I chose . Hypocrisy: A Human Flaw In the play The Crucible, Arthur Miller repeatedly portrays that duplicity and deceit are a natural part of human lives. In the case of a play like The Crucible, themes are revealed mainly through the dialogue of the characters. These types of statements made by Hale earlier in the play become even more ironic in Act 4 when he realizes he made a horrible mistake by trusting the evidence that was presented to him. 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. It is used to draw away from a person's counterargument through addressing something unrelated. Her goal is to help students adopt a less stressful view of standardized testing and other academic challenges through her articles. 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. Abigail insists that she did nothing to deserve it and tries to put all the blame on Elizabeth Proctor. Why is Giles Cory expelled from court? Nowhere is there any consideration of ulterior motives. The evidence used in the Salem Witch Trials further demonstrates the hypocrisy in the Puritan times. The seeds are planted in Act 1, when Abigail is questioned about her activities in the woods and ends up accusing Tituba of witchcraft to avoid punishment. Hereferences the many sentencing decisions he has already made in the trials of the accused. 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. For example, proctor waits till the very last minute to reveal Abigail is lying. Thomas Putnam tells him to Wait for no one to charge you - declare it yourself.Parris must rush to be the first accuser so he can place himself beyond reproach. A Comprehensive Guide. The Crucible by Arthur Miller. How do the witch trials empower individuals who were previously powerless? 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. 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). 123). This is a decision with dire consequences in a town where reputation is so important, a fact that contributes to the misunderstanding that follows. They say not to use superstition when dealing with the Devil, who is in fact a superstition used to cover up the sinful dealings of the people. Danforth and Mary Warren both embody hypocrisy, as seen when Mary says she cannot lie anymore and then lies when she becomes scared for her life, and Danforth when saying lying will send a person to Hell, but then forcing people to choose between lying and death. Abigail's strength in Act I is the strength that is within her ability to influence others. The town slips further and further into chaos and paranoia until it reaches a point of total devastation. 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. In Act 2, John Proctors guilt over his affair with Abigail is demonstrated through an ironic exchange with Reverend Hale. John Proctor sabotages his own reputation in Act 3 after realizing it's the only way he can discredit Abigail. Tituba, the slave of Reverend Parris, is the first to admit to dancing with the devil. 129)He is still convinced that all the prisoners are guilty and is determined to force them to admit their guilt. They use children's stories as evidence though not respecting them otherwise. 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. 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. The second major theme in The Crucible (and one that teachers often ask about) is fear and hysteria. These connections will bolster your responses by positioning them in relation to the most important concepts discussed throughout the play. 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!). Revered Parris claims to be a godly minister, yet he is always clamoring for more: golden candlesticks, property rights, more money. It is not just, (Miller 129). I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. The power of collective hysteria ultimately becomes insurmountable because it grows larger than the influence of the few rational voices in the community. Danforths image is extremely valuable to him, and he refuses to allow Parris concerns to disrupt his belief in the validity of his decisions. Once the accusations begin, Parris initiates an ironic thought process that persists throughout The Crucible: You will confess yourself or I will take you out and whip you to your death, Tituba! (pg. The town, already primed with rumors of black magic, is quickly willing to accept that the first few women who are accused are involved in black magic because theyre beggars and slaves. hbspt.cta.load(360031, '4efd5fbd-40d7-4b12-8674-6c4f312edd05', {}); Have any questions about this article or other topics? Most Important Themes in The Crucible, Analyzed. 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. Innocent and guilty people have been put to death underneath his Judgement, to him this demonstrates his superiority and power. Danforth explains his inability to free the accused people because, twelve are already hanged for the same crime. 6). People could not take another's land unless it was left to them in a will; however, if someone were to be executed for a crime, that land belonged to the state and could be re-distributed. . To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. The Devil is really a superstition hiding the townspeople, who are ''precise'' in their accusations because they want land from others. In reality, true irony only happens when a situation is the exact opposite of what you would expect. This causes problems down the line as Parris allows his paranoia about losing his position to translate into enthusiasm for the witch hunt. 50). Proctors good reputation is almost a burden for him at this point because he knows that he doesnt deserve it. The Crucible is a tragedy play written by Arthur Miller. 