Examples Of Justice In The Crucible

The play The Crucible by Arthur Miller is set in Salem during the infamous witch trials. Near the end of the play, the protagonist, John Proctor, is in detained on suspicion of witchcraft. During his imprisonment, John Proctor is given an ultimatum—confess to witchcraft, or be hanged. While he originally intends to confess the sin he has not committed, he becomes resolute against it because he cannot, in good conscience, lie, and therefore sacrifice his character. Furthermore, he cannot betray anyone he loves or help perpetuate the ideologies of fear and blame that persist in Salem. Even though it will cost him his life, Proctor refuses to make a written confession because he will not let the Salem official to use his testimony for their

In Act Three of The Crucible, Danforth addresses John Proctor and expresses his skepticism concerning Proctor’s claims that the girls whose testimony the court based their verdicts on are lying. Danforth strives to be unbiased in his position as a judge; however, the thought that all the evidence had been presented to him is false is absurd to him. Danforth directly addresses John Proctor, saying “I tell you straight, Mister” (Miller 91). This language is assertive in a way that demonstrates Danforth’s power within the court and his ability to force Proctor to an inferior position, which makes Proctor more likely to listen to him. Additionally, Danforth, addresses Proctor as “Mister,” showing his maintained level of respect toward him. Governor Danforth also uses repetition: “I have seen marvels in this court. I have seen people choked before my

Purist Salem, Massachusetts in 1692 suffered from a rapidly increasing phenomenon: witchcraft accusations and trials. The Crucible is a play that recounts the times of this incident. For the most part, it follows a man known as John Proctor. He is a sensible, honest, and hardworking man who made the mistake of succumbing to lust which sets off a chain of events that leads to the witch trials, and to his own demise. Arthur Miller’s The Crucible’s protagonist John Proctor proves to be a flawed human being who struggles to make sense of his past relationship with Abigail, his love for his wife, and his pride.

Proctor has gone from a hot-headed adulterer into a person who truly seeks redemption and to make things right with his wife, Elizabeth. Proctor was not truthful in the beginning of the play, however towards the end of the play he relinquished his pride in order to maintain the truth. Proctor died for what he believes in, he went from a sinner to an empathic hero and finally he became a person with high morals and honesty. Miller is trying to convey through the character, John Proctor, that a person should always stand up for what you believe in, no matter the circumstances. Proctor ____ that outside forces can influence a person’s morals, however those influences do not control the person, you can change the affect influences have. John Proctor’s morals, honesty, and beliefs were questioned throughout the play, only to be strong as ever at the

won't let Mr. Proctor go, they want him to confess to save his life, here

The Salem Witch Trials were one of the most embarrassing moments of history. Arthur Miller’s The Crucible shows how people can throw away their judgments over fictitious ideas such as witches. The main character, John Proctor, overcomes challenges in life including the secret affair with a teenager, Abigail Williams. This event caused John to eventually come to admit his sin of adultery. John Proctor’s last act in the play was an act of honor. On the other hand, his actions through out the play were noble.

Arthur Miller's verifiable play, The Crucible, depicts the recorded occasions of the Salem witch trials through a swarm of life-changing characters. Trepidation drives these Puritans to uncover their actual feelings while confronting their informers in the predisposition courts before coldblooded judges. While in the long run all the individuals of Salem get subject to this frenzy, two ladies emerge above the rest. Retribution and disgrace live in the heart of the young adulteress, Abigail Williams, while truth and exemplary nature dwell in the soul of Elizabeth Proctor, John Proctor's dedicated wife. Although they both elevate the strain and tension of the play, Abigail William's and Elizabeth Proctor's disparities lead to turmoil because

“Hale: Quail not before God’s judgment in this, for it may well be God damns a liar less than he that throws away for pride” (206). Reverend Hale’s eye-opening words make Elizabeth realize that John Proctor should do the right thing for God, even if that includes lying. This quote relates to the Salem witch trials because during this time, the court was getting involved with the town, so everybody had to constantly tell the truth. Overall, the play gives a feeling of the Salem witch trials by using facts and events relevant to the time period. On a similar topic, Arthur Miller feels that everybody is vindictive, manipulating, and betraying each other; therefore, Miller uses his troublesome experience to commemorate the demeaning investigations of witches. Miller’s high disapproval of the American government, especially how the court handles situations, is greatly represented in his play. The characters change throughout the story, and they start to realize that it is not all about what the government wants for their life. They soon enough start thinking and speaking for themselves which leads to big decisions and disapproval from the American government. In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, he artistically manipulates the authentic facts of the Salem witch trials’ victim John Proctor to fiction in order to similarly represent his interrogation during the Red Scare while also putting a spin on the trials through his style, characterization and tone.

