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Characters, Colors And Themes In Arthur Miller's The Crucible

Decent Essays

Intro: What does geography mean to a work of literature? In the two texts, “The Crucible,” by Arthur Miller, and “Geography Matters…” from the book, “How to Read Literature Like a Professor,” the authors describe how characters, moods, and themes are impacted by geography. First, Miller writes about many characters, but specifically three: Tituba, Abigail Williams, and Judge Danforth, who all have completely different views on their Puritan culture, based on their separate hometown geographies. Second, the author of the chapter from “How to Read Literature Like a Professor” explains how this geography can impact these characters and their environments. Lastly, my life has been impacted by my hometown in similar ways. *Thesis* Body 1: Crucible The play, “The Crucible,” includes a setting in Salem, Massachusetts in the late 1600’s. The people of Salem considered faith and religion to influence every aspect of their life, causing suspicion and intolerance any time someone didn’t follow their religion. The faults and consequences of living in Salem, a Puritan town, were that any misfortune or illness could easily be associated with the act of witchery. What began the witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts, was in the home of Reverend Parris, who had a slave from the Caribbean who practiced black magic in the woods. These new and foreign practices were seen as dangerous, causing her to become a threat to the town and its own religion. Her name was Tituba, and she was the first woman to be accused of witchcraft. According to the play, Abigail Williams, a self-centered young woman, declared, “She made me do it! She made Betty do it!” (Miller 43). This quote is referring to how Abigail is fearful of being accused of witchcraft, so she claims that Tituba, the foreign, black slave, forced her into doing it. Abigail lies constantly throughout the play, blaming and accusing others of doing things that they never have, so she goes against Puritan cultures, but pretends to worship it. She would do anything to not be punished or hanged, and to get back her first love, John Proctor. To contrast, the Deputy governor of Massachusetts, Judge Danforth arrives in Salem to preside over the witch trials, by sentencing accused people

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