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. Fear plays an immense role in the way people make their decisions, such as when the characters of Danforth and Mary Warren . Mary Warrens sense of self-importance has increased as a result of the perceived value of her participation in court. Upon arriving in the court Mary Warren says, I cannot lie no more. Parris begs Danforth to postpone their hangings because he fears for his life if the executions proceed as planned. Hale tries to combat his guilt by persuading the prisoners to confess, refusing to accept that the damage has already been done. The ruthlessness with which the suspected witches are treated is aimed at purifying Salem, but it achieves the opposite outcome. One flaw that can always be found in society and the Crucible is hypocrisy. 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. 133). Tituba attempts to tell the truth about Abigail when she says, You beg me to conjure! John Proctor sabotages his own reputation in Act 3 after realizing it's the only way he can discredit Abigail. As John gives his confession, Danforth says to Rebecca Nurse Now, woman, you surely see it profit nothin to keep this conspiracy any further. Along with the final say in the putting to death of people during the Salem witch trials. There are many characters in the Crucible who are guilty of taking innocent lives, but there are three major characters who, without a doubt, are the most at blame. builds quickly as accusations of witchcraft proliferate throughout Salem. In Act 3, Abigails power in the courthouse is on display. 44) but realizes that her word against Abigail will not stand. This is also the commandment that he has violated most explicitly, so youd think it would be the first one to spring to mind. He appears to have no governing system of morality. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. In Act 2, the value of reputation in Salem starts to butt heads with the power of hysteria and fear to sway peoples opinions (and vengeance to dictate their actions). He is appalled by Elizabeths lack of emotion when he asks her to help the court get a confession out of her husband (pg. Nowhere is there any consideration of ulterior motives. Each new false confession is thrown onto the pile of evidence of a grand Satanic plot, and as the pile grows larger, the hysteria surrounding it is fed generously. She is cast as a villain. Thomas Putnam claims to be a holy, church-going man, yet his priority in life is to acquire land. Sure, you don't expect or want rain, but it's not the polar opposite of getting married. 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. I highly recommend you use this site! Answer (1 of 7): In that all states of mind occur due to the nature of the brain, yes, hypocrisy is natural in people with that tendency. Themes tell us what the purpose of the work is. flashcard sets. An error occurred trying to load this video. 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. 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. One path to higher standing and greater control would be in becoming John Proctors wife. Believer, Baltimore City IEP Chair, and 2:39 marathon runner. This shows us how one person who starts. mariana enriquez biography is hypocrisy a natural human flaw the crucible. Because, the people of Salem will find out about the affair, this would weaken his reputation. Diehard fan of The Wire. Support me by becoming a Medium member: https://bit.ly/39Cybb8. Her jealousy of Elizabeth Proctors position as Johns wife has led her to attempted murder, first by the charm in the woods and now by accusing Elizabeth of witchcraft. Abigail accuses Tituba first because Tituba is the one person below her on the ladder of power, so she makes an easy scapegoat. Lying- Explain why the girls are more willing to lie . The Bible that the Puritans swore to live by is not being honored when they used the trials to condemn their neighbors to death. Hale is convinced that a scientific inquiry based only on facts and reality can be conducted to detect a supernatural presence. The Devil is precise.'' How does this philosophy perpetuate hysteria? Samantha is also passionate about art and graduated with honors from Dartmouth College as a Studio Art major in 2014. No one thinks a teenage orphan girl is capable of such extensive deception (or delusion), so she is consistently trusted. 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? He's already accepted her testimony as evidence, so he is happy for any excuse to believe her over John and Mary.John finally comes to the realization that Mary's truthful testimony cannot compete with the hysteria that has taken hold of the court. The fact that he forgets only this commandment shows that he is trying extremely hard to repress his guilt. Of course, we know that Danforth has been trading peoples lives for lies this whole time. The hypocrisy in this statement is almost funny. Armed with the false proof of these coerced confessions, the court officials aggressively persecute anyone who is accused. When she is brought in for questioning and claims to see Marys familiar spirit, she says Envy is a deadly sin, Mary.Abigail herself has acted out of envy for the entire play. Rebecca Nurse's accusation further demonstrates the hypocrisy in the play. People are quick to believe something even if there is no evidence for their fear. Miller accomplishes this through almost, if not every character in the story. 