No one will listen to Tituba until she agrees to confirm the version of events that the people in traditional positions of authority have already decided is true, a pattern which continues throughout the play. First off, what is irony? Nowhere is there any consideration of ulterior motives. The Devil is precise.'' In the final events of Act 4, John Proctor has a tough choice to make between losing his dignity and losing his life. Lying- Explain why the girls are more willing to lie . Hypocrisy: A Human Flaw In the play The Crucible, Arthur Miller repeatedly portrays that duplicity and deceit are a natural part of human lives. We saw that Arthur Miller used the Puritans in The Crucible to explore the themes, or main ideas of a text, in order to make the statement that society can be hypocritical and that we should question intentions. Hale pg. 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. Abigails many deceptions are sometimes laughably ironic as she chastises others for lying even as she is spinning falsehoods. How is Parris fate in act 4 ironic when considering his role in the events of the play? I feel like its a lifeline. 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 Parris' concerns about his reputation are immediately evident in Act 1. Abigails low status and perceived innocence under normal circumstances allow her to claim even greater power in her current situation. Abigail accuses Tituba first because Tituba is the one person below her on the ladder of power, so she makes an easy scapegoat. Why is Giles Cory expelled from court? In this act, we learn more details about the accused that paint a clearer picture of the influence of reputation and social standing on the patterns of accusations. How is Millers underlying message revealed in one of these themes and through the character?". The fact that he forgets only this commandment shows that he is trying extremely hard to repress his guilt. The depths of the hysteria that has gripped Salem are revealed in Act 3 when John finally confronts the court. This causes problems down the line as Parris allows his paranoia about losing his position to translate into enthusiasm for the witch hunt. One flaw that can always be found in society and the Crucible is hypocrisy. Miller explains this further: ''long-held hatreds of neighbors could now be openly expressed, and vengeance taken, despite the Bible's charitable injunctions.'' Abigail insists that she did nothing to deserve it and tries to put all the blame on Elizabeth Proctor. Download it for free now: hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(360031, '688715d6-bf92-47d7-8526-4c53d1f5fe7d', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(360031, '03a85984-6dfd-4a19-93c8-5f46091f5e2b', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); Samantha is a blog content writer for PrepScholar. How does Parris pride prevent him from doing anything to stop the progression of events in the play? The overall message is that. Through Abigail Williams, Miller was trying to state the injustice in Salem because she targeted the innocent people, leading to their death. 118). Danforth, Hathorne, and Parris become even more rigid in their views when they feel they are under attack. Danforth is the governor of Massachusetts who thinks of himself as a fair man. Miller wrote it as an allegory to the Red Scare, the promotion of fear of a potential rise of communism. South Plantation High School, one of the only schools to offer a program for the deaf, cast tradition aside to create a rendition of The Crucible that is truly one of a kind. He says, I would to God it were not so, Excellency, but these people have great weight yet in the town (pg. By Act 2, there have been notable changes in the power structure in Salem as a result of the ongoing trials. Abigail's version of events is held to be true even after John confesses to their affair in a final effort to discredit her. Mary is a hypocrite, because she's supposed to be helping the church rid of conjurers of the devil but instead she is deceitful. Lust and pride were John Proctors tragic flaws, lust is of course, one out of the seven sins. A real example of irony would be if two married guests got into a fight about going to your wedding that ended in their divorce. Proctors good reputation is almost a burden for him at this point because he knows that he doesnt deserve it. When she cant get John to abandon Elizabeth for her, she decides to take matters into her own hands and gain control through manipulating the fears of others. 22). Why is Cory arrested? hbspt.cta.load(360031, '4efd5fbd-40d7-4b12-8674-6c4f312edd05', {}); Have any questions about this article or other topics? He is appalled by Elizabeths lack of emotion when he asks her to help the court get a confession out of her husband (pg. 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. An example would be something like: "How are themes like hysteria, hunger for power, reputation, or any of a number of others functional in the drama? The Crucible remains a staple of high school English because it is rich in themes that are consistently relevant to human beings regardless of time period. Thomas Putnam claims to be a holy, church-going man, yet his priority in life is to acquire land. Many of the conflicts that occurred in the play were caused by Abigail Williams. 