Many of the conflicts that occurred in the play were caused by Abigail Williams. She believed she had seen spirits earlier because she was caught up in the delusions of those around her. They use children's stories as evidence though not respecting them otherwise. Danforth continues to demonstrate the effects of hysteria in act 4 even after things have died down a bit in Salem and there have been rumblings of discontent about the courts actions. Abigail, in particular, has quickly risen from a nobody to one of the most influential people in Salem. Explore examples of hypocrisy in the play, including the hypocrisy in land disputes, sin, and the characters of Rebecca Nurse, Reverend Hale, and the children. He has sentenced people to death based on lies about their dealings in black magic, and he has accepted other false confessions from those who would rather lie than be executed. By Act 2, there have been notable changes in the power structure in Salem as a result of the ongoing trials. Danforth, who has the most authority, is also the most sold on her act, and it only takes a few screams to persuade him that hes in the presence of witchcraft. In saying this he admits that a person can only avoid a hanging by confessing to witchcraft even if their statement contains no truth. The Crucible is a play written by American author, Arthur Miller, in 1953. Concern for reputation is a theme that looms large over most of the events in. 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. Irony abounds throughout The Crucibleascharacters who believe they are combating the Devils handiwork actually perform it themselves. The Salem villagers exhibit failings, including greed, vengeance, and fear, which eventually lead to the downfall of their town. 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. Hypocrisy is shown between the characters: Abigail Williams, Reverend Parris, and Hale. Historical Context. Upon arriving in the court Mary Warren says, I cannot lie no more. The town, already primed with rumors of black magic, is quickly willing to accept that the first few women who are accused are involved in black magic because theyre beggars and slaves. So, she decides to manipulate the situation by saying that the Devil has come to her and she has resisted his commands to kill Mr. Parris. The people in charge are so eager to hold onto their power that if anyone disagrees with them in the way the trials are conducted, it is taken as a personal affront and challenge to their authority. 71). This is ironic because, Once the accusations begin, Parris initiates an ironic thought process that persists throughout. At first, Mary is being honest by admitting that Elizabeth . 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. 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. John Proctor sabotages his own reputation in Act 3 after realizing it's the only way he can discredit Abigail. 121). Abigail's version of events is held to be true even after John confesses to their affair in a final effort to discredit her. Later in Act 4, Danforth becomes angry at the implication that Johns confession may not be the truth. Parris initially insists that there are no unnatural causes for Bettys illness because he fears that he will lose favor with the townspeople if witchcraft is discovered under his roof. 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. . Danforth wont listen to him for this reason. Mary is a hypocrite, because she's supposed to be helping the church rid of conjurers of the devil but instead she is deceitful. In reality, true irony only happens when a situation is the exact opposite of what you would expect. Diehard fan of The Wire. Support me by becoming a Medium member: https://bit.ly/39Cybb8. He is somewhat responsible for all of the witch trials; if he wouldn't of committed adultery with Abigail, she wouldn't have gone on her rampage of blaming people. How is Millers underlying message revealed in one of these themes and through the character?". He says, I would to God it were not so, Excellency, but these people have great weight yet in the town (pg. 118). Here again, he is driving the point home that the villagers were greedy and seeking land, so they put some of the pillars of the community to death for their own gain. Her jealousy of Elizabeth Proctors position as Johns wife has led her to attempted murder, first by the charm in the woods and now by accusing Elizabeth of witchcraft. This is a decision with dire consequences in a town where reputation is so important, a fact that contributes to the misunderstanding that follows. Reverend Hale, Abigail Williams and Judge Danforth. This vicious cycle continues to claim the lives of more and more people as the play progresses. The authorities ignore any inconvenient logical objections to the proceedings because they, too, are swept up in the madness. 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. Here are a few questions related to this theme that you can use to test your grasp of irony and its significance as a theme in The Crucible: Hale wrongly assumes that his academic mindset will save him from jumping to the wrong conclusions in the witchcraft investigation. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? Always include specific details, including direct quotes, to support your argument about how the theme is expressed in the play. Shes not a traditionally accepted target like the others (except in her susceptibility as a woman to the misogyny that runs rampant in the play). To Danforth, anything that doesnt confirm that he was right all along is a lie. The most substantial female character is Abigail, who is portrayed as a devious and highly sexualized young woman. makes them feel the best about themselves. The hysterical atmosphere and the dramatic performances of some of the accusers cause people to believe they have seen genuine proof of witchcraft. This makes him particularly averse to accepting that he's been fooled by a teenage girl. The court refuses to challenge anyone who claims to have been afflicted. The second major theme in The Crucible (and one that teachers often ask about) is fear and hysteria. The thematic significance of hysteria builds quickly as accusations of witchcraft proliferate throughout Salem. Danforth insists that John must know more about the Devil's dealings