Superstition, Malice, And Justice In Arthur Miller's The Crucible
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The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller expresses themes such as superstition, malice, and injustice. The book compares the unfair times in the 1950s to the Salem Witch Trials. Women were falsely accused of witchcraft and sentenced to death. The people in Salem believed the devil roamed somewhere within the town. Rivalries between neighbors were taken advantage of. People were accused by others who wanted their land or other belongings. Once one was accused, they either had to admit to witchcraft or be executed. In The Crucible, Arthur Miller addresses the themes of superstition, malice, and injustice in a way that indicates society’s tendency to believe everything they hear.
Superstition is quite a big part of The Crucible. The townspeople believe the men and women accused are witches and should be executed. Giles Corey told Hale about the books his wife had read. He is suspicious of them because she hides the books and refuses to tell Giles what they are about (Miller 41). This suspicion is not meant to harm Martha Corey in any way, but it does come back to haunt Giles when Martha is arrested for witchcraft. ““I’m not sayin’ she’s touched the Devil, now, but I’d admire to know what books she reads and why she hides them”” (Miller 41). Back at the Proctor’s house, it is clear Elizabeth and Proctor are having issues. Abigail and Proctor had an affair. Elizabeth asks Proctor to speak against Abigail, but he seems to be against the idea. Elizabeth believes Proctor still has