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. Will you confess yourself with him? (pg. flashcard sets. Always include specific details, including direct quotes, to support your argument about how the theme is expressed in the play. What is the writer attempting to convey to the viewer? What the people of Salem have seen as demonic possessions of the girls is nothing more than an act of deception. Many villagers, especially Abigail . 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. There are several ironies in Act 1 that center around Abigail Williams. She believed she had seen spirits earlier because she was caught up in the delusions of those around her. She openly threatens Danforth for even entertaining Mary and John's accusations of fraud against her. Get the latest articles and test prep tips! John and Rebeccas solid reputations lead to pushback against their executions even though people were too scared to stand up for them in the midst of the trials. The thematic significance of hysteria builds quickly as accusations of witchcraft proliferate throughout Salem. The power of collective hysteria ultimately becomes insurmountable because it grows larger than the influence of the few rational voices in the community. This hysteria-based evidence of witchcraft includes the discovery of the poppet in the Proctor household with a needle in it. makes them feel the best about themselves. 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. Abigail, the one character who breaks from this mold slightly, is portrayed extremely unsympathetically despite the fact that the power dynamic between her and John makes him far more culpable in their illicit relationship. To illustrate this, he simultaneously shows the Puritan belief system while describing characters that do not obey that system, yet pretend to in their daily lives. As said in the documents I read, the theme is "the fundamental and often universal idea of a literary artwork". In this act, we learn more details about the accused that paint a clearer picture of the influence of reputation and social standing on the patterns of accusations. The authorities ignore any inconvenient logical objections to the proceedings because they, too, are swept up in the madness. Mary Warren exemplifies hypocrisy extraordinarily well in the scene when she and Proctor travel to the courthouse so she can confess that the girls have pretended everything and they never actually saw spirits. 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. 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. What motivates their attitudes and responses toward the witch trials? The price he has to pay in reputation to save his own life is ultimately too high. 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. Hypocrisy is not simply failing to practice those virtues that one preaches, or known as saying one thing but doing another. Tituba is forced to accept her role as a pawn for those with greater authority and a stepping stone for Abigails ascent to power. If Danforth accepts Marys testimony, it would mean that he wrongly convicted numerous people already. I have given you my soul; leave me my name! (pg. Hale is convinced that a scientific inquiry based only on facts and reality can be conducted to detect a supernatural presence. This well-intentioned mistake seals both of their fates. The College Entrance Examination BoardTM does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content of this site. 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. These attributes are seen in both character, John Proctor from Arthur Millers play, The Crucible, set in Salem in the early seventeenth century and in Atticus Finch from Harper Lees novel, To Kill a Mockingbird set in New York in 1950. Anns extreme conclusions are gradually accepted because rational people are too afraid to challenge the consensus and risk bringing accusations upon themselves. Because, the people of Salem will find out about the affair, this would weaken his reputation. 129)He is still convinced that all the prisoners are guilty and is determined to force them to admit their guilt. While I speak Gods law, I will not crack its voice with whimpering (pg. Mary Warrens sense of self-importance has increased as a result of the perceived value of her participation in court. 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. The desire to preserve and gain power pervadesThe Crucible as the witch trials lead to dramatic changes in which characters hold the greatest control over the course of events. Arthur Miller used this notion of hypocrisy when he wrote The Crucible to show us the theme, or underlying message, that a hypocritical society can be dangerous. In another section, Miller explains the teachings of the Puritans and how it related to the mess that the trials became: ''These people had no ritual for the washing away of sins. Miller himself was blacklisted for refusing to testify in front of the HUAC, a committee that was created to investigate any person who might be a communist. There is a culture of keeping up appearances already in place, which makes it natural for people to lie about witnessing their neighbors partaking in Satanic rituals when the opportunity arises (especially if it means insulating themselves from similar accusations and even achieving personal gain). Abigail, in particular, has quickly risen from a nobody to one of the most influential people in Salem. Is there any character besides John Proctor that represents the voice of common sense amidst the madness? She is clearly outspoken and dominant, but her initial position in society is one of very little influence and authority. This confess or die mindset is one of the