Examples Of Power In The Crucible

In The Crucible, the desire for power is prominent, which causes characters in the play to avert events. The church and the Bible were the two main sources of evident power. They held the community together and helped make decisions upon accusations. Abigail, due to her obsession with John Proctor, gained power because she just wanted to get rid of Elizabeth Proctor, his wife, thus she began the hysteria. With this, she was looked up to as a savior because she was ‘cleansing’ Salem of witchcraft.

Abigail and the other girls were being accused of witchcraft by Mary Warren. Mary reveals that she saved Elizabeth's life and she also was accused in court. Elizabeth realized that Abigail had wanted her dead. Proctor had told her that he will find Ezekiel the next day and tell him what Abigail had said, but Elizabeth thinks that he needs to go now. . Elizabeth believes Abigail wants her dead so that she can have John all to herself. .

Elizabeth's refusal to judge John Proctor comes from a pure religious sentiment that was untainted by a thirst for power. Elizabeth, through the book, mentions that the only person capable of judging John Proctor is himself, a believe that comes from the idea that John is responsible for upholding the integrity of his puritan pride and name in front of God and himself. In other words, Elizabeth understands that John must forgive himself for his own sin, as her forgiveness has no meaning regarding John's guilt in his own eyes or in the eyes of God. In the other hand, Danforth, the actual judge in Salem was manipulated by his constant preoccupation for his reputation and his ability to maintain power over Salem. Danforth's decisions could be

The Crucible by Arthur Miller follows the story of a village that transcends into chaos over the Salem witch trials. The delicacy of power is demonstrated in Reverend John Hale, a character that holds legitimate and referent power as a religious figure who learns that power is delicate and upon possession of it, one must act with caution. French and Ravens research finds that “Cultural values constitute one common

Danforth represents the motif of injustice throughout the play, while having high power which he abuses he does not listen to the people of Salem and sends them to their death. In act III, Danforth demands the marshall to have Giles Corey carried away for contempt of court, despite not evening hearing his evidence. When Reverend Hale insists that Danforth, Danforth is infuriated and exclaims in the courtroom “No uncorrupted man may fear this court, Mr Hale! None! You are under arrest in contempt of this court.

She spoke in tandem with Abigail and caused the Reverend to label her as a witch. This small act started a downward spiral in Salem, with their influence increasing rapidly with each conviction. Another test that happened was when John Proctor, a well known landowner, slept with Abigail earlier in the play causing her to gain an obsession with him. This started Abigail's hatred for Proctor's wife, Elizabeth, and it would not stop until she had John under her

Judge Danforth keeps the trials and hangings in session in Salem even after Parris, Hale, and Abigail have given up or moved on. This can be attributed to the fact that Judge Danforth believes greatly in the court system and believes that Puritan law is truly God’s will, so much that he would “hang ten thousand who dare to rise against the law” (The Crucible 1158). It can also be assumed that to Danforth, admitting these trials to be a fraud would mean admitting that he had innocent people jailed and

The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller in 1953, is a play that depicts the Salem witch trials of 1692 and 1693. The play explores a variety of themes, including power and authority, deception, and honesty. In this reaction paper, I will focus on the theme of power and authority and argue that it is a central and recurring theme in the play. One example of the theme of power and authority in the play is the character of Judge Danforth.

In The Crucible, the main source of authority is governor Danforth. When John Proctor wishes to denounce Abigail as a witness, he appeals to Danforth for a delay of the hangings. Danforth respond to his pleas by saying, "I should hang ten thousand that dared to rise against the law, and an ocean of salt tears could not melt the resolution of the statues" (3.262-264). He claims that challenging the court’s decision is a crime punishable by death and no protest or grievance will break his resolve to enforce justice in the town. Danforth uses his authority as a blockade against any resistance that not even John Proctor can break through.

Abigail, a teenage girl adopted by Reverend Parris, is the main source of information to the court, and they

During court, Mary said she heard “the other girls screaming” and that Danforth “seemed to believe them” so she followed suit (Miller 107). Abigail and her friends saw the court believing their act, so they continued with their theatrics. This same display of emotion from Proctor also works at convincing Danforth Abigail’s words are not to be trusted, and her accusations against his wife have no

In the play The Crucible, playwright Arthur Miller protests the Red Scare of the early 1900s, a period of public hysteria in which Senator Joseph McCarthy accused many innocent Americans of Communism. Appalled by this tragic period of modern history, Miller suggests a parallel in The Crucible, in which he attempts to convey “‘the essential nature of one of the most awful chapters in human history’--the trials for witchcraft in Salem in 1692” (Background: About Arthur Miller” 3). In both periods of history, Miller warns that mass hysteria often results from people who claim, that principle motivates their actions, while they may actually have other secret incentives such as greed or revenge. In The Crucible greed motivates some characters and revenge motivates others, creating the tragedy of the Salem Witch Trials.

Danforth: Judge, Jury, and Executioner Judge Danforth’s position in the crucible is the Judge assigned to the proceedings of the Salem witch trials. Instead of treating this immense responsibility with the respect and restraint that is needed, Danforth abused his power by betraying the people of Salem and the Law. He did not listen to the people of Salem defending themselves before inevitably being sent to death; and he cared more about his reputation and the law than he did about peoples’ lives. Danforth was a ruthless power over the people of Salem he demanded respect for himself and the court; and nothing was more important than that.

(I.465-472). Seeing Abigail cry, it suggests that Abigail’s affair with John Proctor has influenced her behavior in jealousy and lust as she strives for nothing more than her love for John Proctor. By only being heartbroken, Abigail is not to be fully blamed for the hysteria within the town as her actions are only based on desperate attempts to win John Proctor over, and no intentional harm whatsoever. However, on the other hand, Abigail cannot be excused with outside forces making her the way she is due to the fact that she has clearly had a choice in most of her decisions and actions throughout the witchcraft crisis. When Mary Warren, another girl involved in the forest incident, enters the court, she explains to Danforth, the judge, that the girls are lying and are only pretending to see spirits.

Abigail 's heartless attitude is shown in act two when she frames and accuses Elizabeth Proctor for witchcraft. She desired and longed for this revenge on poor Proctors innocent wife, aiming for her through out the play. Later on in Act Three she seems to lose her last attachment of society by destroying John Proctor, who she claims to love with all her heart. When John attempts and threatens to expose Abigail’s wrong doings, she skillfully manages to turn the whole problem around on him, sending him off