I feel like its a lifeline. She openly threatens Danforth for even entertaining Mary and John's accusations of fraud against her. 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. No one considers that the accusers are lying, partially because theyre seen as innocent children and partially because many witches confess to avoid the death penalty. 61). As said in the documents I read, the theme is "the fundamental and often universal idea of a literary artwork". Theme 3: Reputation. 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. 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. Concern for reputation is a theme that looms large over most of the events in The Crucible. Get the latest articles and test prep tips! mariana enriquez biography is hypocrisy a natural human flaw the crucible. 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. Demosthenes made fun of Aeschines, a famous Greek politician who was also an actor, basically . Nowhere is there any consideration of ulterior motives. Through Abigail Williams, Miller was trying to state the injustice in Salem because she targeted the innocent people, leading to their death. . Jennifer has taught high school English for eight years and has a master's degree in curriculum and assessment. There are two examples of Ad hominem from The Crucible in Act 2 and Act 3. John tells the judge to summon Elizabeth to back him up because he knows she always tells the truth. What the people of Salem have seen as demonic possessions of the girls is nothing more than an act of deception. In Salem the reason why so many women were killed was because of Mass Hysteria. 121). Throughout "The Crucible", Abigail Williams commits the largest act of hypocrisy. The court refuses to challenge anyone who claims to have been afflicted. The depths of the hysteria that has gripped Salem are revealed in Act 3 when John finally confronts the court. She also ran the local tavern. 41). 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. Do you not know that God damns all liars? It's one thing to understand the major themes in The Crucible, and it's another thing completely to write about them yourself. Get unlimited access to over 88,000 lessons. While I speak Gods law, I will not crack its voice with whimpering (pg. In Act 3, Abigails power in the courthouse is on display. This means that much of the population that remains is comprised of the power-hungry, the selfish, and the cowardly. 61). John feels incredibly ashamed of his affair with Abigail, so he tries to bury it and pretend it never happened. Where before she was just an orphaned teenager, now, in the midst of the trials, she becomes the main witness to the inner workings of a Satanic plot. The only power they have left is in refusing to confess and preserving their integrity. Here are a few questions related to this theme that you can use to test your grasp of irony and its significance as a theme in The Crucible: Hale wrongly assumes that his academic mindset will save him from jumping to the wrong conclusions in the witchcraft investigation. 133). This vicious cycle continues to claim the lives of more and more people as the play progresses. As the story progresses, Danforth and many other officials begin to realize that the entire situation in Salem progressed to far and honest people will continue to die unless they can convince people to lie in order to save themselves. 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. In The Crucible, there are many characters that feed into or contribute to the rapid spread of witch hysteria in the small village of Salem. The play is about human weakness, hypocrisy, and vindictiveness. Why is Cheever both astonished and afraid when he finds the poppet with the needle in it? The human lust and want for power has been and is the base of each and every witch-hunt. This is especially true with the reputation and hysteria themes. The other two main female characters, Elizabeth and Mary Warren, are somewhat bland. It is not just, (Miller 129). 41). Hypocrisy is shown between the characters: Abigail Williams, Reverend Parris, and Hale. Arthur Miller's 1953 play, ''The Crucible,'' features hypocrisy as a recurrent theme. Though the Puritans believed that children were not to be taken seriously, they are later convinced by the court officials that the children are the authorities on witchcraft. A character named Abigail lived with proctor and his wife and his two sons. 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. 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. Greed is a sin in the Puritan religion, so the people who supported the accusations were indeed hypocrites. 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. In The Crucible many examples of hypocrisy are shown. The fact that he forgets only this commandment shows that he is trying extremely hard to repress his guilt. People were put to death because their neighbors suspected them of committing a crime, but murder is a sin in the Puritan religion. Proctors strengths consist of, honesty and pride. 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. When he starts to realize he continues to avoid people from getting mad at him for putting innocent people in jail and killing them. Read this character flaw list (with examples) for inspiration and develop interesting character weaknesses: 1. 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. 42). 42). The hysterical atmosphere and the dramatic performances of some of the accusers cause people to believe they have seen genuine proof of witchcraft. Judge Danforth a well respected man in the society that has the supreme rule over the court. The overall message is that. This hysteria-based evidence of witchcraft includes the discovery of the poppet in the Proctor household with a needle in it. He chooses to die instead of providing a false confession because he doesnt think life will be worth living after he is so disgraced. Along with the final say in the putting to death of people during the Salem witch trials. 