Category: The Crucible

Introduction

The crucible is a play written in the McCarthyism era by Arthur Miller. McCarthyism was a movement in the nineteen-fifties led by Senator Joe McCarthy in search for communists in the government of the United States. A crucible as defined is a vessel whereby heating and melting of metal using high temperatures take place for sole purposes of casting.

Metaphorically, a crucible can also refer to an era in history where the society seems to be melted down and remolded into a new castby the forces of great cultural, social, and political changes. The same word has remarkable similarities with crucifixion, which is the major intention of Miller by choosing it to be the title of his play.

The plays interweaves Christs crucifixion with the picture of a bubbling crucible in it a man and a society: the predicament of arriving to the right choice of morality and the inevitability of attaining redemption through sacrifice. These two themes, certainly, occur in the amplified struggle between good and evil.

The crucible puts to lime light countless enduring issue that affects our society at large. These issues include honor and integrity, power issues and its abounding corruption, the characteristics of excellence and wickedness, and the likelihood to evade all sorts of problems by creation of scapegoats. This paper aims at showing how the crucible exposes the above named issues in a dramatic fashion.

What issues are being adressed

The issues of honor and integrity are depicted very well in the Crucible. Conscience is an inward sense of decency which propels most people towards what we term as being right(Miller 1). Nevertheless, in moment of public discord, we end up give our consciousness the rear seat which is naturally expected of us.

For one to stand up for the right thing even in the most challenging opposition, it asks for a strong will of conscience(Miller 2). Although taking such an action is perceived as noble and honorable in retrospection, it is rarely received well by the majority in real and actual events. Miller handles the issue of integrity and honor by bring the character of proctor.

How the issues are handled

The reason as to why proctor was hanged, it was because he chose to uphold his integrity at the end. If proctor had chosen to compromise his integrity by confessing thus lying, he would not have been blamed by the audience. Proctor realized that by compromising he would betray his close friends therefore he chose to sacrifice his life for his conscience.

By following his conscience, and sacrificing his life, proctor became a real martyr before the audience eyes (Miller 3). This trend repeats itself even in our day to day life. We are very quick at applauding those who chose to uphold their integrity but we do not have enough strength of moral fiber to do so. The death of proctor turns out to be a moral exclamation point, and the modern audiences would be affected profoundly(Archer 5).

A large part of the play is dominated by the issues of power. Domineering criminals in the play have power possession and this prompt Miller to sound a warning on the corrupting qualities behind power. This is depicted clearly when Abigail and the other group of girls after realizing that they posses great power, they seek to use it for their own benefits.

Danforth possessesthe greatest power in the play, and he had the capacity to declare the proceedings at any one given time for the irrationality they were in (Archer 7). However, even at the final point when his actions were plainly and clearly not upright he preferred to proceed with his judgment.

The crucible playdisplayed how excess power is harmful and dangerous, since the temptation is ready waiting to be abused. The individuals in power in Salem, when scrutinized under theocratic government justification are found to absolutely abuse power, and in process destroying innocent people. This gives a clear illustration of how the law is not always correct, and if that is the case, we are supposed to stand up to it(Bly 2).

Proctor did exactly that by challenging the court. Power does not usually land on the principled or the prudent, but rather in the control of self centered individuals. Today In our very democratic governments, the authorities are responsible to the entire society for the things they decide to do, and therefore, are under control to a given degree. From the play, we can see clearly that a position assuming excess power and having no oneto be responsible to tends to be corrupted by that power.

It has always been noted that,numerous societies come up with some sort of scapegoat for any atrocity that they face. At that particular time,Salem was notan exception (Bly 5).

At that period, the population was becoming uncomfortable with the extreme measures taken by the government to ascertain that they never deviated, and this caused general crisis. Danforth desire to control this crisis could have led him to execute the condemned witches to a point far beyond any comprehension of therational mind would know that the actions were not right(Miller 2).

Danforth might have desired to show the population how rebels like Proctor were punished and the execution through hangings could have acted as warning to anyone planning to carry out a social upheaval. As a matter of fact, the devil has always served as a very easy scapegoat. Thebehavior to always find a scapegoats goes on even today, and there is always someone who takes the blame on our behalf.

Conclusion

Much had to be offered to the audience by the play Crucible in 1996. The issues addressed by the play are very much similar to the issues facing our modern world. There is much the modern audience canidentify with the issue of corruption and power, integrity and honor,the issue of rule governing the society and the methods used to condemn those people who deviate from the rulestogether with our burning desires to blame others by creating a scapegoat.

Important issues to the Americans were addressed by the Crucible. The crucible exposed what the world in general is facing in real sense, people in power are manipulating powers bestowed on them to control other people and impose ideologies which are not sensible. Hunger for power and control have led to people committing crimes against humanity.

Also, the inability of people to withhold their integrity has caused innocent people to suffer in the place of those guilty for committing an atrocity. People in power hide under the shadow of authority to oppress the weak and vulnerable. The crucible has played a very important role in addressing what is actually happening in the world.

Works Cited

Archer. The Crucible: Theme. Web.

Bly, William.Arthur Millers The Crucible. USA: Barrons Educational Series, 1984.

Bradford, Wade. The Crucible  A Challenging Masterpiece. 2011. Web.

Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. A&C Black, 2010.

In the course of human history, the theme of unknown has always been of the greatest interest for people. However, it is in human nature to be afraid of everything unknown and to attribute unknown things to magical powers. People who were somehow connected with witchcraft aroused intense emotions and reactions of the rest of society. If we add love and jealousy to the theme of witchcraft, we will get the main idea of the play The Crucible by Arthur Williams, based on The Salem Witch-hunt (Bllom 3). The whole ominous action is provoked and unfolds because of the opposition of three characters: John Proctor, Abigail Williams, and Elizabeth Proctor. John may be considered the protagonist of the play, however, the interrelation of the two main female characters of the play are, certainly, of great use for the development of the action and realization of the main themes of the play.

It is evident that Abigail Williams is the villain of The Crucible, for she is the person who has given a stimulus to the chain of horrible events, which lead to the deaths of innocent people accused of witchcraft (MacBain 16). At first sight, her character may seem simple, guided by passion and immaturity, but this point of view is false. From the very first pages the reader gets acquainted with Abigail as a strikingly beautiful girl (Miller and Blakesley 6). At the same time, the author immediately states that the young beauty possesses endless capacity for dissembling (Miller and Blakesley 6). This quality is the key trait of Abigails character. We cannot but admit that the villain of the play is a strikingly charismatic person who is, by all means, a born manipulator. Due to her endless slyness, she manages to delude everyone, it is easy for her to make an impression of all worry and apprehension and propriety, hiding her real nature and feelings under masterfully created disguise (Miller and Blakesley 6). Just as every other character of the play, Abigail Williams has her own crucible, the burden of isolation and solitude. The personal crucible of the second woman, Elizabeth Proctor, is her husbands love affair with the young servant, Abigail. Thus, two women become connected by means of their man. The author positions these two characters as absolute opposites, like two poles. While Abigail is passionate and has a questionable reputation for wildness (Johnson and Johnson 3), Elizabeth is introduced to the audience as a cold Puritan woman, as described by Abigail: a bitter woman, a lying, cold, sniveling, woman, and I will not work for such a woman (Miller and Blakesley 9). However, when the reader meets her for the first time, she makes completely different impression. She is reserved, dutiful, and faithful to her husband. Still, her soul is tortured by his adultery. Probably, it is her weakness, her enduring self-imposed pain, which is ruinous for her own soul and for her married life. This may be vividly observed in the abstract describing the dinner that consisted of rabbit when the pronoun she was continuously used instead of it: I took care &Shes tender? (Miller and Blakesley 48). Thus, just as the character of Abigail is not entirely negative, for the end of the play reveals that she is a child deep in her soul, the character of Elizabeth is not entirely good, as jealousy is also a sin, though not so awful as adultery. Besides, Elizabeth is accused by Abigail for blackening her reputation that causes absence of workplace after her discharge from the Proctors house. We will never know if this is true or not, but the possibility of spreading rumors is possible.

