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. 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. Why does Mary Warren behave differently when she becomes involved in the trials? Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you The play is about human weakness, hypocrisy, and vindictiveness. 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. Miller writes: ''As for Rebecca herself, the general opinion of her character was so high that to explain how anyone dared cry her out for a witchwe must look to the fields and boundaries of that time.'' One of humanity's biggest flaws is that people would do anything to help themselves. How does reputation influence who is first accused of witchcraft? Always include specific details, including direct quotes, to support your argument about how the theme is expressed in the play. 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. Arthur Miller pokes fun at this in his commentary in the play and explains his intentions to the audience. Proctors strengths consist of, honesty and pride. This well-intentioned mistake seals both of their fates. Sure, you don't expect or want rain, but it's not the polar opposite of getting married. One flaw that can always be found in society and the Crucible is hypocrisy. 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. Elizabeth is defined by her relationship to John, and Mary is pushed around by other characters (mostly men) throughout the play. I feel like its a lifeline. Abigail's version of events is held to be true even after John confesses to their affair in a final effort to discredit her. In Arthur Miller's stunning play, The Crucible, a primary character named John Proctor has an affair with a young woman named Abigail Williams. The town slips further and further into chaos and paranoia until it reaches a point of total devastation. This is a decision with dire consequences in a town where reputation is so important, a fact that contributes to the misunderstanding that follows. 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. John tells the judge to summon Elizabeth to back him up because he knows she always tells the truth. She openly threatens Danforth for even entertaining Mary and John's accusations of fraud against her. When the petition testifying to the good character of the accused women is presented, the reaction from Danforth, Hathorne, and Parris is to arrest the people who signed it rather than considering that this might indicate that the women are innocent. He claims that they must not jump to conclusions based on superstition in their investigation of Bettys affliction. No one thinks a teenage orphan girl is capable of such extensive deception (or delusion), so she is consistently trusted. Why does John decide to ruin his reputation in Act 3 by confessing to the affair? Armed with the false proof of these coerced confessions, the court officials aggressively persecute anyone who is accused. This causes problems down the line as Parris allows his paranoia about losing his position to translate into enthusiasm for the witch hunt. These. Tituba is forced to accept her role as a pawn for those with greater authority and a stepping stone for Abigails ascent to power. He is appalled by Elizabeths lack of emotion when he asks her to help the court get a confession out of her husband (pg. 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. 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. All rights reserved. She says, "My name is good in the village! What ACT target score should you be aiming for? The power of collective hysteria ultimately becomes insurmountable because it grows larger than the influence of the few rational voices in the community. She is clearly outspoken and dominant, but her initial position in society is one of very little influence and authority. This makes him particularly averse to accepting that he's been fooled by a teenage girl. Not living up to our beliefs, opinions,virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards is not a hypocrisy.Hypocrisy is pretending (and lying to others) to have them when we don't. Armed with the false proof of these coerced confessions, the court officials aggressively persecute anyone who is accused. Abigail also shows concern for her reputation. Hale also makes some unintentionally ironic statements in Act 1 when he begins his investigation. The other two main female characters, Elizabeth and Mary Warren, are somewhat bland. In reality, true irony only happens when a situation is the exact opposite of what you would expect. 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. 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. John finally comes to the realization that Mary's truthful testimony cannot compete with the hysteria that has taken hold of the court. 22). Human Flaws in Arthur Miller's The Crucible Many of the characters in Arthur Miller's The Crucible have specific human flaws that cause the tragedy of the Salem Witch Trials. 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 prisoners have lost all faith in earthly authority figures and look towards the judgment of God. When he starts to realize he continues to avoid people from getting mad at him for putting innocent people in jail and killing them. Here's another example of a potential essay question for The Crucible that's less explicit in its request for you to discuss themes of the play: "Most of the main characters in the play have personal flaws and either contribute to or end up in tragedy. In the play The Crucible, Arthur Miller repeatedly portrays that duplicity and deceit are a natural part of human lives. The Crucible is not only a dramatization of . As mentioned in the overview, religion holds significant power over the people of Salem. Do you not know that God damns all liars? 67). Danforth insists that John must know more about the Devil's dealings than he has revealed. The Crucible by Arthur Miller. 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. Hypocrisy relates to The Crucible in that both Reverend Parris and Mr. Putnam are incredibly hypocritical characters. Abigail's strength in Act I is the strength that is within her ability to influence others. Hale doesnt realize that his own fears and suspicions are the real powers of the dark. 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. He shows the hypocrisy of the Puritans by showing their belief system and how they have not acted in accordance with those beliefs. How to use hypocrisy in a sentence. 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. This well-intentioned mistake seals both of their fates. She is enraged when Parris questions her suspicious dismissal from the Proctor household. succeed. It's here that we see the hypocrisy of the situation. In saying this he admits that a person can only avoid a hanging by confessing to witchcraft even if their statement contains no truth. Parris is hypocritical because he is not a . Thus demonstrating how mob mentality can impact an individual and ultimately drive the action of the play. 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. 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. Some will be very direct. hypocrisy is a flaw in human character that can be avoided if chosen to be. They're also revealed though events in the plot. There are numerous connections between the flaws of individual characters and the overarching themes of the play that could be brought into this discussion. Envy, Selfishness, and lust for money/power demonstrate the flaws of humanity through the actions of Abigail Williams, Reverend Parris, and Thomas Putnam. 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. 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. This shows us how one person who starts. 