of Miller's personal experiences,
Power in our society nowadays is very misgiven and abused. When people have power they tend to use it for their own benefit and to manipulate people into believing them. In the play, The Crucible, Arthur Miller dramatizes the Salem witch trials of 1692 in order to show his audience how easy it was to be accused and hung for witchcraft. In the Crucible a group of young girls were caught dancing in the woods and in order to not receive a punishment they lied saying they got witched. The girls blamed many people of the town of being witches and caused conflict all over the village.
People tend to justify their actions, regardless of the outcome. With knowledge of their actions, people misemploy their authority. A remarkable playwright of the American theater, Arthur Miller continues to capture his audience with The Crucible. In the play, Miller portrays several characters, who abuses their authority. However, of the very few, Miller creates a character who makes an important contrast to these corrupt people.
Throughout history the fear of corruption and change has compelled people to go to drastic measures to prevent it. The Crucible, a play by arthur Miller, is set in an environment of religious citizens who fear that the devil and witchcraft will corrupt their society. Much like The Crucible, McCarthyism caused the citizens in America to fear corruption of the government by communism. Arthur Miller used his play the crucible as a direct response to McCarthyism and through this play Miller writes about the Salem witch trials during the McCarthy period to comment on how history repeats itself. The social and political factors in The Crucible resemble those in America during the red scare and McCarthyism.
Arthur Miller (1915– 2005) was the writer of articles, diaries, short stories, a novel, and a kids ' book, yet is best known for his in excess of two dozen plays, which incorporate the original American dramatizations Death of a Salesman and The Crucible. A staunch nationalist and humanist, Miller 's work passes on a profoundly moral viewpoint whereby all people have an obligation both to themselves and to the general public in which they should live. Dissimilar to a considerable lot of his peers, Miller kept up his hopefulness that regardless of mankind 's terrible inclination toward disloyalty, individuals could rise above this and be better. In the production of Death of a Salesman, alongside its executive Elia Kazan and architect Jo Mielziner,
Much of what happens in Salem still resembles some things we see in society today. The word of one man can change people’s ideas and images of another without conclusive evidence. What people fear the most can sometimes bind us together, even if it is not
Everyone longs for success. They desire the acceptance and approval for following their moral compass, being rewarded, and being acknowledged. However, one cannot maintain success without a purposeful and achievable position of power. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller the power of society is bound upon a pronounced hierarchy. Men naturally are deemed as having higher status than women in society.