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Influence Of Puritan Society In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

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“The Crucible”, by Arthur Miller, is a play constructed around a Puritan society in Massachusetts where the concept of religion is portrayed as the main structure of civilization. In the Puritan society of Salem, the fear and distress of witchcraft is concealed by the anger of the townspeople, which derives from past animosities and vengeance. Fear controls the townspeople of Salem; affecting their motives and behavior, and eventually shifts their mindsets into doing acts that they would never do in a normal situation. In 1692, Salem, Massachusetts was ruled by Puritans. Puritans are known for the strict lifestyle that they pursue. In Act One, the reader is introduced to a scene where Reverend Parris sits beside his daughter’s bed; wondering what has caused her bedridden illness. He later learns, that assumptions of witchcraft in Salem have spread and that his daughter, Betty, is affiliated with these rumors. Parris does not want to believe that his daughter could have been exposed to such dark magic, but the night before he encounters his daughter, his niece, Abigail, and some other girls dancing in the woods around a large caulderon. As he figures out what to do, Parris keeps the event to himself. ''We cannot leap to witchcraft. They will howl me out of Salem for such corruption in my house.'' (Miller 27) If the townspeople of Salem realize that witchcraft possesses the Reverend’s home, his reputation and personal wealth will go down the drain. Reverend Parris’

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