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. 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. She openly threatens Danforth for even entertaining Mary and John's accusations of fraud against her. 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. I am with God, I, Danforth expresses his opinions on lying when Mary Warren enter his court to confess herself and he begins the conversation by saying, How were you instructed in your life? Miller portrays Danforths characterization as stubborn, highly religious, and arrogant in order to to provide a clearer understanding. The fact that he forgets only this commandment shows that he is trying extremely hard to repress his guilt. I'll give a short summary of how each plays a role in the events of The Crucible. How do the witch trials empower individuals who were previously powerless? 133). Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you No one even considers Mary's statement about sticking the needle in herself. 67). He wrote the play as an allegory of McCarthyism, when the US government discriminated communists. Innocent and guilty people have been put to death underneath his Judgement, to him this demonstrates his superiority and power. 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. This is interesting because the children are the ones that the rest of the village relies upon to condemn people to death. These connections will bolster your responses by positioning them in relation to the most important concepts discussed throughout the play. Human Flaws in Arthur Miller's The Crucible - 919 Words | 123 Help Me A theme is a central topic that is addressed by a work of literature. I feel like its a lifeline. Ann Putnam jumps at any opportunity to blame supernatural forces for the deaths of her children. 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. Abigail is told by John to move on but instead, Abigail starts accusing the townspeople of witchcraft, including John Proctors wife Elizabeth. This well-intentioned mistake seals both of their fates. For example, Bridget Bishop dressed in red, a color that was abhorrent in the Puritan eyes. Themes can be expressed in many different ways. Abigails low status and perceived innocence under normal circumstances allow her to claim even greater power in her current situation. The most substantial female character is Abigail, who is portrayed as a devious and highly sexualized young woman. 41). The Bible that the Puritans swore to live by is not being honored when they used the trials to condemn their neighbors to death. Upon arriving in the court Mary Warren says, I cannot lie no more. 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. People in power continue to believe the accusers out of fear for their own safety, taking the hysteria to a point where no one is above condemnation. People were put to death because their neighbors suspected them of committing a crime, but murder is a sin in the Puritan religion. is hypocrisy a natural human flaw the crucible 16 is hypocrisy a natural human flaw the crucible. 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. As said in the documents I read, the theme is "the fundamental and often universal idea of a literary artwork". 129)He is still convinced that all the prisoners are guilty and is determined to force them to admit their guilt. Danforth has extensive pride in his intelligence and perceptiveness. One path to higher standing and greater control would be in becoming John Proctors wife. 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. Salem is under attack from the hysteria that is encouraged by the same people who seek to keep imaginary supernatural demons at bay. He is completely oblivious to the fact that the victims might be lying. 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. As this hysteria begins to rise, other people such as Thomas Putnam, a rich landowner, start to also allege Salem villagers. 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. 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. Abigail accuses Tituba first because Tituba is the one person below her on the ladder of power, so she makes an easy scapegoat. Reverend Parris, the paranoid widower and heaven-ordained minister of the town of Salem, was, simply put, a hypocrite. The Crucible by Arthur Miller. 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. 133). Hypocrisy in The Crucible - Essays - Notmichaelsellers - Brainia If Danforth accepts Marys testimony, it would mean that he wrongly convicted numerous people already. Hypocrisy is not simply failing to practice those virtues that one preaches, or known as saying one thing but doing another. One path to higher standing and greater control would be in becoming John Proctors wife. How Is John Proctor Selfish In The Crucible - 1393 Words | Bartleby Essay about Human Flaws in Arthur Miller's The Crucible 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). 118). 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. In this environment, whoever yells the loudest seems to get the most credibility. The overall message is that when a person's actions are driven by desires to preserve favorable public opinion rather than do the morally right thing, there can be extremely dire consequences. references the many sentencing decisions he has already made in the trials of the accused. This attitude comes from a man who has shown no remorse for condemning people to death throughout the play. 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. In fact, we've all seen hypocrisy in our daily lives. The Crucible is commonly viewed as an allegorical representation of the communist "witch hunts" conducted in the 1950s. I propose that each and every one of us is, or at some time has been, guilty of hyopcrisy. 123). 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. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. Reverend Parris has fallen from his position of authority as a result of the outcomes of the trials. Elizabeth is defined by her relationship to John, and Mary is pushed around by other characters (mostly men) throughout the play. Goody Good, an old beggar woman, is one of the first to be named a witch. Most Important Quotes From The Crucible, Analyzed - PrepScholar Reverend Parris' concerns about his reputation are immediately evident in Act 1. How is the arrest of Rebecca Nurse a sign that the hysteria in Salem has gotten out of control? She believed she had seen spirits earlier because she was caught up in the delusions of those around her. This leads to Marys hysterical accusation of Proctor after she finds herself targeted by the other girls and about to be consumed by the hysteria herself if she doesnt contribute to it. 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. In a case like this, you'd be writing directly about a specific theme in connection to one of the characters. 