Authority Figures In The Crucible

Thesis: Every character in the crucible caused a negative consequence to take place, which leads him or her to endeavor to protect the virtue of their reputation. Three most significant characters, whose endeavors are majorly emphasized are Abigail Williams, John Proctor, and Danforth.

John Proctor is easily identified as The Crucible’s protagonist. Proctor was a stand-up man who spoke his mind. His name was synonymous with honour and integrity within the community. Proctor

Responsibility is a huge part of a person’s everyday life. Generally most people will take responsibility for their actions. In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible the theme of responsibility is spread positively throughout the play. The play focuses around the Salem Witch, where Abigail Williams, her friends, the Proctors and a few others are the main focus.

In the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller, the characters John Proctor and Reverend Parris are some of the major characters during the course of the play. John Proctor is a farmer in Salem that lives in the outskirts of town, and is religious like the rest of Salem but rarely makes it to the church due to living far away have having large amounts of work. He is seen as strong and confident by most town members, however “Proctor… has come to regard himself as a kind of fraud” (Miller 20-21). Reverend Parris is Salem’s religious leader. While he does regularly speak to the entire town, he has very little confidence and “believed he was being persecuted wherever he went, despite his best efforts to win people and God over to his side” (Miller 3). By comparing and contrasting both Parris and Proctor’s actions and beliefs throughout the play, underlying truths regarding self-realization and the consequences of our actions can be discovered.

(H)To be accused as a witch, was to be labeled for death by hanging, whether you are guilty or not. (Tr-TS)The label of witch or warlock what the townspeople use as a vessel to get their enemies and competition out of the way. (B)In the puritan town of Salem, Massachusetts, a group of girls were caught dancing in the forest by the reverend. To avoid any punishment for doing so, the girls claimed to have been bewitched. Soon, what began as a simple act of preservation to keep from being hung, very quickly turned into an opportunity to gain power over the other townspeople. (Tr-ThS)Slapping the label of witch was these peoples way of gaining said power. (ThS) (pt1)In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible,(pt2) Miller uses many literary devices, but most

“There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you--who are you to judge your neighbor?” (James 4:12) The late 1600’s to early 1700’s was a time of much happiness as well as sorrow in the small town of Salem. one man, John Proctor, was always caught in the middle of what was going on as rumors spread that witches were in the small town. Young girls control the town and the people there live in constant fear. Proctor’s relations with one of the girls ends up causing all of this to begin, and it seems that Proctor is the only one who is trying to stop it all. He is a good man and it is shown by his perseverance, genuineness, and appearance as a Christ figure in The Crucible.

There are many things that typical Americans expect from their courts. They count upon the ability to use a lawyer, trial by jury, and basic rights to protect themselves. However, what makes a democratic judicial system function is a person’s right to a fair trial, which is judged by someone who is impartial and applies only the law when judging. In The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, the flaws within the religious Puritan courts are on full display. Danforth, the judge of the trials, is seen by most as the essence of the entire mess. Danforth is one of the most important judges in Puritan society, so his compliance with the Puritan trials should demonstrate that he truly believes in that Judicial process. Yet, throughout the book we see Danforth apply the law, instead of religion, more than what would be expected in a Puritan court. So, what is it about this trial that makes Danforth’s style of judging seem less Puritan? Danforth is used to his secular beliefs being in line with his religious values. In most of his trials, he is judging based on religious laws that are written on the side of “righteousness”, so his lawful morals do not prove to be a problem. However, the fact that this trial is based off of an “invisible crime” requires Danforth to rely completely on his own beliefs while judging, therefore shedding light on his attempts to separate the law from religion within his court.

Often individuals over dramatize their opinion to convey their attitude. Similarly, Danforth often acts extreme in his attempts to rid witchcraft from Salem when he says, “If retaliation is your fear, know this- I [Danforth] should hang ten thousand that dares to rise against the law” (Miller 129). Danforth displays demagoguery while he explains to Reverend Hale why the executions must happen on schedule because he appeals to Hale’s passionate fear of witchcraft. Danforth’s response to Hale works in the scene to further build the audience’s perception of Danforth as irritable and urgent, yet precise, and support his determination as Deputy Governor. However, Danforth’s determination often misguides his rationality. Furthermore, Danforth supports the thematic topic of law in The Crucible and helps the reader understand the severity of justice Miller conveys throughout the play. Danforth’s role develops the play by illustrating the stubbornness of authority in Salem during the witch trials.

