preview

The Crucible And Woman Warrior Analysis

Decent Essays

The Crucible by Arthur Miller and Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston both present a predicament faced by countless Americans throughout the decades from the Salem Witch Trials to immigrants assimilating into American culture. Miller’s The Crucible develops a dynamic character, Reverend Hale, who begins as a man who believes he knows right from wrong, but after taking a part in the Trials he leaves dazed and confused about his morals. Next, Kingston’s Woman Warrior reveals the hardships that American immigrants must face while acclimatizing to American culture, a dilemma that Kingston wrestles with throughout the stories. In the memoir, Brave Orchid, Kingston’s mother remains unvaried on not conforming to American values. Reverend Hale and Brave Orchid’s personalities diverge in their respective works, both characters reacted differently to major events in their lives however Rev. Hale emerged as a progressive character while Brave remained static.
At the start of the Witch Trials, Reverend Hale believes he can distinguish veracity from deception but after participating in the trials he emerges remorseful and puzzled how people were murdered on unsubstantiated claims. After observing the mass hysteria in Salem, Hale truly believes that there is witchcraft and each accusation must be taken seriously: “I have seen too many frightful proofs in court—the Devil is alive in Salem, and we dare not quail to follow wherever the accusing finger points!” (Miller 62). Hale righteously

Get Access