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. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Posted at 02:28h in motion to dismiss child support arrears by how does shakespeare present lady macbeth as ambitious. He claims that they must not jump to conclusions based on superstition in their investigation of Bettys affliction. Hypocrisy is shown between the characters: Abigail Williams, Reverend Parris, and Hale. Why is hypocrisy so common in repressive communities like Salem? 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. . Once there have been enough convictions, the reputations of the judges also become factors. The Crucible is a play written by American author, Arthur Miller, in 1953. Proctor changes from a normal citizen and sinner to a tragic hero with a high sense of morality. Abigail, on the other hand, faces an uphill battle towards more power over her situation. I have given you my soul; leave me my name! (pg. The main point that the story revolves around is that people would rather lie and blame someone else instead of confessing and accepting the punishment. The evidence used in the Salem Witch Trials further demonstrates the hypocrisy in the Puritan times. Hypocrisy In The Crucible - eNotes.com Rational explanations are ground up by the drama of the rumor mill, and people see only what they want to see (whatever keeps them in the good graces of society andmakes them feel the best about themselves) in situations that don't appear to have easy explanations. Tituba is forced to accept her role as a pawn for those with greater authority and a stepping stone for Abigails ascent to power. Hale truly believes that the accused have been marked by the Devil. Reverend Parris' concerns about his reputation are immediately evident in Act 1. 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. 118). 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. Ask below and we'll reply! Hysteria blinds the people of Salem to reason as they become convinced that there is a grand Satanic plot brewing in town, and they must not hesitate to condemn anyone who could be involved. 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. 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). Lust and pride were John Proctors tragic flaws, lust is of course, one out of the seven sins. 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. The prisoners have lost all faith in earthly authority figures and look towards the judgment of God. She is enraged when Parris questions her suspicious dismissal from the Proctor household. Hypocrisy, actually, didn't have a bad meaning until hypocrisy met politics in the 4th century B.C. This shows us how one person who starts. The play takes place in the city of Salem, a city filled with people that would do anything to keep their reputation clean. Hale tries to combat his guilt by persuading the prisoners to confess, refusing to accept that the damage has already been done. Along with the final say in the putting to death of people during the Salem witch trials. He is appalled by Elizabeths lack of emotion when he asks her to help the court get a confession out of her husband (pg. In Act 3, Abigails power in the courthouse is on display. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. The hypocrisy in this statement is almost funny. 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. She is a sensible, saintly old woman who chooses to martyr herself rather than lie and confess to witchcraft. Danforth insists that John must know more about the Devil's dealings than he has revealed. 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. Hypocrisy: A Human Flaw In the play The Crucible, Arthur Miller repeatedly portrays that duplicity and deceit are a natural part of human lives. Examples Of Weak In The Crucible - 444 Words | Internet Public Library In today's world hypocrisy is demonstrated by everyday citizens and even political leaders. 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. 119). The Crucible provides an example of how convenient lies can build on one another to create a universally accepted truth even in the absence of any real evidence. She has the power to utterly destroy peoples lives with a single accusation because she is seen as a victim and a savior. Is reputation more important than truth? People are quick to believe something even if there is no evidence for their fear. This makes him particularly averse to accepting that he's been fooled by a teenage girl. Parris initially insists that there are no unnatural causes for Bettys illness because he fears that he will lose favor with the townspeople if witchcraft is discovered under his roof. The madness begins in earnest with Abigails claim that Tituba and Ruth were conjuring spirits in the woods. 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. 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. Hale pg. Hypocrisy is just one of many personality traits along many spectrums. I highly recommend you use this site! Why does he decide to do so anyways? Danforth explains that witchcraft is an invisible crime and that only the victims are reliable. Here are a few questions about hysteria to consider now that you've read a summary of how this theme was expressed throughout the plot of the play: Even though there is significant reason to believe Abigail is lying about Elizabeth's familiar spirit stabbing her, the frenzied investigators ignore testimony that challenges their chosen witchy narrative. Abigail's version of events is held to be true even after John confesses to their affair in a final effort to discredit her. Concern for reputation is a theme that looms large over most of the events in The Crucible. Samantha is also passionate about art and graduated with honors from Dartmouth College as a Studio Art major in 2014. The each profess to want truth and to desire to punish actual wrongdoers. The dark, witchcraft-filled production follows a series of deaf characters who are narrated in English, rather than the other way around. Danforth also acts out of concern for his reputations here. This leads to Marys hysterical accusation of Proctor after she finds herself targeted by the other girls and about to be consumed by the hysteria herself if she doesnt contribute to it. In Act 3, Abigails power in the courthouse is on display. . 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. Interestingly, she was the first woman put to death in the trials. In Act 2, John Proctors guilt over his affair with Abigail is demonstrated through an ironic exchange with Reverend Hale. When he starts to realize he continues to avoid people from getting mad at him for putting innocent people in jail and killing them. How do you think Arthur Miller wishes the audience to respond - eNotes 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.