Speaking about the motives that guided the actions of the women, the common motive may be defined: both wanted one man. However, the motives collided, as they needed the same man: Abigail wanted to have her first and, probably, the only man, who showed the seventeen-year-old girl the nature of physical relationship of a man and a woman, while Elizabeth desperately tried to save her family. However, the actions of Abigail cannot be considered as caused by egoism, lust, and immaturity only. John Proctor says that Abigail hopes to dance with me upon my wifes grave (Miller and Blakesley 100). This is true, but this is not the only motive of the heroine. It should be taken into account that her family [was] killed in King Philips War (Johnson and Johnson 10). Abigail was an orphan, and she had no rights and influence in society. When she discovered that she had an ability to manipulate the post-influential people of the town, it was like a dream for her, the dream where her power was boundless.

If we consider the relationship of the two women with other characters of the play, we should concentrate our attention on the relationship with John again, as this is the most important relationship for both women. The relationship between a husband, a wife, and former mistress builds up an eternal triangle. However, Abigail is turned out of it, as John has ended their love affair. Unfortunately, for Elizabeth, the mistress virtually remains present, and this is the cause of her pain and suffering. In the course of the action a Puritan woman, with the truth as the supreme virtue, resorts to lie during the trial, which shows that her love for husband is the most important thing for her: God damns a liar less than he that throws his life away for pride (Miller and Blakesley 120). What is more, final acceptance of Johns decision characterizes his wife as strong and deep personality: He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him! (Miller and Blakesley 132).

Drawing a conclusion, it should be mentioned that the creation of two bright and strong female characters is the evident sign of insistent literary pulse of Arthur Miller (Bottoms 222). The opposing characters successfully interact in the course of the play and vividly supplement each other. The women have principal opposite features but they also possess common features, motives, and desires.

Works Cited

Bottoms, Stephen. Arthur Miller: A Critical Study. The Modern Language Review 102.1 (2007): 222.

Johnson, Claudia Durst, and Vernon E. Johnson. Understanding the Crucible A Student Casebook to Issues, Sources, and Historical Documents. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1998.

MacBain, Jenny. The Salem Witch Trials: A Primary Source of the Witchcraft Trials in Salem, Massachusetts. NY: The Rosen Publishing Group, 2003.

Miller, Arthur & Blakesley, Maureen. The Crucible. Oxon: Heinemann, 1992.

The Crucible. Ed. Harold Bloom. Philadelphia: Chelsea House, 1999.

Summary of The Crucible

The Crucible is a must-read fascinating chef-doeuvre authored by Arthur Miller, a renowned playwright from America, which dramatizes the way witch-hunting and witch trials took place at Salem, Massachusetts, in the year 1692 through 1693. The play opens with a multitude of girls enjoying a dancing exercise in the forest with a slave named Tituba only for one among them to experience an unconsciousness-like situation when the dancing is in progress.

Villagers gather with every one referring this as a sign of witchcraft that leads to seeking of an intervention from a witchcraft professional-a reverend. The scenario calls for the need to investigate the villagers on issues pertaining to witchcraft, a take that finds many of them victims of the evil doing ready to be judged. As the victims are questioned, majority refuse to admit or rather confess of the evil doing.

However, one of them falsely confesses thus finalizing the witch trials by the judges. This drama was performed on the first time at Martin Beck Theater in 1953 before it was reviewed and later won the best play award in the same year (Wilmeth and Bigsby 415). However, as fascinating as it seems, the masterpiece has strengths and flaws that are evident upon making a keen analysis of the play.

For instance, Miller does not directly use real characters from the community that he depicts in the play. This creativity in developing new characters to fit perfectly in a certain role is strength of this play. The author also uses metaphorical language to bring out themes and characters. For instance, since he knows the repercussion of making errors, he warns people not to attempt repeating any of the misapprehensions he had done earlier on (Miller 132).

This is a literary strength. Another source of strength in the play is the use of a similar colloquialism. Although the play is written after more than half a century from when the community settled in America from Britain, the author can regulate his language. The author depicts it as one community united by language that was ready to live in peace. He says, This will set us to arguing again in the society, and we thought to have peace this year (26).

Conventionally, these people could have a variety of dialects after such a period on a foreign land. The title of the play is another source of strength. Characters with above-the-notch character are able to win through even when they are just about to be killed, for example, Rebecca, Nurse, and John proctor. This is seen as symbolism that they refused to melt just as a crucible does when heated.

According to Miller, these characters choose this dangerous path to have a fulfillment of a life worth of their principles. However, there are some weaknesses in this play. First, the plot of the play is untrue to the actual historical age of the events. A wide disparity between the actual period when the event of witch-hunting happened in America and the period that the playwright depicts. The event of witch-hunting happened in 1692 through 1693 at the Bay of Massachusetts.

The play is then written later like an allegory resulting from McCarthyism after the government of the United States convicts a communist in 1956. Miller is also accused by the United States congress of being an anti-American when he refuses to acknowledge the presence of other congressional representatives in his meetings.

The author refers him as one of the horrible people ever to live. However, he also recognizes him a normal being just like the rest. He cannot however ignore to tell other people to be wary of him (Miller 21). The other weakness in this play is that the setting is especially restricted. This follows because most scenes occur in rooms and in the court only. This limits the readers outlook of the play as a whole. This also depicts that the author may have deliberately omitted some important parts of the play as he tried to narrow down the sceneries.

Major Themes

There are various major themes in this play. These include the theme of fear, individuality, and reputation. The theme of fear is brought out clearly in the play. Human beings fear everything that they cannot understand. They see what is not familiar to them as a source of threat. In Salem, many people are subjected to hanging after being convicted with the sin of witchcraft. The Americans also persecuted their fellow compatriots who were convicted of embracing communism in the fear of their country being colonized by the Soviet Union.

In The Crucible, the people of Salem feared that their land would be overwhelmed by evil spirits if they allowed witchcraft to take roots in their country. This fear develops into hysteria, anxiety, and even paranoia. Fear spreads from one individual to the other at a very speedy rate. For example, Miller says, The witch-hunt was a perverse manifestation of the panic which set in among all classes when the balance began to turn toward greater individual freedom (6).