than he has revealed. In the final events of Act 4, John Proctor has a tough choice to make between losing his dignity and losing his life. Revenge in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Theme, Examples & Analysis, Allusion in the Crucible by Arthur Miller | Examples & Overview, Thomas Putnam in The Crucible | Character Traits, Quotes & Personality, Irony in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Overview & Examples, Abigail Williams in The Crucible | Quotes, Traits & Descriptions, The Crucible by Arthur Miller: Act 1 | Quotes, Overview & Analysis, Judge John Hathorne in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Analysis & Quotes, John Proctor in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Quotes, Analysis & Development, Reverend John Hale in the Crucible by Arthur Miller | Traits, Quotes & Analysis, Reverend Parris in The Crucible | Character Traits & Quotes, Hysteria in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Theme, Quotes & Examples, Fear in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Quotes, Examples & Analysis, Judge Danforth in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Character & Quotes, Giles Corey Character Analysis & Quotes | The Crucible by Arthur Miller, Ruth Putnam in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Character & Analysis, Symbols in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Examples & Analysis, NYSTCE English Language Arts (003): Practice and Study Guide, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Study Guide, English 103: Analyzing and Interpreting Literature, EPT: CSU English Language Arts Placement Exam, ILTS English Language Arts (207): Test Practice and Study Guide, Common Core ELA Grade 8 - Language: Standards, College English Composition: Help and Review, Create an account to start this course today. It is not just, (Miller 129). The dark, witchcraft-filled production follows a series of deaf characters who are narrated in English, rather than the other way around. He insists,I am not empowered to trade your life for a lie (pg. Read on for an overview of what a theme is, a list of important themes in The Crucible with specific act-by-act details, and a summary of how to use this information in your essays and other assignments. One of humanity's biggest flaws is that people would do anything to help themselves. Miller accomplishes this through almost, if not every character in the story. Reverend Hale enters as a specialist from Boston who has seen the effects that witchcraft has had on others. Though actions are often motivated by fear and desires for power and revenge, they are also propped up by underlying worries about how a loss of reputation will negatively affect characters' lives. hypocrisy is a flaw in human character that can be avoided if chosen to be. 73), meaning the girls are testing out the extent of the chaos they can create with their newfound power. In a case like this, you'd be writing directly about a specific theme in connection to one of the characters. He wrote the play as an allegory of McCarthyism, when the US government discriminated communists. The College Entrance Examination BoardTM does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content of this site. Fear plays an immense role in the way people make their decisions, such as when the characters of Danforth and Mary Warren . 67). Human Flaws in Arthur Miller's The Crucible Many of the characters in Arthur Miller's The Crucible have specific human flaws that cause the tragedy of the Salem Witch Trials. It's atoxic strategy that causes panic to spread quickly and fear for ones life to take the place of rationality. Abigail insists that she did nothing to deserve it and tries to put all the blame on Elizabeth Proctor. When he starts to realize he continues to avoid people from getting mad at him for putting innocent people in jail and killing them. 22). 50). How do the actions of authority figures encourage the girls to continue their accusations and even genuinely believe the lies theyre telling? What are their strengths and personal flaws? Answer (1 of 7): In that all states of mind occur due to the nature of the brain, yes, hypocrisy is natural in people with that tendency. I highly recommend you use this site! As Reverend Hale says to Danforth, Excellency, there are orphans wandering from house to house; abandoned cattle bellow on the highroads, the stink of rotting crops hangs everywhere, and no man knows when the harlots cry will end his life - and you wonder yet if rebellions spoke? (Act 4, pg. Proctor is infuriated. This quotation shows the overall theme that hypocrisy is bred from the fear and condemnation of a society. This hysteria-based evidence of witchcraft includes the discovery of the poppet in the Proctor household with a needle in it. Revered Parris claims to be a godly minister, yet he is always clamoring for more: golden candlesticks, property rights, more money. Is hypocrisy a natural human flaw? These types of statements made by Hale earlier in the play become even more ironic in Act 4 when he realizes he made a horrible mistake by trusting the evidence that was presented to him. Explain the irony of Hales position at the end of the play as compared to his actions at the beginning. . One such example would be the scene in which Proctor and Parris are discussing Parris style of sermon, when Parris randomly exclaims that he is not being provided with as much wood as his contract spells out, as well as arguing for an extra six pounds per year. These three characters can be the most to blame for the cause of the spread and start of hysteria in Salem during the Witch Trials. If Danforth accepts Marys testimony, it would mean that he wrongly convicted numerous people already. Many of us in today's society do not believe in this; however, the Puritans really did believe that people could be vessels for the Devil. This attitude comes from a man who has shown no remorse for condemning people to death throughout the play. The people in charge are so eager to hold onto their power that if anyone disagrees with them in the way the trials are conducted, it is taken as a personal affront and challenge to their authority. In the Crucible by Arthur Miller is a play that is based of 1962 Salem Massachusetts, the site of one of the worst witch-hunts