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. People who were accused of witchcraft are wrongfully indicted, and those transgressions must be justified. Miller fills us in on much of the history in breaks in the play where he offers commentary in his own voice. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 88,000 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. Elizabeth notes that Mary's demeanor is now like that of the daughter of a prince (pg. Being in contact with someone else means mediating between ourselves and the other. As mentioned in the overview, religion holds significant power over the people of Salem. Parris is very quick to position himself on the side of the accusers as soon as Abigail throws the first punch, and he immediately threatens violence on Tituba if she doesn't confess (pg. John feels incredibly ashamed of his affair with Abigail, so he tries to bury it and pretend it never happened. I have not seen a single politician who isnt a hypocrite. Get the latest articles and test prep tips! Elizabeth is defined by her relationship to John, and Mary is pushed around by other characters (mostly men) throughout the play. This is interesting because the children are the ones that the rest of the village relies upon to condemn people to death. As he says, How may I live without my name? Once there have been enough convictions, the reputations of the judges also become factors. Proctor's wife, Elizabeth, is accused of being a witch and Proctor has to make a moral decision . Then, on the other end of the spectrum, we have Rebecca Nurse. The prisoners have lost all faith in earthly authority figures and look towards the judgment of God. 121). Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? At the end this act, John Proctor delivers a short monologue anticipating the imminent loss of the disguises of propriety worn by himself and other members of the Salem community. In the final events of Act 4, John Proctor has a tough choice to make between losing his dignity and losing his life. Hales involvement is taken to mean that there must be a supernatural element to Bettys illness. What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For? In Act 1 he jumped on board with the hysteria to preserve his power, but he ended up losing what little authority he had in the first place (and, according to Miller's afterward, was voted out of office soon after the end of the play). Why does Mary Warren behave differently when she becomes involved in the trials? Deception is a major driving force inThe Crucible. Always include specific details, including direct quotes, to support your argument about how the theme is expressed in the play. The College Entrance Examination BoardTM does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content of this site. Miller accomplishes this through almost, if not every character in the story. Hypocrisy, actually, didn't have a bad meaning until hypocrisy met politics in the 4th century B.C. The price he has to pay in reputation to save his own life is ultimately too high. Okay, let's take a moment to review. Create your account, 7 chapters | No one even considers Mary's statement about sticking the needle in herself. 42). Throughout "The Crucible", Abigail Williams commits the largest act of hypocrisy. Reverend Hale, Abigail Williams and Judge Danforth. 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. Act 4 is Danforths turn to shine in the irony department. Throughout the play, Miller uses the Salem Witch trials as a catalyst for Proctor's crucial development. 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. This hysteria-based evidence of witchcraft includes the discovery of the poppet in the Proctor household with a needle in it. The town, already primed with rumors of black magic, is quickly willing to accept that the first few women who are accused are involved in black magic because theyre beggars and slaves. The Crucible presents a view of women that essentially reduces them to caricatures of human beings that are defined by their roles as mothers, wives, and servants to men. Hale doesnt realize that his own fears and suspicions are the real powers of the dark. 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. The turmoil in Salem is propelled forward by desires for revenge and power that have been simmering beneath the town's placid exterior. He is completely oblivious to the fact that the victims might be lying. The play loosely follows the tale of Salem and how the trials came to pass. Hypocrisy In Salem And The Crucible Proctor knows that unlike most of the other people who have gotten hanged, his is not completely innocent. Even with prompts that ask you to discuss a specific character or plot point, you can find ways to connect your answer to major themes. Parris is hypocritical because he is not a . There are numerous connections between the flaws of individual characters and the overarching themes of the play that could be brought into this discussion. John finally comes to the realization that Mary's truthful testimony cannot compete with the hysteria that has taken hold of the court. To Danforth, anything that doesnt confirm that he was right all along is a lie. Interestingly, she was the first woman put to death in the trials. 