The author is convincing in his demonstration of this theme. He gives relevant examples. For example, Betty says that she had seen Martha Bellow in the company of the devil. This makes Abigail to begin accusing the people from town. She also accuses Sibber. Because fear is hysterical, other young girls also begin making similar accusations. From this point, everybody in Salem becomes very fearful of witches or even the impact of others accusing them as witches.

People are unsurprisingly apprehensive of the indefinite things. Therefore, these examples are convincing. The theme of individuality is also depicted in this play. The government of Salem suppresses the minority and supports individuality. In fact, Miller courageously addresses the issue of individuality when he openly refers the act of considering other people as equals as one that is out of date.

He only points out the effect of this, as revealed by the inhabitants of Salem. As such, he urges people to mind their own issues in a bid to curb the current insanity that people have (Miller 4). The playwright is convincing in his depiction of this theme because he persistently use various characters to expound it through examples.

For example, John Proctor and Elizabeth try to push for individual considerations. However, the Salem community does not have a place for what is not communal. In addition, Elizabeth tries to convince her accusers that there is nothing like witchcraft. According to her, since witchcraft is like powers that are fighting others, the winner must be the one who has powers that can overcome those of witchcraft.

She counts herself among the winners, as she is ready to demonstrate the reverse of what people believe about it (Miller 26). John Proctor also takes an individualistic stand to denounce the behavior of girls. The play pushes all the characters towards conformity to the society besides admonishing individuality. The other major theme is the theme of reputation. The villagers did not believe in having their names soiled.

For example, These people had no ritual for the washing away of sins (Miller 19). Several characters in the play take certain actions in order to safeguard their reputation. For example, Abigail is seen dancing. Parris worries of his status. He interrogates her. This stands when Abigail defends herself based on her reputation in the village that people view her as worth emulating character (Miller 24). The author is convincing in developing this theme since he clearly uses examples to bring it into perspective.

Authors Motive

The authors motive of writing this book was to demonstrate the social and political ills that the society goes through. The author was a victim of the fight for a capitalist world by America. He was even questioned by the American congress for not recognizing the congress members in some of his meetings.

This provoked him to write about the evils that political fight against individualism, instilling of fear, and the need to safeguard ones reputation may bring about in the society. He writes that the leadership believed that it was in control of every aspect of the society.

Authors Larger Political and or Social Agenda

The authors larger political and social agenda of the play is to portray the challenges that people go through due to fear, individual stands, and defense of their reputation. In the social and political spheres today, people are still fearful of the unknown.

For example, people fear terror threats like the twin attacks in America on September 11, an Al-Qaeda threat led by the late Osama bin Laden. As the media hypes on the plans and the aims of the terrorists to make people hysterical, the governments of the world would organize for more surveillance, security checks, and armed follow up on the terrorists.

This act is similar to what was happening at Salem when people feared what would happen next if the evil spirits engulfed their land. To curb this fear, the people of Salem believed in the execution of witches and even the suspects of the witchcraft. Another sociopolitical agenda that the author depicts is the world struggles to locate the stability of freedom and order. The minority movements and groups are still being persecuted in the lines of being abnormal, for example, gays, lesbians, atheists, and even catholic priests that want to marry.

He advocates for obedience besides which people must suffer the consequences of their misconducts (Miller 30). In other regimes, governments under dictators are forcing their citizens to stay calm by not expressing any opinion via demonstrations, association, or even through the press. This seems similar to what was happening to Salem where majority were right with the government enforcing the execution of authority according to the rulings of the court.

The Larger Social Message

The larger social message that the author wanted to send to the world via this play was that reputation and individualism are important in a dynamic society. Today, every celebrity in music, athletics, and even other games spend a lot of money in securing defense for their reputation.

Politicians are also working very hard to have a good reputation. Leaders without a good individual principle and reputation have found themselves at a compromising situation. For example, president Richard Nixon of the United States was impeached due to bad reputation and poor principles when relating to women. Everyone wants to have a good reputation in the community, family, at work, and even at school.

Why the Author Chose the Writing Style

The author chose to write this play to demonstrate the way hysteria, suppression of individual motives, and defense of status can destroy the society today. Just like Salem, people are still enslaved by fear. For example, the whole world lives in the fear of terrorism. Individuals work hard to suppress others in competition especially the minority tribes and sexual oriented people.

Miller declares witch-hunting activity as a working way that got hold of virtually everybody in a bid to demonstrate that they are all wicked and ones who have left the ways of the supreme being to follow the desires of their hearts. In other words, no one can uplift him/herself in the name of being perfect (Miller 7).

The Author: His Place in Todays Political Spectrum

In conclusion, in todays political spectrum, the author would be classified as a strong advocate of democracy. This holds because his work has a great relevancy to what the society is going through politically. For example, the author seems to advocate for individualism and the freedom of self-expression. He says, The witch-hunt was a perverse manifestation of the panic, which set in among all classes when the balance began to turn toward greater individual freedom (Miller 6).

The author shows that every person should have certain principles that he/she should hold even at the point of death. This means that, if a leader is clean, he/she should be incorruptible by any political evils like power, money, and positions. The author would also be seen as an advocate of political integrity. This follows because many leaders in the political scenes today have failed the reputation test.

Works Cited

Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. New York: Penguin, 1995. Print.

Wilmeth, Don, and Ellen Bigsby. The Cambridge History of American Theatre. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1998. Print.

Question: Discuss the parallels between the Salem witch trials and the anti-Communism hearings in the 1950s. How are they similar? How are they different? Also, what are the advantages of using a historical incident as an indirect way of commenting on current events?

Answer: The witch hunts of Salem are similar to the anti-Communism hearings of the 1950s in that they mostly relied on unsubstantiated claims that were essentially impossible to prove but that were accepted nevertheless. However, they differed in that Salems trials were a result of mass hysteria that started with the community as a whole while the anti-Communism tendencies were nurtured and instigated by the government. Miller used the historical incident because it was unequivocally acknowledged as a regrettable error by the prosecutors, and so he implied that the same was true of the hearings at the time.

Question: Reverend Hales character seems to undergo a profound shift in the second half of the play. How and why does he go from the forefront of the witch-hunt to someone who is increasingly skeptical of the court and ultimately denounces it?

Answer: Hale comes to Salem with the intention of finding concrete proof of witchcraft and using it to condemn the people guilty of the crime. However, as evidence fails to surface, he succumbs to the pressure and begins accepting the unsubstantiated testimonies of the villagers as sufficient grounds for the decision to be made. Hale only realizes the severity of his mistake once people start executing the alleged witches and is filled with remorse (Miller 105). He then laments his lack of power in court and the blood he has unwittingly spilled through his actions.

Question: Abigail is for the most part an unsympathetic character. However, in her brief confrontation with John Proctor in Betty Parriss room, she breaks down in tears and credits him with taking her from her sleep and putting knowledge in her heart about the pretense of Salem. Discuss how this bright girl who seems so aware of the hypocrisy around her becomes someone who actually uses and manipulates that hypocrisy.