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. 91). In this environment, whoever yells the loudest seems to get the most credibility. 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. Here are some discussion questions to consider after reading about the thematic role of the concepts of power and authority in the events of the play: Mary Warren when she comes back from Salem in Act 2. Elizabeth notes that Mary's demeanor is now like that of the daughter of a prince (pg. No one thinks a teenage orphan girl is capable of such extensive deception (or delusion), so she is consistently trusted. The Devil has returned putting children under his control is what many people believed in Salem village in 1962. How do outside forces contribute to the character's flaws and eventual downfall?". He believes there is a group of people in town determined to remove him from this position, and he will say and do whatever it takes to retain control. 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. Tituba is forced to accept her role as a pawn for those with greater authority and a stepping stone for Abigails ascent to power. The life of such man is ruled by the desire to seek the truth and justice in all that surrounds him, including himself. Where before she was just an orphaned teenager, now, in the midst of the trials, she becomes the main witness to the inner workings of a Satanic plot. 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. Flaws in Human Reasoning Create a Tragic Figure One tragedy is a result of numerous conflicts and wrongdoings. To illustrate, here are some examples of . Reverend Hale, Abigail Williams and Judge Danforth. By Act 2, there have been notable changes in the power structure in Salem as a result of the ongoing trials. He is somewhat responsible for all of the witch trials; if he wouldn't of committed adultery with Abigail, she wouldn't have gone on her rampage of blaming people. These two institutions fuse together in The Crucible to actively encourage accusers and discourage rational explanations of events. 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. The power of collective hysteria ultimately becomes insurmountable because it grows larger than the influence of the few rational voices in the community. Why do certain characters seem to be blind to the irony of their actions (Abigail, Danforth)? Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. John Proctor sabotages his own reputation in Act 3 after realizing it's the only way he can discredit Abigail. 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. In the play The Crucible, Arthur Miller repeatedly portrays that duplicity and deceit are a natural part of human lives. How is the arrest of Rebecca Nurse a sign that the hysteria in Salem has gotten out of control? 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. The play loosely follows the tale of Salem and how the trials came to pass. This act also sees the irony of Hale discussing the powers of the dark that are attacking Salem (pg. The Salem villagers exhibit failings, including greed, vengeance, and fear, which eventually lead to the downfall of their town. Abigails many deceptions are sometimes laughably ironic as she chastises others for lying even as she is spinning falsehoods. Recall that hypocrisy is when someone's actions don't match up with the professed values. The Crucible by Arthur Miller, is a play based upon events that occurred in Salem circa 1690s. Through this statement he clearly demonstrates his belief that lying will send a person to Hell. 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. Sign language interpreters, though extremely helpful, do not allow deaf audience members to fully experience a show. How is Millers underlying message revealed in one of these themes and through the character?". 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). She is enraged when Parris questions her suspicious dismissal from the Proctor household. 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). When Hale asks him to recite his commandments, the only one he forgets is adultery. Hale truly believes that the accused have been marked by the Devil. They are extremely biased towards believing they have made the correct sentencing decisions in court thus far, so they are reluctant to accept new evidence that may prove them wrong. The Devil is precise.'' If Tituba was permitted to explain what really happened, the ensuing tragedy might have been prevented. Because, the people of Salem will find out about the affair, this would weaken his reputation. She continues to act under the assumption that his reputation is of the utmost importance to him, and she does not reveal the affair. An ad hominem means that it shifts the argument away from the issue to a personal attack on the person involved. One theory of the cause of the trials is that people used the trials as a way to gain land. She is clearly outspoken and dominant, but her initial position in society is one of very little influence and authority. is hypocrisy a natural human flaw the crucible is hypocrisy a natural human flaw the crucible. The Crucible, a short play dedicated to these events in Salem shows us how hysteria was such a leading cause of why the Witch Trials had even occurred. By Act 4, many of the power structures that were firmly in place earlier in the play have disintegrated. Hale tries to combat his guilt by persuading the prisoners