Life teaches one very valuable lesson: with power comes the abuse of power, which results in hysteria and fear. Fear comes in many forms; fear for loved ones, fear for health, fear of losing reputation and fear of reprisal. Throughout history, a powerful few have abused their power. An example of this dilemma occurred in the 1950’s when Senator Joseph McCarthy started accusing innocent people of being communist sympathizers. Contemporary author, Arthur Miller, visited this concept of corrupt power and disapproval of McCarthyism in his classic, The Crucible. Good Night and Good Luck, a movie which was about the hysteria McCarthy caused to innocent lives, and The Crucible have one major thing in common: the corruption of power. This thematic idea reveals that the corruption of power can not only affect and impair mainstream society, but also the people which live within it.

In Arthur Miller's play The Crucible, Arthur intrigues audience time and time again with the historical context, social implications, and the Salem, Massachusetts Witchcraft Trials of 1962. Most members in Salem feel the need to prove their authority in ways such as accusing those who have done nothing or hanging them without proving their innocence first. The thing is authority is not made up by an authority figure, but by society. Miller’s The Crucible, demonstrates how people misuse their authority for cruel purposes through a fascinating plot, well-crafted characters, and well-set theme. During the hysteria of witchcraft trials in Salem, there were multiple figures of authority or per say the community who abused their power, Reverend Hale, Abigail Williams, Reverend Parris and Judge Danforth.

The Salem community contains multiple people of high respect, John Proctor is one of these citizens. Around Salem, Proctor owns a large portion of land, he helped build the church, and people listen to him because they believe in him. When Elizabeth

In The Crucible, Miller too created a character that would stand against authority; John Proctor. When Proctor is questioned as to why he has not been to church in so long, he admits that he has ill feelings towards Parris and the way that Parris gives sermons. Proctor does not like authority, and since Parris talks as though he is an authority figure, Proctor has an issue with this. Proctor is very critical over representatives of authority. Proctor changes from a timid character held in bondage by his sin, to a strong, righteous man who will die for the truth. This drastic change in his character is the basis of his significance to the outcome of the play. When faced with the prospect of either confessing to something he didn’t do, or dying, he tells judge Danforth that he cannot have his confession and name nailed to the church door because it would betray his friends who have already died for the truth. When Danforth refutes this, John says, “Beguile me not! I blacken all of them when this is nailed to the church the very day they hang for silence!” (143). Proctor seizes the power back from those who are misusing it, simply by refusing to be a part of the false confessions. The unyielding faith of Proctor’s wife, the influence of the people who share his beliefs and his triumph over an inner struggle help him make a decision that he believes will finally set him free from his past.

The characters in the Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, have a lot of pride. They are all known as good people in the town of Salem for one reason or another. And most would do anything to keep a good name in the town. One person in the town of Salem that really would like to keep a good name is John Proctor, John Proctor is always striving to do the right thing. Reverend Parris is known for being very religious likes to live by the Bible and its teachings.

Power is something almost everybody strives for at least once in their life. In Salem, the men who own the most land or people who have a great reputation for being very religious are the people with the utmost power. Slaves and women, especially unmarried ones, are the people with the lowest status. In The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, the power dynamic dramatically shifts. Tituba, Betty’s family’s slave, brings a group of Puritans girls, including Betty, into the woods. Tituba is from Barbados and practices a different religion, which goes against parts of the Puritan beliefs. When the girls are in the woods, Reverend Parris, Betty’s father, sees them and they all scatter. Betty worries she will get in trouble, so she falls into a trance,

In Arthur Miller's The Crucible, numerous characters are blinded by their goals to take into account of the others around them. Reverend Parris is a man who is afraid of being rejected by society but secretly weighs his opinions above others. On the other hand, Governor Danforth believes his words are crucial, and no one shall judge his words. However, the true character that plays a vital part in the story is the manipulative Abigail Williams. All three characters are villains of this tragic play that rebels against the structure of society.