Answer: In the play, Abigail is a person who is not afraid to use any measures to achieve a goal that she desires. As such, once she realizes that declaring oneself a witch would provide one with status in Salem, she did so with the goal of attaining enough power to be with Proctor despite the perceived hindrances. Nevertheless, she is still a young girl with idealistic views, and although she can manipulate hypocrisy, she is ultimately aware of it and considers it wrong.

Question: Throughout the play, Mary Warren struggles with the question of what is right and wrong, and tries to do the right thing but ultimately succumbs to Abigail and her visions. Discuss the role of the girls in the play. Why are they the principal accusers? What might it have been like to fall under the influence of a girl like Abigail?

Answer: The girls are the principal accusers because it is their position of power. After being led along by Abigail, who declared herself a witch and the rest just accomplices, Mary Warren is presented with an opportunity to feel powerful herself and takes it. While the idea of witchcraft appeared alluring due to its forbidden nature, Mary knew it was dangerous and broke free of Abigails influence when she could.

Question: One of the most mysterious lines in the play is uttered by John Proctor at the end of Act Two as his wife Elizabeth is being hauled off to jail. Almost to himself, he says we are only what we always were, but naked now. What is he saying here?

Answer: John Proctors line means that the danger to everyones lives and the power granted by the ability to accuse people baselessly exposed the true natures of the inhabitants. People were put into circumstances where they could not trust each other and had the power to potentially kill with a few words, which let their base natures take control to ensure their survival with gruesome results.

Question: Discuss the ending. It is certainly somber; a number of innocent people have already died, and now the plays central character, John Proctor, is off to face death, as well. However, there is hopefulness in one of Elizabeths final lines, He have his goodness now. Examine the balance of hope and tragedy in the ending.

Answer: The ending of the play is strongly tragic, as many innocent people have died as a result of the events. However, the executions have allowed some of the characters to wake up from the madness, realize the errors in their beliefs and actions, and hopefully become better people as a result. Reverend Hale and John Proctor serve as examples, as they change for the better, even if the latter is executed shortly after. Elizabeths words refer to this transformation, as she sees that John is now at peace with himself.

Question: Finally, discuss the plays ongoing relevance. Is a contemporary witch-hunt a real possibility? If so, what kind of scare might it bring about?

Answer: The play is relevant in modern times because mass hysteria still manifests itself occasionally. The recent emergence of ISIS can serve as an example, as it has influenced the public perception of Muslims. Other issues can include matters such as racism, which has been known to affect the polices attitudes toward suspects. As long as the world remains separated into numerous groups that do not fully understand each other, the play will stay relevant.

Work Cited

Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. Heinemann, 1992.

Villains are often the main determinants of elaborated plots of literary works, and the more interesting the plots of the evil is, the more unexpected the plot will appear to be. In both Othello and The Crucible, the authors provide complex descriptions and characteristics of the most immoral and corrupt characters, Iago and Abigail respectively. The villains in both Othello and The Crucible are unique in their proficiency in the use of language for manipulating others and their ability to use the current setting for achieving their goals; Abigail is interesting because of her desire for power and influence, unusual for this young low-class girl, whereas the most interesting and surprising characteristic of Iago is the absence of more or less rational reasons in his intrigues against Othello.

Shakespeares Iago seems to have perfect command of language and rhetorical devices, in particular, delicate and subtle flattery as well as appeals to commonly shared values or ethos. In particular, in the conversation with Roderigo, Iago skillfully involves the desperate young admirer of Desdemona in his plot against Othello, stating that the Moor is guilty of the distortion of the old military tradition (Shakespeare, Act I Scene I). Furthermore, Iago reveals that he almost hates himself for his failure to unite Desdemona and Roderigo (Shakespeare, Act I, Scene I) and refers to Roderigo as a nobleman, underlining his belief that Roderigo is a more appropriate candidate for Desdemona as compared to the Moor. Similarly, Abigail, the villain of The Crucible, is a manipulative character who uses Biblical language, appealing thus to the commonly shared values of belief and devotion, for the purpose of gaining control over the thoughts and actions of others. For instance, at the crucial moment of Titubes confession about her communing with the devil, Abigail uses Biblical language to tell that the devil has been cavorting with other inhabitants of Salem. In Act III Scene III of Othello, Iago wins the trust and good disposition of gullible Othello by appealing to societal values and sharing secrets about Cassio. First of all, Iago states he believes that Cassio is in fact an honest person, who might, however, be going the wrong way and following his temptations in the relationships with Desdemona. Further, he confesses that he is extremely sensitive and intolerant to injustice and seeks to preserve the reputation of Othellos family. When Iago makes sure Othello has swallowed his manipulative statements, the main villain presents the information about Cassios affair with Desdemona as a big secret he never dared to share with anyone. Iagos feigned sincerity, sense of intimacy and closeness he suggests to Othello, and devotion to his lieutenant consequently make Othello blindly follow the hypocrite throughout the play. Similarly, Abigail, the villain of The Crucible, at first behaves and speaks like a kind and caring person, particularly by expressing willingness to look after sick Betty and concerns about her uncles health (Miller, p.10). She also wishes to seem honest and bold: as a ringleader of the girls, she admits her responsibility for organizing the dance and accepts her forthcoming punishment. However, she later easily fabricates the lawsuits against the other townspeople, causing the deaths of innocent women.

In addition, the use of language by both Iago and Abigail is also interesting in terms of the revelation of their two-faced nature, which brings about the theme of appearance vs. reality. For instance, Iago uses language to swear he has loyalty and respect for Othello and Desdemona, and at the same time, he secretly makes fun of women, proving that he views Desdemona as an inferior. In this sense, Abigail is two-faced since she speaks on the one hand like a caring sister and niece, who wishes that her uncle and cousin Betty remain safe and secure; on the other hand, this allegedly caring person uses language in order to persuade Rev. Hale to hang the women from her community, those at whom she points as the followers of the devil.

Furthermore, it needs to be noted that Iago can be viewed as a catalyst who moves the plot further through the use of language, whereas Abigail is the initiator of the main conflict, who creates it through employing her Biblical language and quoting the Scriptures. Iagos ability to change the plot radically through the mere use of language is indeed interesting and deserves attention, due to the fact that he changes the cloudless family life of Othello and Desdemona into a true hell by convincing the main character and it is highly important to check Desdemonas marital fidelity. This ability to create his own choices and realize them in the others actions makes Iago an interesting and elaborate character. Abigails role is much more important, as she brings about the main conflict. Interestingly, she mercilessly arranges the hanging of the women from her town only on the basis of her infatuation with John Proctor. For this purpose, she uses quotations from the Bible, underlining her resistance to the devils temptations and naming those who are allegedly reluctant to return to Christ after being bewitched.