to confess, refusing to accept that the damage has already been done. Abigails power skyrockets as the hysteria grows more severe. How does reputation influence who is first accused of witchcraft? Elizabeth is a victim of cruel irony in this Act when she is summoned to testify on the reasons why she dismissed Abigail from her household. Abigail, on the other hand, faces an uphill battle towards more power over her situation. He appears to have no governing system of morality. Abigail, in particular, has quickly risen from a nobody to one of the most influential people in Salem. Goody Good, an old beggar woman, is one of the first to be named a witch. Many people are under the impression that irony is just when something happens that you don't expect (or that you really hoped wouldn't happen). This is a lesson in how fear can twist perceptions of reality even for those who consider themselves reasonable under normal circumstances. I have given you my soul; leave me my name! (pg. Parris is extremely dismayed by this revelation because of the damage it will do to his reputation. 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. She beg me make charm (Miller, pg. Interestingly, she was the first woman put to death in the trials. By Act 4, many of the power structures that were firmly in place earlier in the play have disintegrated. He is appalled by Elizabeths lack of emotion when he asks her to help the court get a confession out of her husband (pg. Abigail, in particular, has quickly risen from a nobody to one of the most influential people in Salem. 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. Ann Putnam jumps at any opportunity to blame supernatural forces for the deaths of her children. Goody Good, an old beggar woman, is one of the first to be named a witch. Themes can be expressed in many different ways. Why does he decide to do so anyways? 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. 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. There are several ironies in Act 1 that center around Abigail Williams. Is reputation more important than truth? (Cheever pg. Goody Proctor is a gossiping liar!" Great, character-driven stories often have deeply flawed characters at their heart. Reverend Hale enters as a specialist from Boston who has seen the effects that witchcraft has had on others. What makes Danforth so unwilling to consider that the girls could be pretending? Many people are under the impression that irony is just when something happens that you don't expect (or that you really hoped wouldn't happen). As John gives his confession, Danforth says to Rebecca Nurse Now, woman, you surely see it profit nothin to keep this conspiracy any further. Well, it's not. Now that you've read about the most important themes in The Crucible, check out ourlist of every single character in the play, including brief analyses of their relationships and motivations. She comes to me while I sleep; shes always making me dream corruptions! pg. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. The importance placed on reputation helps perpetuate hysteria because it leads to inaction, inflexibility, and, in many cases, active sabotage of the reputations of others for selfish purposes. When this fallacy is used, the unrealistic characteristic is undesirable, causing the other person to look bad. This includes not only accusatory lies about the involvement of others in witchcraft but also the lies that people consistently tell about their own virtuousness and purity in such a repressive society. 118). By Act 2, there are nearly 40 people in jail accused of witchcraft. 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. 68 lessons This quotation shows the overall theme that hypocrisy is bred from the fear and condemnation of a society. 71). These are themes that could be considered subsets of the topics detailed in the previous sections, but there's also room to discuss them as topics in their own right. He wrote the play as an allegory of McCarthyism, when the US government discriminated communists. This is a lesson in how fear can twist perceptions of reality even for those who consider themselves reasonable under normal circumstances. 123). At first, Mary is being honest by admitting that Elizabeth . 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. Abigail William is hypocritical because she does not follow the rules of the Salem trials. What ACT target score should you be aiming for? He claims that they must not jump to conclusions based on superstition in their investigation of Bettys affliction. The Devil is really a superstition hiding the townspeople, who are ''precise'' in their accusations because they want land from others. The judges cannot force her to commit herself to a lie, and her martyrdom severely damages their legitimacy and favor amongst the townspeople. As mentioned in the overview, religion holds significant power over the people of Salem. First off, what is irony? The thematic significance of hysteria builds quickly as accusations of witchcraft proliferate throughout Salem. This lie essentially condemns both of them. 121). A man of conscience is one who is aware of his moral and ethical beliefs and judgments and one who will prefer right over wrong. Rebecca Nurse, a woman whose character was previously thought to be unimpeachable, is accused and arrested. Throughout the play, Miller uses the Salem Witch trials as a catalyst for Proctor's crucial development. 