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. Abigail accuses Tituba first because Tituba is the one person below her on the ladder of power, so she makes an easy scapegoat. Goody Good, an old beggar woman, is one of the first to be named a witch. Anns extreme conclusions are gradually accepted because rational people are too afraid to challenge the consensus and risk bringing accusations upon themselves. Abigails power skyrockets as the hysteria grows more severe. Anns extreme conclusions are gradually accepted because rational people are too afraid to challenge the consensus and risk bringing accusations upon themselves. I chose . 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. Though the play is fictional, the characters are named after real people who lived in Salem during that time. The dark, witchcraft-filled production follows a series of deaf characters who are narrated in English, rather than the other way around. Many of the conflicts that occurred in the play were caused by Abigail Williams. Salem is under attack from the hysteria that is encouraged by the same people who seek to keep imaginary supernatural demons at bay. 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. Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Score, list of every single character in the play, details on the history and thematic parallels behind this connection. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. 61). In Arthur Miller's play, The Crucible, the events that occurred during the Salem witch trials are dramatized, and the truth of judgement and vengeance is examined in a web of lies amongst the townspeople. 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. The main display of Abby's hypocrisy is her incessant accusations of the accused as being unholy, God-damned and doing the Devils work. He chooses to die instead of providing a false confession because he doesnt think life will be worth living after he is so disgraced. 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. They use children's stories as evidence though not respecting them otherwise. 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. Why does Mary Warren warn John about testifying against Abigail? However, this runs up against Danforths desire to preserve his reputation as a strong judge. Hypocrisy: A Human Flaw In the play The Crucible, Arthur Miller repeatedly portrays that duplicity and deceit are a natural part of human lives. Most Important Themes in The Crucible, Analyzed. The whole purpose of a trial is to hear both sides of the story before a verdict is reached. Hales involvement is taken to mean that there must be a supernatural element to Bettys illness. Johns concern for his reputation is strong throughout the play, and his hesitation to reveal Abigails true nature is a product of his own fears of being labeled an adulterer. 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. This is a decision with dire consequences in a town where reputation is so important, a fact that contributes to the misunderstanding that follows. The faces that people present to the public are designed to garner respect in the community, but the witch trials have thrown this system into disarray. Abigails power skyrockets as the hysteria grows more severe. Revenge in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Theme, Examples & Analysis, Allusion in the Crucible by Arthur Miller | Examples & Overview, Thomas Putnam in The Crucible | Character Traits, Quotes & Personality, Irony in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Overview & Examples, Abigail Williams in The Crucible | Quotes, Traits & Descriptions, The Crucible by Arthur Miller: Act 1 | Quotes, Overview & Analysis, Judge John Hathorne in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Analysis & Quotes, John Proctor in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Quotes, Analysis & Development, Reverend John Hale in the Crucible by Arthur Miller | Traits, Quotes & Analysis, Reverend Parris in The Crucible | Character Traits & Quotes, Hysteria in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Theme, Quotes & Examples, Fear in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Quotes, Examples & Analysis, Judge Danforth in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Character & Quotes, Giles Corey Character Analysis & Quotes | The Crucible by Arthur Miller, Ruth Putnam in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Character & Analysis, Symbols in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Examples & Analysis, NYSTCE English Language Arts (003): Practice and Study Guide, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Study Guide, English 103: Analyzing and Interpreting Literature, EPT: CSU English Language Arts Placement Exam, ILTS English Language Arts (207): Test Practice and Study Guide, Common Core ELA Grade 8 - Language: Standards, College English Composition: Help and Review, Create an account to start this course today. You can also read my full summary of The Crucible here for a review of exactly what happens in the plot in each act. The evolution of his character is due to vairous . 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. 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. She is a sensible, saintly old woman who chooses to martyr herself rather than lie and confess to witchcraft. 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). How are themes like hysteria, hunger for power, reputation, or any of a number of others functional in the drama? 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. Why is Giles Cory expelled from court? 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. 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. 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. Hypocrisy is "the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform". Miller includes some commentary on Hale: ''One cannot help noting that one of his lines has never yet raised a laugh in any audience that has seen this play; it is his assurance that, 'We cannot look to superstition in this. Danforths image is extremely valuable to him, and he refuses to allow Parris concerns to disrupt his belief in the validity of his decisions. . Even before the witch trials, the people of Salem are doing lots of little magic tricks to make all their unholy thoughts and actions disappear. These hypocritical actions take away from the authority of the person or people committing them. I have not seen a single politician who isnt a hypocrite. 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. 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. 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 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. In the next few sections,I'll take a look at a group of broad themes inThe Crucible, including irony, hysteria, reputation, and power. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. He is known for making the right decisions and never going against them. This lie essentially condemns both of them. 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. Choose a single character and discuss how this person embodies one of the themes. Is reputation more important than truth? 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. is hypocrisy a natural human flaw the crucible is hypocrisy a natural human flaw the crucible. Nowhere is there any consideration of ulterior motives. How are characters behaviors affected by concern for their reputations? She comes to me while I sleep; shes always making me dream corruptions! pg. 41). 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.
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