Both Iagos and Abigails ability to use the setting as a powerful resource for manipulation is also surprising and interesting. In particular, in Venice, characterized by racial discrimination and prejudices against people of color, Iago incites Brabanzio, Desdemonas father, Roderigo, and other soldiers against Othello by spreading rumors that the Moor used witchcraft to enchant the young girl (Shakespeare, Act I Scene III). As a result, Duke of Venice is forced to send Othello off to Cyprus, into the heart of the war, seeing that noble Venetians have quite a hostile attitude towards. Similarly, Abigail capitalizes on the social setting of her small Puritan town as well as on the havoc and panic around her in order to seize power. At the most important moment of Titubas confession, Abigail takes the initiative and passionately swears that she was once tempted by the devil, but is now being eager to help Reverend Hale and Thomas Putnam find the witches of their community (Miller, p.38). Interestingly, even the changing setting allows both villains to bring their traits and realize their plots. In particular, Iago manages to achieve his goals even after moving from Venice to Cyprus, where he uses the strange and unusual for Othello setting and the uncertainty of the war in order to saw in Othello the seed of distrust for Desdemona and Cassio. Similarly, when the mood of the social setting in The Crucible changes from panic to uncertainty and doubt, Abigail demonstrates her stubbornness and strengthens her control over the townspeople by attracting additional witnesses of the night dancing (Mary and Betty) and forcing them to give false testimonies against the most reputable women of Salem. Thus, the psychological flexibility of both Iago and Abigail as they adapt to all changes in the setting also makes them interesting and elaborate characters.

The most interesting and intriguing aspect of Abigails personality is her unexpected desire for power. Although she is a very young low-caste orphan, who needs to serve the wealthier townspeople like the Procters in order to earn her living, Abigail reveals enormous ambitions (Miller, p.101). Whereas Abigail is interesting in terms of the inappropriateness of her Napoleonic motives to her tender age and social status, Shakespeares Iago captivates the readers attention due to the absence of rational explanations of his hatred for Othello. In Act, I Scene I it is made clear that Othello was the cause of Iagos failure to receive a promotion, but this fact is not mentioned in the subsequent sections, where Iagos plots against the Moor are associated with pure hatred. Because of Iagos unmotivated and truly irrational hatred for the main character, his actions seem even more terrifying, especially considering his enjoyment and satisfaction with the suffering of others, including Othello, Desdemona, Cassio, and even his own wife Emilia, so the plot is catalyzed predominantly by Iagos hatred for Othello. Abigail, in turn, spreads her control as rapidly as the paranoia about witches is spread: whereas at first she manages to influence only her fellow girls, later she becomes the right hand of mature and sophisticated Reverend Hale and Mr.Putnam, and this union with the local clerical and political authorities allows Abigail to manage the main conflict of the plot throughout the literary work.

As one can conclude, Iago serves as the catalyst of the main conflict in Othello, whereas Abigail from The Crucible initiates this conflict [these are the purposes of the characters in the literary works].

In fact, Abigail attracts the readers attention with her colossal ambitions no-one can expect from this young and shy orphan, whereas Iago is particularly interesting due to the irrational, almost pathological hatred which drives him to destroy his own and Othellos family [this is the conclusion about what makes the characters interesting]. Both Iago and Abigail display extraordinary, almost supernatural ability to convince others through generously using rhetorical devices like flattery and appeals to common sense and religious values. They are also very adaptive characters and turn the setting and the social environment around them into an additional resource for their manipulation [this is the restatement of the thesis in different words].

References

Miller, A. The Crucible. Viking Press, 1976.

Shakespeare, W. Othello. 2009. Web.

To first answer this question we need to determine what a tragic hero is and who John Proctor is. After these analyzations we must ask if John Proctor meets the certain criteria of this literary term, tragic hero. The first instance of the term “tragic hero” was created by the greek philosopher, Aristotle. It is a term that he described with five specific requirements: 1) Flaw of error or judgment (hamartia). 2) A reversal of fortune (peripeteia) brought about because of the hero’s error in judgment. 3) The discovery or recognition that the reversal was brought about by the hero’s own actions (anagnorisis). 4) Excessive pride (hubris). 5) The character’s fate must be greater than deserved. Now as for John Proctor, he is commonly considered as the tragic hero in The Crucible. Even though not being born to nobility he is a man of great reputation within Salem. A well respected Puritan, he carries one glaring flaw, his hubris- his fixation for preserving his reputable name. His hubris is the cause of his downfall and is also the primary reason for his deprivation of an anagnorisis, therefore Miller’s characterization of John Proctor as a tragic hero in invalid.

First off, Proctor’s affair showcases his egotistical tendencies to put himself above the rules he expects others to follow, which is the exact type of thinking that led him to his demise. Proctor claims to be remorseful about his affair with abigail, but his attitude towards Elizabeth confronting him about talking to abigail says something different (Miller 55),”I should have roared you down when you first told me your suspicion. But I wilted, and, like a Christian, I confessed. Confessed!” He continues to think about himself and that he is a proper Christian because he confessed even though he allows himself to continue talking to abigail, knowing it puts a strain on his marriage. Not exactly the proper Christian way. He holds Elizabeth responsible for faithfulness that he himself cannot deliver, which is confirmed when he forgets adultery in the Ten Commandments, speaking to Hale (Miller 67), “Between the two of us we do know them all.” When people are first accused of witchcraft Proctor makes no move to speak up about Abigail’s slander, as he knows that this might involve confessing his affair and tarnish his reputation. Only when Rebecca and others he regards as equal to him are accused does he care of all the others being accused. There are many examples in this play that shows his proud, self regarding attitude. His Hubris. Though another side of this may be that his attitude is only meant light-heartedly, such as when he talks to abigail, things are more deliberate. He simply believes himself to be above the law because of his reputation and takes many actions (or lack of actions) to secure his reputation in Salem. Even at the cost of his wife’s and the general lower class people of Salem’s life, because he believes to be above them.

At the climax of the play, Proctor experiences redemption, however it is a deluded redemption because he acts with an attitude of superiority to again protect his reputation. After his conversation with Elixabeth in the jail, Proctor decides he will confess in order to save his life. After he snatches his signed confession away from Danforth in a frantic moment, (Miller 143) Proctor says, “You will not use me! I am no

Sarah Good or Tituba, I am John Proctor! You will not use me!” Displaying yet again how he has this folly believing himself to be above the lower-class, thinking him above the law of a signed confession. Although Proctor claims that he takes back the confession to set a better example for his children, as confessing would be selling the Nurses and others to death, his later line denounces that as a possible intention. Proctor begs Danforth (Miller 143), “Tell them I confessed myself; say Proctor broke his knees and wept like a woman; say what you will, but my name cannot-” Proctor outright contradicted himself and rid himself of the honor of being a better example for his children for his name. He is not opposed to confessing, giving in to the continuation of these trials and others life, but the physical signed confession of his name is too weighty for him to oblige. The other side of this may be that he was thinking about his family’s name and their future reputation, but he if he stood against these trials and did not confess others could have remembered their family name as the ones who resisted the cruel trials and stood against it.

