The Bible that the Puritans swore to live by is not being honored when they used the trials to condemn their neighbors to death. He claims that they must not jump to conclusions based on superstition in their investigation of Bettys affliction. Hypocrisy is not simply failing to practice those virtues that one preaches, or known as saying one thing but doing another. The Crucible by Arthur Miller is a play about the Salem witch trials. 67). Both Hale and Proctor don't want to live with the consequences of their mistakes, so they try to ignore or undo their past actions. Flaws in Human Reasoning Create a Tragic Figure One tragedy is a result of numerous conflicts and wrongdoings. Elizabeth notes that Mary's demeanor is now like that of the daughter of a prince (pg. . John has already confessed that the affair was the reason for Abigails dismissal. This causes problems down the line as Parris allows his paranoia about losing his position to translate into enthusiasm for the witch hunt. Abigail is told by John to move on but instead, Abigail starts accusing the townspeople of witchcraft, including John Proctors wife Elizabeth. Thus demonstrating how mob mentality can impact an individual and ultimately drive the action of the play. In this environment, whoever yells the loudest seems to get the most credibility. hypocrisy is a flaw in human character that can be avoided if chosen to be. Because, the people of Salem will find out about the affair, this would weaken his reputation. 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. 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. Hales involvement is taken to mean that there must be a supernatural element to Bettys illness. Judge Danforth a well respected man in the society that has the supreme rule over the court. The judges cannot force her to commit herself to a lie, and her martyrdom severely damages their legitimacy and favor amongst the townspeople. This act also sees the irony of Hale discussing the powers of the dark that are attacking Salem (pg. The Devil has returned putting children under his control is what many people believed in Salem village in 1962. Parris is extremely dismayed by this revelation because of the damage it will do to his reputation. The madness begins in earnest with Abigails claim that Tituba and Ruth were conjuring spirits in the woods. This is irony of the same type that I discussed in the overview of this theme. One theory of the cause of the trials is that people used the trials as a way to gain land. 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. The ruthlessness with which the suspected witches are treated is aimed at purifying Salem, but it achieves the opposite outcome. These two institutions fuse together in The Crucible to actively encourage accusers and discourage rational explanations of events. 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 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. As mentioned in the overview, religion holds significant power over the people of Salem. John Proctor, Elizabeth Proctor, Reverend Hale, Reverend Paris, and Abigail are the main characters. 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. Demosthenes made fun of Aeschines, a famous Greek politician who was also an actor, basically . The irony is that, in the face of Johns rejection, Abigail turns around and creates her own lies soon after that give her increased control over the society she resents. Hypocrisy involves the deception of others and is thus a kind of lie. She is enraged when Parris questions her suspicious dismissal from the Proctor household. All rights reserved. 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. Proctors strengths consist of, honesty and pride. Parris is extremely dismayed by this revelation because of the damage it will do to his reputation. 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. One single example is ; Corporate and political greed and desire for power is the reason for most of the suffering as claimed by many. Tituba is pressured to confess and name the names of other witches to avoid execution, which leads to Abigail and Bettys accusations, now validated by a coerced confession. Rebecca Nurse's accusation further demonstrates the hypocrisy in the play. Danforth also becomes frustrated with Proctor when he wont name names in his confession: Mr. 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. 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). This confess or die mindset is one of the central ironies of the play. Miller accomplishes this through almost, if not every character in the story. Though a character can have significant moral flaws, they can be wise enough to recognize their flaws and change their ways. A Comprehensive Guide. Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here: PrepScholar 2013-2018. Ask questions; get answers. This is a decision with dire consequences in a town where reputation is so important, a fact that contributes to the misunderstanding that follows. 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. The town suspected her of lewd dealings, so she was put to death for it. Abigail Williams was the main accuser of withes in Salem, and in her accusations she gained power in the town. He chooses to die instead of providing a false confession because he doesnt think life will be worth living after he is so disgraced. In reality, he is constantly judging himself, and this leads to outbursts of anger against others who remind him of what he did (he already feels guilty enough!). 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. The judges cannot force her to commit herself to a lie, and her martyrdom severely damages their legitimacy and favor amongst the townspeople. The cause of the hysteria was caused by Reverend Hale, Abigail Williams and Judge Danforth. 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. 133). Reverend Parris, the paranoid widower and heaven-ordained minister of the town of Salem, was, simply put, a hypocrite. Abigail possesses a two- pronged approach in her motivation. The town slips further and further into chaos and paranoia until it reaches a point of total devastation. Goody Good, an old beggar woman, is one of the first to be named a witch. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, the setting is Salem, Massachusetts during the late 1600s where the towns pious Puritan beliefs directly influence their government. Lying- Explain why the girls are more willing to lie . mariana enriquez biography is hypocrisy a natural human flaw the crucible. 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. Explain the irony of Hales position at the end of the play as compared to his actions at the beginning. Before I get into the nitty-gritty of howThe Cruciblethemes are expressed, let's do a quick overview of what themes are and why they matter. Danforth also acts out of concern for his reputations here. The prisoners have lost all faith in earthly authority figures and look towards the judgment of God. In telling people they must confess to their crimes or be hanged, the officials show that they have already decided the person is guilty no matter what evidence is provided in their defense. To Danforth, anything that doesnt confirm that he was right all along is a lie. This vicious cycle continues to claim the lives of more and more people as the play progresses. Abigail, in particular, has quickly risen from a nobody to one of the most influential people in Salem. 