in history. This well-intentioned mistake seals both of their fates. Danforth also acts out of concern for his reputations here. Recall that hypocrisy is when someone's actions don't match up with the professed values. As Abigail begins to be accused she is pressured to deter from the truth. Interestingly, she was the first woman put to death in the trials. Giles Cory was expelled from court because he would not list people who signed the document about Putnam wanting to take land. Abigail's version of events is held to be true even after John confesses to their affair in a final effort to discredit her. Fear that spread among a group of people in Salem during the Salem Witch Trials, that event in history is a prime example of Mass Hysteria. The main pillars of traditional power are represented by the law and the church. In steadfastly refusing to confess, Rebecca Nurse holds onto a great deal of power. This new power is exciting and very dangerous because. The classic example of an incorrect use of irony is in Alanis Morisette's song "Ironic" when she says that "rain on your wedding day" is an example of irony. The Crucible is set during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Arthur Miller portrays the protagonist, Proctor, as the tragic hero of his play The Crucible. The Devil is precise.'' Choose a single character and discuss how this person embodies one of the themes. Proctor, a score of people have already testified they saw [Rebecca Nurse] with the Devil (pg. 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). The town slips further and further into chaos and paranoia until it reaches a point of total devastation. First off, what is irony? Hypocrisy: A Human Flaw In the play The Crucible, Arthur Miller repeatedly portrays that duplicity and deceit are a natural part of human lives. 61). The depths of the hysteria that has gripped Salem are revealed in Act 3 when John finally confronts the court. There are many characters in the Crucible who are guilty of taking innocent lives, but there are three major characters who, without a doubt, are the most at blame. The book is about witchcraft or what the town thinks is witchcraft. What is the difference between dissent and disloyalty? Here's another example of a potential essay question for The Crucible that's less explicit in its request for you to discuss themes of the play: "Most of the main characters in the play have personal flaws and either contribute to or end up in tragedy. He is completely oblivious to the fact that the victims might be lying. Why wont Danforth hear his evidence? As this hysteria begins to rise, other people such as Thomas Putnam, a rich landowner, start to also allege Salem villagers. 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. The turmoil in Salem is propelled forward by desires for revenge and power that have been simmering beneath the town's placid exterior. Miller explains this further: ''long-held hatreds of neighbors could now be openly expressed, and vengeance taken, despite the Bible's charitable injunctions.'' It is another trait we inherited from them, and it has helped to discipline us as well as to breed hypocrisy among us.'' This lie essentially condemns both of them. She openly threatens Danforth for even entertaining Mary and John's accusations of fraud against her. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you Elizabeth doesnt realize that John is willing to sacrifice his reputation to save her life. The town suspected her of lewd dealings, so she was put to death for it. 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. Miller addresses a similar hysteria throughout his play. Posted at 02:28h in motion to dismiss child support arrears by how does shakespeare present lady macbeth as ambitious. Elizabeth notes that Mary's demeanor is now like that of the daughter of a prince (pg. 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. Danforths image is extremely valuable to him, and he refuses to allow Parris concerns to disrupt his belief in the validity of his decisions. Many villagers, especially Abigail . Like a struck beast, he says, and screamed a scream that a bull would weep to hear. A Comprehensive Guide. He. Abigails power skyrockets as the hysteria grows more severe. 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. Though a character can have significant moral flaws, they can be wise enough to recognize their flaws and change their ways. 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. He appears to have no governing system of morality. People are quick to believe something even if there is no evidence for their fear. Abigail, on the other hand, faces an uphill battle towards more power over her situation. The play is about human weakness, hypocrisy, and vindictiveness. The power of collective hysteria ultimately becomes insurmountable because it grows larger than the influence of the few rational voices in the community. Danforth, Hathorne, and Parris become even more rigid in their views when they feel they are under attack. As mentioned in the overview, religion holds significant power over the people of Salem. Its easy for more respectable citizens to accept that shes in league with the Devil because she is an "other" in Salem, just like Tituba. I chose . copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. Why does John decide to ruin his reputation in Act 3 by confessing to the affair? The accusers cannot present concrete evidences, and their wrongful convictions must be further scrutinized. The Crucible by Arthur Miller is a play about the Salem witch trials. She continues to act under the assumption that his reputation is of the utmost importance to him, and she does not reveal the affair. Tituba, the slave of Reverend Parris, is the first to admit to dancing with the devil. (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. This is irony of the same type that I discussed in the overview of this theme. Goody Good, an old beggar woman, is one of the first to be named a witch. The authorities ignore any inconvenient logical objections to the proceedings because they, too, are swept up in the madness. What makes Danforth so unwilling to consider that the girls could be pretending? Giles got arrested for contempt. Thomas Putnam tells him to Wait for no one to charge you - declare it yourself.Parris must rush to be the first accuser so he can place himself beyond reproach. An error occurred trying to load this video. Parris begs Danforth to postpone their hangings because he fears for his life if the executions proceed as planned. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. Rational explanations are ground up by the drama of the rumor mill, and people see only what they want to see (whatever keeps them in the good graces of society andmakes them feel the best about themselves) in situations that don't appear to have easy explanations. Elizabeth's side of the story is disregarded because Abigails testimony is far more dramatic. How to use hypocrisy in a sentence. In reality. 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. Miller portrays Danforths characterization as stubborn, highly religious, and arrogant in order to to provide a clearer understanding. Lust and pride were John Proctors tragic flaws, lust is of course, one out of the seven sins. In The Crucible many examples of hypocrisy are shown. Thomas Putnam tells him to Wait for no one to charge you - declare it yourself.. Later in the play, she is accused. She comes to me while I sleep; shes always making me dream corruptions! pg. The main point that the story revolves around is that people would rather lie and blame someone else instead of confessing and accepting the punishment. They're also revealed though events in the plot. The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points, How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer, Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests. It is part of our carnal nature to hold others to a higher standard than our own. In one of the most well-known quotes in the play, John Proctor angrily insists that the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom (pg. 129)He is still convinced that all the prisoners are guilty and is determined to force them to admit their guilt. A character named Abigail lived with proctor and his wife and his two sons. 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. And he goes to save her, and, stuck two inches in the flesh of her belly, he draw a needle out." Hale also makes some unintentionally ironic statements in Act 1 when he begins his investigation. | 2 I have given you my soul; leave me my name! (pg. Demosthenes made fun of Aeschines, a famous Greek politician who was also an actor, basically . One flaw that can always be found in society and the Crucible is hypocrisy. Act 4 is Danforths turn to shine in the irony department. 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. 119). There are numerous connections between the flaws of individual characters and the overarching themes of the play that could be brought into this discussion. 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. He is appalled by Elizabeths lack of emotion when he asks her to help the court get a confession out of her husband (pg. The life of such man is ruled by the desire to seek the truth and justice in all that surrounds him, including himself. 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. He questions Abigail aggressively because hes worried his enemies will learn the full story of what happened in the woods first and use it to discredit him. How does the central tragic character change throughout the play, and how does this relate to the play's title? 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. 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). No one even considers Mary's statement about sticking the needle in herself. In Act 2, John Proctors guilt over his affair with Abigail is demonstrated through an ironic exchange with Reverend Hale. Even Judge Danforth, supposedly a reliable source of justice and solidity, goes against what he knows to be true by forcing those arrested to either confess to crimes they did not commit or face the gallows, all to save his name and prevent it from looking like he had hanged innocent people. Abigail possesses a two- pronged approach in her motivation. Rebecca Nurse is a pure soul, who always took care of other people's children. 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The Crucible, a play by Arthur Miller, is a story where many people had been accused of witchcraft and a lot of innocent victims faced a difficult decision. This is taken as evidence that things are really getting out of control ("if Rebecca Nurse be tainted, then nothing's left to stop the whole green world from burning." 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. 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). The town slips further and further into chaos and paranoia until it reaches a point of total devastation. The overall message is that. This attitude comes from a man who has shown no remorse for condemning people to death throughout the play. Read this character flaw list (with examples) for inspiration and develop interesting character weaknesses: 1. Hypocrisy, actually, didn't have a bad meaning until hypocrisy met politics in the 4th century B.C. Ask below and we'll reply! This hysteria-based evidence of witchcraft includes the discovery of the poppet in the Proctor household with a needle in it. The Puritans believed that children were to be seen and not heard. What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For? There are two examples of Ad hominem from The Crucible in Act 2 and Act 3. What ACT target score should you be aiming for? I propose that each and every one of us is, or at some time has been, guilty of hyopcrisy. She beg me make charm (Miller, pg. 119). By Act 2, there are nearly 40 people in jail accused of witchcraft. Why does Mary Warren behave differently when she becomes involved in the trials? The ruthlessness with which the suspected witches are treated is aimed at purifying Salem, but it achieves the opposite outcome. How do outside forces contribute to the character's flaws and eventual downfall?". Greed is a sin in the Puritan religion, so the people who supported the accusations were indeed hypocrites. While Mary Warren gets pressured by Proctor to reveal the truth about Abigail, but the overwhelming pressure from the mob makes her turn from the truth. Being in contact with someone else means mediating between ourselves and the other.

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