There’s a certain irony of Proctor’s hubris leading to both his demise and his redemption, because in his redemption he fails to experience the anagnorisis which deems a character heroic even after his tragic deterioration. After Proctor tears up the confession to appease his pride, he tells Danforth, Parris, and Hale (Miller 144), “You have made your magic now, for now I do think I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor” He believes has changed from evil to good, believes he has experienced redemption, an anagnorisis, but he has deluded himself, it is faulty. Throughout the entire play, the entire play, John Proctor has consistently stayed the same unchanging prideful man. He is always concerned with his reputation and superiority in Salem. His last act leading to his death was not an act of heroism, but of ignorance. He was too ignorant to realize his fatal flaw of pride. Therefore lacking an anagnorisis, it being such a powerful characteristic of a tragic hero that a tragic hero can’t stand without it, John Proctor does not classify as tragic hero. Though a final counter argument could be made simply against this because of different ideas of what a tragic hero is, going with the original definition defined by Aristotle it cannot be argued.

How may John Proctor be called a tragic hero if he isn’t even a hero? He’s truly just a tragedy. Though maybe not Arthur Miller’s intention of this character, John Proctor throughout the play remains morally stagnant. Ever prideful, superior to others, and above the law he tricks himself that he had redemption in the end and perhaps he even tricked you. Without a true change in character and a realization of his hubris Proctor failed to have an anagnorisis, therefore he does not classify as a tragic hero. This one defining characteristics of Aristotle’s can’t be left out of a tragic hero, and defines many “common” characteristics of a tragic hero as we know today. With this lack of an anagnorisis and all the citations/evidence given it could easily apply for John Proctor never having the potential for greatness, him falling from great heights and realizing he’s made an irreversible mistake, and him meeting a tragic death and facing it with honor. After discerning the meaning of tragic hero and who John Proctor is, it is determined that John Proctor is not a tragic hero.

Puritanism arose in the late 16th century within the Church of England. Puritans wanted to stay with the Church of England but change the ceremonies to make them more traditional. Their church services were extremely simple, were centered around the bible, and no musical instruments could be played in the church. They believed that faith, not works or deeds, was the key to salvation. Puritanism is still being preached today and its history told in many books. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne is about an adulterous woman, Hester Prynne, who must wear a scarlet “A” to mark her shame in seventeenth-century Boston. Hester struggles to create a new way of life as a new mother, a new criminal, and an outcast. Throughout the book, the author explores themes of guilt, revenge, sin, and redemption. Similarly, The Crucible by Arthur Miller was written in the 1950s and based on historical people and the real events of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. This play is about a fictionalized version of the trials and tells the story of a group of young Salem women who falsely accuse other villagers of witchcraft. The accusations and ensuing trials push the village into a hysteria which results in the arrest of 200 villagers and the deaths of 19. The Crucible explores the themes of reputation, power, authority, guilt, and judgment. The Scarlett Letter and The Crucible both share the theme of vengeance, which is the punishment inflicted or retribution exacted for a wrong. In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and The Crucible by Arthur Miller, vengeance acts as influential, controlling, and a consuming motivation, instigating people to act violently, even unreasonably.

People who seek a vengeance seem to lose control of themselves and their revenge becomes their only purpose. In The Scarlett Letter, Hester’s husband, Roger Chillingworth, becomes vengeful when he learns that his wife cheated on him. He becomes consumed with hate and rage towards Hester and her lover. For example, when Hester is back in prison Chillingworth visits her and he tries to get Hester to tell him who her lover is. She refuses and he says, “I shall seek this man…sooner or later, he must need to be mine!” (Miller 64). This dialogue means that Chillingworth declared his revenge on Hester’s lover and starts his slow transformation to an evil, corrupt, and malevolent man. He is seeking to deliberately destroy others for his gain as he desires to hurt others. The author implies that revenge is going to be devouring cancer and create havoc just to make sure Hester’s lover gets what he deserves. Soon, Chillingworth, posing as a doctor, helps Dimmesdale, the reverend of the town, recover from his sickness. Chillingworth moves in with Dimmesdale to discover that the reverend was Hester’s lover. The author describes Chillingworth as, “Satan…himself, when a precious human soul is lost to heaven and won into his kingdom” (Miller 115). The shocking news makes him complete his transformation. His desire to harm Hester’s lover for revenge for his selfish reasons makes him more demonic and irritational. The sight of Dimmesdale’s physical and mental agony delights Chillingworth. He used to live a quiet, moral life in England. Then, Chillingworth became a demonic creature because he was so consumed in his vengeance that he lost himself and all he stood for, which made him unreasonable. Additionally, the townspeople of Boston are vengeful because of their desire to always have Hester wear the scarlet letter. The scarlet letter is, “…so artistically done…much fertility and gorgeous luxuriance…” (Miller 46). This illuminates the fact that scarlet letter is beautifully made and against Puritan beliefs. This is the government’s revenge for Hester committing adultery. The scarlet letter represents her shame and guilt for her actions. Vengeance in The Scarlett Letter was a dish best served cold.

Vengeance is the act of taking revenge for a past wrong. In The Crucible, one of the major themes was vengeance. Abigail Williams was a seventeen-year-old girl, is the main antagonist in the play. She took advantage of the circumstances to carry out her vendetta against different people. Abigail and John Proctor, a respectable farmer, had an affair and Abigail wants him to herself, but John has a wife. Abigail uses her status, as a witch, to get Goody Proctor killed or gone from John. During the trial, John states, “We are what we always were in Salem, but now the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom, and common vengeance writes the law! This warrant’s vengeance! I’ll not give my wife to vengeance! (Millar 73)” John Proctor is accusing Abigail of being a crazy, selfish, manipulative, fake, and vengeful girl. Abigail Williams is manipulating girls to continue being witches just to avoid being punished for her bad choices one night in the forest. Proctor knows the truth and is willing to speak about what he knows, even though it may cost his life. In John’s eyes, Abigail wants to get back at Elizabeth for firing her and taking Proctor away from her. John crazily states he will not let his wife be taken because of the word of a stupid girl and her motivation for vengeance. Also, the law of this land is now driven by a vengeance from the legal principles created by the town. This proves that the Salem witch trials were a big plot created by people who had vendettas to settle with people they do not like. Also, Elizabeth Proctor states to John in her house, “She wants me dead, John, you know it (Millar 56)!” This shows the motivation to want to kill Goody Proctor for simply being married to John Proctor. Abigail reveals the selfish deals of the witch trails. She lies about being a witch because she wants the attention to have it. Since John called it quits on their affair, Abigail saw the perfect opportunity to get rid of her and take John for herself. When Goody Proctor exclaims, “she wants me dead” turns the story to a selfish and vengeful one (Millar 56). This further proves that the Salem Witch trials were just an opportunity to kill people and punish them for grudges they hold. Abigail creates fear and chaos in the town because she just wants what she wants. Goody Proctor is at breaking point as her fate is sealed by simply being married to a man. Vengeance runs the town of Salem, Massachusetts and consumes everyone to act unreasonably.