central ironies of the play. In the case of a play like The Crucible, themes are revealed mainly through the dialogue of the characters. " jesus christThe simple answer is of course, yes! For example, Bridget Bishop dressed in red, a color that was abhorrent in the Puritan eyes. When Abigail accuses Elizabeth, a respected farmers wife, it shows that she is willing to take big risks to remove Elizabeth from the picture. Danforth has extensive pride in his intelligence and perceptiveness. The Crucible is not only a dramatization of . He is known for making the right decisions and never going against them. Thomas Putnam tells him to Wait for no one to charge you - declare it yourself.. This new power is exciting and very dangerous because it encourages the girls to make additional accusations in order to preserve their value in the eyes of the court. The madness begins in earnest with Abigails claim that Tituba and Ruth were conjuring spirits in the woods. The prisoners have lost all faith in earthly authority figures and look towards the judgment of God. Abigail distracts the judges from any rational investigation in this act by playing into this hysteria. Essay prompts will ask about these themes in a variety of different ways. Diehard fan of The Wire. Support me by becoming a Medium member: https://bit.ly/39Cybb8. Reverend Parris, the paranoid widower and heaven-ordained minister of the town of Salem, was, simply put, a hypocrite. Abigails many deceptions are sometimes laughably ironic as she chastises others for lying even as she is spinning falsehoods. 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. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. He believes that Postponement now speaks a floundering on my part; reprieve or pardon must cast doubt upon the guilt of them that died till now. What Are The Human Flaws In The Crucible 1560 Words | 7 Pages. This quotation shows the overall theme that hypocrisy is bred from the fear and condemnation of a society. When he starts to realize he continues to avoid people from getting mad at him for putting innocent people in jail and killing them. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. Deception is a major driving force inThe Crucible. Goody Good, an old beggar woman, is one of the first to be named a witch. He says, I would to God it were not so, Excellency, but these people have great weight yet in the town (pg. Salem is under attack from the hysteria that is encouraged by the same people who seek to keep imaginary supernatural demons at bay. To Danforth, anything that doesnt confirm that he was right all along is a lie. The hysterical atmosphere and the dramatic performances of some of the accusers cause people to believe they have seen genuine proof of witchcraft. 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. Recall that hypocrisy is when someone's actions don't match up with the professed values. Through this statement he clearly demonstrates his belief that lying will send a person to Hell. His guilt leads to great tension in interactions with Elizabeth because he projects his feelings onto her, accusing her of being judgmental and dwelling on his mistakes. The fear caused by the thought of supernatural evil in Salem causes the characters in the play to turn a blind eye to logic and instead believe in claims not backed by actual "hard as rock" proof. Instead of living a simple life and managing his duties in the town, he is always complaining that he either does not have enough material items or someone is attacking him, all thoughts that a priest should not be concerning himself with. John tells the judge to summon Elizabeth to back him up because he knows she always tells the truth. 123). He believes there is a group of people in town determined to remove him from this position, and. Giles Cory was expelled from court because he would not list people who signed the document about Putnam wanting to take land. They use children's stories as evidence though not respecting them otherwise. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? This immaculate proof that has led him to sign numerous death warrants is nothing but the fabrications of teenage girls and other townspeople seeking petty revenge. It's one thing to understand the major themes in The Crucible, and it's another thing completely to write about them yourself. Miller addresses a similar hysteria throughout his play. This new power is exciting and very dangerous because. What makes Danforth so unwilling to consider that the girls could be pretending? Abigail, on the other hand, faces an uphill battle towards more power over her situation. Essay questions that ask about themes in this straightforward way can be tricky because there's a temptation to speak in vague terms about the theme's significance. Great, character-driven stories often have deeply flawed characters at their heart. The court's attempts to preserve Puritan morality by arresting and executing accused witches ironically lead to the removal of the most virtuous people from society. By Act 4, many of the power structures that were firmly in place earlier in the play have disintegrated. By examining the characters of the play, I believe that the three major characters who should be blamed the most for the witch trials are Abigail Williams. While touting his holy credentials, he claims that he dare not take a life without there be a proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of my conscience may doubt it (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.