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. Hale doesnt realize that his own fears and suspicions are the real powers of the dark. 123). Here again, he is driving the point home that the villagers were greedy and seeking land, so they put some of the pillars of the community to death for their own gain. By Act 2, there have been notable changes in the power structure in Salem as a result of the ongoing trials. The play takes place in the city of Salem, a city filled with people that would do anything to keep their reputation clean. How does this philosophy perpetuate hysteria? "She sat to dinner in Reverend Parris's house tonight, and without word nor warnin' she falls to the floor. The hypocrisy in this statement is almost funny. builds quickly as accusations of witchcraft proliferate throughout Salem. For example, proctor waits till the very last minute to reveal Abigail is lying. 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. Explain the irony of Hales position at the end of the play as compared to his actions at the beginning. Throughout the play, Miller is introducing multiple characters that experience changes in their decisions and negatively influence more people eventually leading up to the witch trials. Concern for reputation is a theme that looms large over most of the events in The Crucible. Hale also contends with his guilt in act 4 for his role in condemning the accused witches, who he now believes are innocent. In fact, we've all seen hypocrisy in our daily lives. I highly recommend you use this site! 73), meaning the girls are testing out the extent of the chaos they can create with their newfound power. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 88,000 No one even considers Mary's statement about sticking the needle in herself. Why wont Danforth hear his evidence? Is there any character besides John Proctor that represents the voice of common sense amidst the madness? The idea that a witch's familiar spirit is capable of stabbing people is too scary for the superstitious and now hysterical people of Salem to give Elizabeth the benefit of the doubt. Hale is convinced that a scientific inquiry based only on facts and reality can be conducted to detect a supernatural presence. So, she decides to manipulate the situation by saying that the Devil has come to her and she has resisted his commands to kill Mr. Parris. But these themes aren't always easy to explain or dissect in the context of the play, and they can be even harder to develop into essays. 133). This shows us how one person who starts. To Danforth, anything that doesnt confirm that he was right all along is a lie. In Act 3, Hale continues to make ironic statements about the existence of concrete proof for the accusations of witchcraft. Then, on the other end of the spectrum, we have Rebecca Nurse. How does the central tragic character change throughout the play, and how does this relate to the play's title? He is completely oblivious to the fact that the victims might be lying. In this case, you're asked to discuss the concept of a tragic character, explaining who fits that mold in The Crucible and why. In today's society no one want to hear about something they fear, they would rather it be left alone than try to understand it. Elizabeth's side of the story is disregarded because Abigails testimony is far more dramatic. 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). The whole purpose of a trial is to hear both sides of the story before a verdict is reached. "She sat to dinner in Reverend Parris's house tonight, and without word nor warnin' she falls to the floor. He is known for making the right decisions and never going against them. Hypocrisy is not simply failing to practice those virtues that one preaches, or known as saying one thing but doing another. This attitude comes from a man who has shown no remorse for condemning people to death throughout the play. Danforth wont listen to him for this reason. The Crucible's themes have lent the play artistic longevity because they're more or less universal to the human experience across time. Hypocrisy In Salem And The Crucible Proctor knows that unlike most of the other people who have gotten hanged, his is not completely innocent. 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's portrayal of women in The Crucible is a much-discussed topic. 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. 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. Being a person, from Latin persona ("mask", per and soneo - "resound") means precisely "being a mask . If you can show that you understand the themes of a work of literature, you've clearly mastered the material on a deeper level. Based on the background knowledge of the time, slaves were not considered part of the class system, so she was not valued as a community member. Hypocrisy is just one of many personality traits along many spectrums. 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. Her goal is to help students adopt a less stressful view of standardized testing and other academic challenges through her articles. officials (like Danforth) unable or unwilling to listen to reason? 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. This is interesting because the children are the ones that the rest of the village relies upon to condemn people to death. This attitude comes from a man who has shown no remorse for condemning people to death throughout the play. He says, I would to God it were not so, Excellency, but these people have great weight yet in the town (pg. 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.". Human flaws such as lust for power, greed and jealousy explain the errors many tragic figures from books make, from Mr Kurtz to Lord Voldemort. Though their Bible would forbid murder, they condemn people to death with an excuse of witchcraft just to get land. The prisoners have lost all faith in earthly authority figures and look towards the judgment of God.
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