129). Well, it's not. 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. Arthur Millers portrayal of a town in the midst of a downfall The Crucible, tells the story of how mob mentality and hysteria can significantly influence not only individuals but the whole town. In this act, she yells Dont lie! at Tituba immediately before she tells some of the most damning lies of the play accusing Tituba of witchcraft (She comes to me while I sleep; shes always making me dream corruptions! pg. In high school, she earned a 2400 on the SAT, 5's on all seven of her AP tests, and was named a National Merit Scholar. He is weak and vulnerable after Abigail's theft of his life's savings, and hes even facing death threats from the townspeople as a result of John and Rebecca's imminent executions. Tituba is forced to accept her role as a pawn for those with greater authority and a stepping stone for Abigails ascent to power. I have given you my soul; leave me my name! (pg. No one thinks a teenage orphan girl is capable of such extensive deception (or delusion), so she is consistently trusted. Goody Proctor is a gossiping liar!" 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. A constant theme through out the play is your personal reputation, maintaining a good name. Though hysteria overpowered the reputations of the accused in the past two acts, in act 4 the sticking power of their original reputations becomes apparent. A professor tells us that he has a strict rule about cell phones in the classroom, then he answers it midway through his own lecture. By the end of class, you should be able to: Identify basic elements of McCarthyism, including the following terms: Elizabeth's side of the story is disregarded because Abigails testimony is far more dramatic. John Proctor surrenders his agency at the end of Act 3 in despair at the determination of the court to pursue the accusations of witchcraft and ignore all evidence of their falsehood. Samantha is also passionate about art and graduated with honors from Dartmouth College as a Studio Art major in 2014. Historical Context. Arthur Miller's "The Crucible" is a fictional account of the real life Salem witch trials, but the play has far deeper meanings than just a dramatic interpretation of the event. Many of the conflicts that occurred in the play were caused by Abigail Williams. If Tituba was permitted to explain what really happened, the ensuing tragedy might have been prevented. Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com, allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. Mary Warrens sense of self-importance has increased as a result of the perceived value of her participation in court. Every person has some kind of flaw; no one is completely perfect. Though Rebecca Nurse's involvement has already been corroborated by other confessors, Danforth demands to hear it from John to confirm that John is fully committed to renouncing his supposed ties to Satan. Then, on the other end of the spectrum, we have Rebecca Nurse. AbracaDENIAL! Though Rebecca Nurse's involvement has already been corroborated by other confessors, Danforth demands to hear it from John to confirm that John is fully committed to renouncing his supposed ties to Satan. Both flaws led him to delay telling the truth about Abigail's fraudulent claims and their previous relationship, thus dooming himself and many others to death or imprisonment. He is completely oblivious to the fact that the victims might be lying. He is appalled by Elizabeths lack of emotion when he asks her to help the court get a confession out of her husband (pg. Why do certain characters seem to be blind to the irony of their actions (Abigail, Danforth)? 68 lessons 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 Puritans believed that children were to be seen and not heard. Her goal is to help students adopt a less stressful view of standardized testing and other academic challenges through her articles. Character Flaw List: 30 Intriguing Character Flaws | Now Novel 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. officials (like Danforth) unable or unwilling to listen to 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. Armed with the false proof of these coerced confessions, the court officials aggressively persecute anyone who is accused. 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. I highly recommend you use this site! Here are a few discussion questions to consider after you've read my summary of how the theme of reputation motivates characters and plot developments in The Crucible: If you're an old beggar woman who sometimes takes shelter in this creepy shack, you better believe these jerks are gonna turn on you as soon as anyone says the word "witch.". 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. In the book the Crucible there are many hypocrites some dishonest some just following any one to be guilty, but one of the many character is Judge Danforth he mocks Marry when he ask "How were you instructed in your life? 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 authorities ignore any inconvenient logical objections to the proceedings because they, too, are swept up in the madness. John tells the judge to summon Elizabeth to back him up because he knows she always tells the truth. One path to higher standing and greater control would be in becoming John Proctors wife. As said in the documents I read, the theme is "the fundamental and often universal idea of a literary artwork". Hypocrisy relates to The Crucible in that both Reverend Parris and Mr. Putnam are incredibly hypocritical characters. The Devil is precise.'' At first, Mary is being honest by admitting that Elizabeth . 12) The first act of The Crucibleclearly establishes the fact that a bad reputation can damage a persons position in this society severely and irreparably. She puts on a fake front to get what she wants, ultimately creating a persona thats even worse than that of the hypocrites she criticizes. The Crucible's themes have lent the play artistic longevity because they're more or less universal to the human experience across time. 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. He insists,I am not empowered to trade your life for a lie (pg. 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. This is ironic becausesearching for "the Devil's marks" as the potential cause of an ailment is inherently superstitious. In a way,John welcomes the loss of his reputation because he feels so guilty about the disconnect between howhe is perceived by others and the sins he has committed. The evolution of his character is due to vairous . In Act 2, John Proctors guilt over his affair with Abigail is demonstrated through an ironic exchange with Reverend Hale. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. Reverend Hale, Abigail Williams and Judge Danforth. Reverend Parris has fallen from his position of authority as a result of the outcomes of the trials. One path to higher standing and greater control would be in becoming John Proctors wife. In her conversation with John, Abigail claims that he helped her realize all the lies she was told by two-faced people in Salem who only publicly adhere to the conventions of respectable society (pg.