68 lessons I'll give a short summary of how each plays a role in the events of The Crucible. These three characters can be the most to blame for the cause of the spread and start of hysteria in Salem during the Witch Trials. This vicious cycle continues to claim the lives of more and more people as the play progresses. The accusers cannot present concrete evidences, and their wrongful convictions must be further scrutinized. 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. Abigail also shows concern for her reputation. He chooses to die instead of providing a false confession because he doesnt think life will be worth living after he is so disgraced. Furthermore, this is destructive influence because by telling Elizabeth to tell Proctor to lie, this adds upon his sins. 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. This lie essentially condemns both of them. She continues to act under the assumption that his reputation is of the utmost importance to him, and she does not reveal the affair. He chooses to die instead of providing a false confession because he doesnt think life will be worth living after he is so disgraced. How is Parris fate in act 4 ironic when considering his role in the events of the play? Giles got arrested for contempt. When Hale asks him to recite his commandments, the only one he forgets is adultery. People were put to death because their neighbors suspected them of committing a crime, but murder is a sin in the Puritan religion. Do you not know that God damns all liars? Giles Cory was expelled from court because he would not list people who signed the document about Putnam wanting to take land. Abigail William is hypocritical because she does not follow the rules of the Salem trials. Jennifer has taught high school English for eight years and has a master's degree in curriculum and assessment. The Crucible is set during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. She is enraged when Parris questions her suspicious dismissal from the Proctor household. Later in the play, she is accused. The book is about witchcraft or what the town thinks is witchcraft. In a case like this, you'd be writing directly about a specific theme in connection to one of the characters. The accused people of Salem are all innocent and have nothing to do with neither witchcraft nor convening with the devil. Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here: PrepScholar 2013-2018. . 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. Many of the conflicts that occurred in the play were caused by Abigail Williams. Envy, Selfishness, and lust for money/power demonstrate the flaws of humanity through the actions of Abigail Williams, Reverend Parris, and Thomas Putnam. Hypocrisy is just one of many personality traits along many spectrums. Danforth has extensive pride in his intelligence and perceptiveness. The Crucible by Arthur Miller, is a play based upon events that occurred in Salem circa 1690s. Concern for reputation is a theme that looms large over most of the events in The Crucible. As John gives his confession, Danforth says to Rebecca Nurse Now, woman, you surely see it profit nothin to keep this conspiracy any further. He says, I would to God it were not so, Excellency, but these people have great weight yet in the town (pg. As Abigail begins to be accused she is pressured to deter from the truth. Arthur Miller speaks of Reverend Parris, stating: ''until this strange crisis he, like the rest of Salem, never conceived that the children were anything but thankful for being permitted to walk straight, eyes slightly lowered, arms at the sides, and mouths shut until bidden to speak.''. This mob mentality leads to unthoughtful acts and false accusations. They so fear the devilish consequences of challenging the accusers that theyre willing to take them at their word and ignore any defenses the accused have to offer. Abigails presence is always rife with irony in The Crucible, as she constantly chastises others for sins she herself has committed. Miller depicts through characters such as these that humans cannot exist without the flaw of hypocrisy. He refers to Johns refusal to confess as a calamity, looking past his own involvement in the larger calamity of the conviction that led John to this point. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. Tituba is forced to accept her role as a pawn for those with greater authority and a stepping stone for Abigails ascent to power. When he starts to realize he continues to avoid people from getting mad at him for putting innocent people in jail and killing them. Many villagers, especially Abigail . 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 attended church regularly and was the embodiment of how a Puritan woman should behave. (pg. Hale pg. 22). These people are the only ones who refuse to throw out false accusations or lie about involvement in witchcraft, so they find themselves condemned (this is the fate of Rebecca Nurse). Fear that spread among a group of people in Salem during the Salem Witch Trials, that event in history is a prime example of Mass Hysteria. 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. He believes there is a group of people in town determined to remove him from this position, and. Recall that hypocrisy is when someone's actions don't match up with the professed values.
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