Finally, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and The Crucible by Arthur Miller both share similar themes of vengeance. The novel and play are both set in Massachusetts from the mid-1700s to the early 1800s in a Puritan town. Roger Chillingworth and Abigail Williams share many of the same qualities. They both are twisted, selfish, manipulative, and have a motivation for vengeance. Abigail does not confess to her wrongs but points her finger at everyone and tries to get revenge on innocent Elizabeth Proctor. Roger Chillingworth spends what is the life of his horrible life to try to get revenge on Dimmesdale. They both were victims of adultery; Chillingworth was cheated on and Abigail manipulated John to have an affair. Also, they both were angry and bitter so they both turned to vengeance, which made them act unreasonably. Both stories share many similarities such as setting, theme, and characterization, but they have their differences and they are successful novels that leave different impressions on the readers.

Overall, Puritanism began in England in the late 1500s and it was a religious reformation movement. Its goal was to remove any remaining links to Catholicism within England’s church. Vengeance is a lonely feeling that consumes anyone easily. In The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and The Crucible by Arthur Miller, vengeance is persuasive, controlling, and an expending inspiration, inducing individuals to act fiercely, even absurdly

Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible and Geraldine Brooks’ novel Year of Wonders are both works that explore the treatment of individuals under oppressive theocratic ruling. Both Miller’s and Brooks’ works are aligned with key themes of superstition, suspicion of witchcraft, and unknown cause of diseases which lead the communities to unravel and fraction in 1660’s Salem and Eyam. Brooks’ novel Year of Wonders exemplifies the manifestation of female power contoured against theocratic standard, creating religious boundaries, whereas Miller illustrates the ability of religion to unite or divide an isolated society against inner turmoil. In both Miller’s play and Brooks’ novel, suspicion of witchcraft and unknown cause of the plague sparks mass hysteria in their religious society, causing the people’s faith to sway.

Miller’s play and Brooks’ novel both depict the lack of empowerment women face in their oppressive societies, as their actions are often dictated by their theocratic society. Through the inclusion of Tituba, Miller highlights the injustice that women face despite their continuous plea for innocence. Regarding their condemnation, Miller’s stage directions suggest that superiority of women is inexistent, with Tituba “fall[ing] to her knees” begging for justice and mercy despite her innocence to the accusations of her “dancing in the forest.” Through Tituba’s prosecution, the audience is encouraged to notice the overshadowing injustice casted on women by their theocratic ruling . Miller exemplifies this concept through Martha Corey’s character, accused by her husband, Giles Corey, she is targeted as a witch due to his suspicion of “reading strange books.” In contrast, Year of Wonders compares the array of ways in which women strive for autonomy in their highly religious society. Brook personifies Anna as a “timid girl” whose resilience is to rebel and completely defy social norms; when she launches onto Anteros which symbolises Eyam’s women striving and overcoming the theocratic suppression, exercising that woman should be “shackle to their menfolk”. These two texts highlight that the lack of empowerment women face doesn’t grant them the opportunity to voice out their opinions which adds fuel towards the suspicion of witchcraft for the villagers in the communities.

In both Miller’s play and Brooks’ novel, suspicion of witchcraft and unknown cause of the plague sparks mass hysteria in their religious society; leading faith to sway. Brooks’ heroine, Anna Frith gradually moves from adhering to religious observance and questions her “flimsy; tattered” faith in God. As she pursues a scientific understanding of nature, she comes to reject superstition and begins to regard the plague “as a thing neither of God or the Devil, but simply a thing in nature.” Brooks symbolizes that through a complex understanding, Anna becomes a more vigilant character that isn’t swayed by binary thinking. In contrast, none of Miller’s characters question their faith in God. Even though Proctor may well declare “God is dead,” John and Elizabeth still maintain their devoted belief in Christianity. Indeed it is their trust in God’s mercy and his offer of redemption that empowers John Proctor to defy Judge Danforth’s court and instead places his faith in God’s eternal salvation that other “judgement (that) awaits us all” to which Rebecca Nurse refers as they are about to be hanged. Proctor’s believes more in beneficent, loving and compassionate God than a vengeful punitive God. In both The Crucible and Year of Wonders, John Proctor and Anna Frith both spark innovative thinking which leads them to a division within their society.

Salem’s strict religious community in The Crucible, superstition is rife and scientific explanations are minimal, causes the community to divide and respond to the crisis in an upheaval manner. Conversely, Year of Wonders illustrates the power of community during a time of crisis, where superstitions infects Eyam. Miller encapsulates John Proctor as a vessel of justice whose suffering from mental torment from his religious moral code. John Proctor struggles to “mount the gibbet like a saint” in the divided community where law is powered by superstition. However, Giles Corey “fearsome” cry for “more weight” and Rebecca Nurse’s mature distinction between temporal and spiritual authorities-“let us go to God for the cause of it” serves as an inspiration to John Proctor to “show honor now, show a stony heart and sink them [the authorities] with it.” Miller positions his audience to understand that his conflict protagonist inevitably clash with the men with ordained authority such as Reverend Parris and Governor Danforth; hence resulting in the division of the Salem community. Whilst mass hysteria spreads wildly through Miller and Brooks’ theocratic society, Brooks presents the Mompellions as figure of strength that plays a major role in bringing the people of the village together selflessly. Brooks describes the mob’s “crazed” voices that “screamed” with “frenzy” to emphasis that there is no rational evidence to justify their accusations. With the use of religious leadership in Eyam, Mompellion condemns the hysterical actions of the drunken mob that attacks the Gowdies “Fools! Ignorant wretches!” has pure altruistic intentions to terminate further development of the accusations of witchcraft, bring the Eyam community together. Both Miller and Brooks showcase how the effect of superstition can weaken the cohesive bond between communities.

The text of Arthur Miller’s Crucible’ is a four-act production that follows the Puritan community of Salem, Massachusetts. The play articulates the dangers a group of girls undergo as they start a witch hunt to cover, their own wrongdoing whilst creating mass hysteria. The Salem Witch Trials were a part of American History that epitomized the lack of trust in the goodness of others. The Crucible showed that in this situation the continued accusations were based on vengeance within a society for land lust, lost love, and jealousy. This behavior led to the death of numerous innocent citizens. The story is told through the protagonist’s point of view, John Proctor, a victim of the cupidity during the witch hunt. To further entice the reader elements of the good, the bad, and the ugly are depicted throughout the story through allusions, figurative language, and symbolism.

The Crucible delineates the historical Puritans’ perception of women who differ from expectations, all while unraveling, through the characterization of Tituba, the harsh truth of how women were viewed as lesser than men and feared if deviating.

In the play, the actions of the accusers on those accused of witchcraft unveil the conspicuous beliefs that buttress all actions regarding witchcraft. The accusers in the Salem court feign hysteria as they are aware of the potency of Sarah Good, Tituba, and many of the other accused witches. The display of pain is an attempt to create the impression that Sarah and Tituba are infecting the “normal” girl. Such hysteria allows Abigail to avoid allegations when she accuses Tituba and others of serving the Devil. In the seventeenth century, the women accused of witchcraft were those who deviated from their gender roles. Such women included Sarah Good, an adulterer, and Tituba, a conductor of spiritual proceedings. Witchcraft accusations were also based on the belief that women were carnal and, thus likely to engender malicious deeds.