In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, hysteria breaks out in Salem when young girls begin pronouncing accusations of witchcraft. One of the accused, Elizabeth Proctor and her husband, John Proctor, live on a farm where he provides and cares for their family. When Elizabeth becomes sick John is unfaithful and has an affair with one of the accusers, Abigail Williams. Through the course of the story, John Proctor moves from denial and deflection of his actions and their consequences in order to maintain his public dignity, to public confession and condemnation for his actions in order to soothe his conscience and maintain his internal sense of integrity. This progression is illustrated by his interactions with his wife, their accusers and the court, who ultimately condemns them.

The Salem Witch Trials were a time of frenzied zealotry and paranoia, and in such times, most logic seems to go out the window. One fallacy in Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible is the fallacy of the false alternative. It is exemplified during the witch proceedings when Francis Nurse presents a paper of signatories declaring their good opinion of his wife. Danforth arrests all of the signatories for questioning. At Francis’ objection that he has promised that no hurt would come to these people Danforth replies “No old man, you have not hurt these people if they are of good conscience. But you must understand, sir, that a person is either with this court or he must be counted against this court, there be no road in between.” (Miller 87). The conversation is merely a variation on the classic false alternative, “You’re either with us, or you’re against us.” The trouble with that logic is that Francis was merely trying to defend his wife from almost certain death. He was not trying to attack the court as Parris states, nor was he really for the court. In disproving this logic we can look at Francis as a counterexample: Not against the court, but not supportive of the court’s actions

John Proctor’s ethos in this play is vividly depicted from start to finish. Proctor states, “I have confessed myself! Is there no good penitence but it should be public? God does not need name nailed upon the church! God sees my name; God knows how black my sins are! It is enough!” (Line 16-18). Here, Miller shows Proctor

We see a profound shift in Proctor’s idea of himself as he faces his death, claiming: “for now I do think I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor” (Miller 144). With his final decision to not confess to a false accusation, he has redeemed himself by preserving his highly revered honesty, reducing his intense internal guilt, and ultimately restoring his personal honor. Despite being given the opportunity to escape this accusation, Proctor’s honor code compels him to give up his life, thus preventing the accusations against other members of his community from gaining any credibility.

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.

Proctor is acceptant of the fact that devil is coming soon for he claims that he can "hear the boot of Lucifer" and can "see his filthy face". Proctor knows that the idea of the devil instills fear in people and tries to make the courtroom people understand how close the devil is to overcoming their whole society. Proctor reminds Danforth and Hale that when the devil comes, everyone "will burn together", so it is better to accept the fact that the devil will come so that the people can prepare for his arrival. Although Proctor chooses to boldly proclaim the proceedings of the devil, Danforth and Hale are both examples of people who would rather run from the evil force than fight alongside it. Danforth greatly fears anyone who speaks of the devil because he does not know how much power the devil can give his parasites. As a result, anyone who speaks of the devil is thrown in jail under Danforth's signature. Hale also fears the arrival of Lucifer and believes that leaving the court and not get involved with the devil's proceedings the best option for

Miller uses the characterization of Danforth to show how some people will use the power of their position to protect their own interest. An example that shows this statement is when Proctor delivers his testimony, he supports the petition of good opinion of Rebecca Nurse and Martha Corey. Parris states the ninety-one people who’ve signed the petition should be put for questioning, but Danforth orders to arrest all of those who’ve signed it. He states a strong argument justifying the way the trials have been handled when he says “A person is either with this court or he must be counted against it, there be no road between” (Miller 1298). In addition when Proctor gives his confession, Danforth states to Rebecca “Now, woman, you surely see it profit nothin’ to keep this conspiracy any further. Will you confess yourself with him?” (Miller 1330). Danforth believes the victims are all guilty, and desires to force them to admit they’re guilty. He is also convinced that Proctor knows more of the Devil’s acts than what he has stated.