Such an extreme belief that deviation equals sin leads to the accused being thoroughly beleaguered by the court in an attempt to break the Devil out of the accused. The judge warns Proctor that if he does not provide a tangible confession, Danforth will not be able to prevent Proctor’s hanging. However, Proctor refuses to cooperate ‘Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name.

The Crucible depicts the protagonist as having to come to terms with the community to understand themselves and their position within it. Miller uses the motif of social pressures and religious laws to set up the basis for the play, with the Salem citizens entrenched in a society that relies on strict social norms to maintain order in the community. An almost exact definition of the tyranny of conformity. Individuality, here, is the ability to retreat into families and homes. In 1692, however, Salem was shaken at its foundations by greed for land from neighbors and insecurity in the property. Furthermore, the Reverend Parris, head of the theocracy, is materialistic and is focused on his own needs over the communities. The struggle for the community’s survival is what brings about the witch hunts. The main character, John Proctor, wishes to remain neutral in the events occurring, though he recognizes the faults in the hunt, ‘There are them that will swear to anything before they’ll hang; have you thought of that?’ His previous affair with Abigail, however, leads to his wife being accused and himself being prosecuted when attempting to free her.’ Although Proctor may perceive himself as an individual who can retreat into his own family sphere, the protagonist finds that society will not let him escape. Proctor then must consider that he is living ‘by customs, laws, and expectations for which he shares responsibility.’ He cannot approach his wife’s persecution without taking into regard how he must face not only his family and self but also his neighbors and the village that he lives in. This troubles Proctor as he does not deign himself to be pure without fault, a result of his affair with Abigail. Furthermore, he does not want to risk his good reputation and he admits that by facing Salem to stop his wife from hanging he will have ‘rung the doom of his good name.’ Proctor is not only confronting the community but is also sacrificing his comfortable reputation in the community in order to prevent the death of his wrongly accused friends and wife.

Introduction

The crucible is a play written in the McCarthyism era by Arthur Miller. McCarthyism was a movement in the nineteen-fifties led by Senator Joe McCarthy in search for communists in the government of the United States. A crucible as defined is a vessel whereby heating and melting of metal using high temperatures take place for sole purposes of casting.

Metaphorically, a crucible can also refer to an era in history where the society seems to be melted down and remolded into a new castby the forces of great cultural, social, and political changes. The same word has remarkable similarities with crucifixion, which is the major intention of Miller by choosing it to be the title of his play.

The plays interweaves Christ’s crucifixion with the picture of a bubbling crucible in it a man and a society: the predicament of arriving to the right choice of morality and the inevitability of attaining redemption through sacrifice. These two themes, certainly, occur in the amplified struggle between good and evil.

The crucible puts to lime light countless enduring issue that affects our society at large. These issues include honor and integrity, power issues and its abounding corruption, the characteristics of excellence and wickedness, and the likelihood to evade all sorts of problems by creation of scapegoats. This paper aims at showing how the crucible exposes the above named issues in a dramatic fashion.

What issues are being adressed

The issues of honor and integrity are depicted very well in the Crucible. Conscience is an inward sense of decency which propels most people towards what we term as being right(Miller 1). Nevertheless, in moment of public discord, we end up give our consciousness the rear seat which is naturally expected of us.

For one to stand up for the right thing even in the most challenging opposition, it asks for a strong will of conscience(Miller 2). Although taking such an action is perceived as noble and honorable in retrospection, it is rarely received well by the majority in real and actual events. Miller handles the issue of integrity and honor by bring the character of proctor.

How the issues are handled

The reason as to why proctor was hanged, it was because he chose to uphold his integrity at the end. If proctor had chosen to compromise his integrity by confessing thus lying, he would not have been blamed by the audience. Proctor realized that by compromising he would betray his close friends therefore he chose to sacrifice his life for his conscience.

By following his conscience, and sacrificing his life, proctor became a real martyr before the audience eyes (Miller 3). This trend repeats itself even in our day to day life. We are very quick at applauding those who chose to uphold their integrity but we do not have enough strength of moral fiber to do so. The death of proctor turns out to be a moral exclamation point, and the modern audiences would be affected profoundly(Archer 5).

A large part of the play is dominated by the issues of power. Domineering criminals in the play have power possession and this prompt Miller to sound a warning on the corrupting qualities behind power. This is depicted clearly when Abigail and the other group of girls after realizing that they posses great power, they seek to use it for their own benefits.

Danforth possessesthe greatest power in the play, and he had the capacity to declare the proceedings at any one given time for the irrationality they were in (Archer 7). However, even at the final point when his actions were plainly and clearly not upright he preferred to proceed with his judgment.

The crucible playdisplayed how excess power is harmful and dangerous, since the temptation is ready waiting to be abused. The individuals in power in Salem, when scrutinized under theocratic government justification are found to absolutely abuse power, and in process destroying innocent people. This gives a clear illustration of how the law is not always correct, and if that is the case, we are supposed to stand up to it(Bly 2).

Proctor did exactly that by challenging the court. Power does not usually land on the principled or the prudent, but rather in the control of self centered individuals. Today In our very democratic governments, the authorities are responsible to the entire society for the things they decide to do, and therefore, are under control to a given degree. From the play, we can see clearly that a position assuming excess power and having no oneto be responsible to tends to be corrupted by that power.

It has always been noted that,numerous societies come up with some sort of scapegoat for any atrocity that they face. At that particular time,Salem was notan exception (Bly 5).

At that period, the population was becoming uncomfortable with the extreme measures taken by the government to ascertain that they never deviated, and this caused general crisis. Danforth desire to control this crisis could have led him to execute the condemned ‘witches’ to a point far beyond any comprehension of therational mind would know that the actions were not right(Miller 2).

Danforth might have desired to show the population how rebels like Proctor were punished and the execution through hangings could have acted as warning to anyone planning to carry out a social upheaval. As a matter of fact, the devil has always served as a very easy scapegoat. Thebehavior to always find a scapegoats goes on even today, and there is always someone who takes the blame on our behalf.

Conclusion

Much had to be offered to the audience by the play Crucible in 1996. The issues addressed by the play are very much similar to the issues facing our modern world. There is much the modern audience canidentify with the issue of corruption and power, integrity and honor,the issue of rule governing the society and the methods used to condemn those people who deviate from the rulestogether with our burning desires to blame others by creating a scapegoat.

Important issues to the Americans were addressed by the Crucible. The crucible exposed what the world in general is facing in real sense, people in power are manipulating powers bestowed on them to control other people and impose ideologies which are not sensible. Hunger for power and control have led to people committing crimes against humanity.

Also, the inability of people to withhold their integrity has caused innocent people to suffer in the place of those guilty for committing an atrocity. People in power hide under the shadow of authority to oppress the weak and vulnerable. The crucible has played a very important role in addressing what is actually happening in the world.

Works Cited

Archer. The Crucible: Theme. Web.

Bly, William.Arthur Miller’s The Crucible. USA: Barron’s Educational Series, 1984.

Bradford, Wade. The Crucible – A Challenging Masterpiece. 2011. Web.

Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. A&C Black, 2010.