The Crucible : Why I Will Jeopardize The Life In Arthur's Macbeth

A self-fulfilling prophecy is a statement that alters one’s actions and evokes a behavior from a person/character which makes the originally false statement come true (Wisegeek). For example, one might say, “Today is going to be a great day!” Which will alter a persons actions in a way that will actually make this prediction come true. William Shakespeare’s, The Tragedy of Macbeth, uses self-fulfilling prophecy in a subtle yet foreshadowing way to prepare and unfurl the thoughts and actions of his characters. This tragedy, written in the early 1600’s, was composed mainly to appeal new interests around London. It is a depiction of a noble, along with his wife, who brutally slaughters a King and his kinsman so that he may be the King

     A Shakespearean tragic hero starts out as a noble person; a great exceptional being who stands out. A tragic hero has a tragic flaw of an exaggerated trait that leads to their downfall and eventually to death. William Shakespeare often made his main characters tragic heroes in his plays. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the role of the tragic hero is given to the main character: Macbeth. This is because he starts off as a loyal and well liked man in the beginning, but has a tragic flaw of ambition which ultimately leads to his downfall.

in all purity. This is mainly due to the fact that he was willing to

Shakespeare’s play ‘Macbeth’ is about the leading male protagonist succumbing to his ambition and need for power. Though Macbeth is liable for his own actions, he is not solely responsible for the events that eventually result in his downfall. Macbeth is corrupted by his wife, Lady Macbeth, as well as the three weird sisters. Macbeth’s contribution towards his downfall is his strong ambitious nature. Lady Macbeth is the person who induces Macbeth to assassinate King Duncan. The three weird sisters (witches) play with Macbeth’s ambitious nature and sense of security. Macbeth’s downfall is due to himself and two external factors.

Carol Karlsen 's "The Devil in the Shape of a Woman” was written to provide the reader with an understanding of the role of the “witch” in colonial New England. During the early colonial period, pilgrims lived in a male-dominated society and the classical witch hunts were conducted in an attempt to maintain this societal structure. Since these hunts were placed under a religious guise, it was simple for these individuals to act as if they were maintaining the safety and justice of society. Karlsen explains that in many instances, women who were labelled as witches were often females that had managed to acquire great economic and social status and society. In fear of these women, the neighborhood targeted them and called them witches to weaken their power. Independent of guilt, women who were accused of witchcraft could not possibly recovered. If they claimed their innocence, they would be stoned or burned to death because the counsel would decide that they were not being truthful. If they admitted to their guilt, their place in society would be marred and they would be embarrassed for partaking in these evil acts. Through this violence, men have been able to maintain their place in Puritan society. In her book, Karlsen aims to provide the reader new insight into the witch trials, demonstrating the societal, rather than religious causes for this well-known historic tragedy.

The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, is written about the Salem Witch Trials back in 1692. It began with a group of girls messing around in the woods and when someone walks down and catches them dancing, which is against the rules, they were accused of performing witchcraft. This is what started the Salem witch trials. As the play goes on it tells the story about the accusations of witchcraft and the punishments results of the accusations. Throughout this play there were two main characters, John Proctor and Abigail Williams. John Proctor was a father of three boys, married to Elizabeth, had sexual relations with Abigail, and tends to stands up for what he believes is right. In the play, Proctor comes across many problems that are ethical dilemmas, one of the biggest is his reputation, and deciding whether to lie to stay alive or tell the truth and die.

And particularly, as I was a chief instrument of accusing Goodwife Nurse and her two sisters, I desire to lie in the dust, and to be humble for it, in that I was a cause, with others, of so sad a calamity to them and their families; for which cause I desire to lie in the dust, and earnestly beg forgiveness of God, and from all those unto whom I have given just cause of sorrow and offense, whose relations were taken away or accused (Brooks, “History of the Salem Witch

I then think to myself that no matter how many witchcraft practitioners there are, a singular innocent is not worth killing unless the harm to others is substantial.. The deaths of so many I contribute to the books in which I have retained my knowledge from that have been unknowingly funded by Lucifer himself. I have since disregarded and expelled the books into the flames. However, the guilt that I bear is beyond measure, as I believe I have played a part in this tragedy and would not be the only one to do so. Those who also bear the sins of their devious actions with me are Abigail Williams and Mr. Danforth.

Giles Corey was a well respected elderly man of Salem. He turns skeptical when he notices his wife reading mysterious books in the middle of the night. Not assuming that him questioning his wives actions with other people would put the witch hat on his wife. Realizing what he did he could either turn the blame on someone else, one of his friends, or he could keep quiet. Knowing he would feel even guiltier if he turned his friends in he decided to take the choice of death. “Add more weight” (1) said Corey, when he was asked to turn in his friends. He knew that Salem would not be the same without his wife, and he did not want to live there without her. Staying

During the inquiry period, Judge Hathorne could not ignore Bridget’s previous encounters with the law. “They say you bewitcht your first husband to death” was the common question Judge Hathorne asked Bridget. When interviewed about this inquiry, Bridget said that she simply replied back with honesty; “I am innocent to a witch. I know not what a Witch is.”

“A place or occasion of severe test or trial.” is the most obvious definition the Dictionary gives of the word “Crucible” that would relate to the title of the novel. However not many think to consider the other definition of the word which is “a little ceramic or metal container which is used for the purpose of metals or other substances to be melted or subjected to very high temperatures”. In other words a “Crucible” is a small container which is pact with aggressive results; which fully relates to Salem throughout the witch trials, for it was a tiny village containing violent madness. Nevertheless for the majority of individuals living in Salem, it became a crucible for them if they were ever wrongly accused at the stand of the religious court of being a witch. No confession of an accused individual resulted in being hung. Although one’s life could be secured with a confession, however a life of always being remembered as someone who had the Devil deified. Living beneath such commotion and madness the majority of the characters in the famous drama were enforced to undergo dilemmas, personal motivation, as well as development- that all relate to the title in between the lines of their plots and the general story.

Act Three has ended and Elizabeth has been imprisoned for witchcraft soon after the hysteria began. The frigid, unilluminated cell, with its harsh stone-walls surrounds Elizabeth, alongside her depressive, lonely thoughts. The only light permitted to enter the claustrophobic room bleeds in through the cracks around the perimeter of the wooden, bolted doorframe. Elizabeth sits hunched over in the farthest corner from the door. Dust covers the useless, ragged blanket that is the only possession she has been allowed to have. Her eyes are dim and hopeless. She reflects solemnly on her situation and how she came to be here.

The “Tragedy of Macbeth” by William Shakespeare tells a tale of deceit, murder, and ambition, beginning with a cutthroat rise to power, followed by calamitous downfall. At the start of the play, Macbeth is a brave and loyal captain in King Duncan’s army, but after three witches prophesize that he himself will become the king of Scotland, and that those born of a friend, Banquo, will be king after him, Macbeth is overtaken by ambition and gluttony. Instigated by his wife and his own lust for power, he murders Duncan, assumes the throne, and subsequently sends mercenaries to kill Banquo’s sons. While awaiting battle, Macbeth addresses the death of his wife in Act V, scene 5. Throughout the

I killed her off as lightly as the death of swans. And was reproached for that story! I was. Because even your friends regret weeping for a myth, as if that were not practically the fate of all the tears in the world! What if the girl was the wife of my brother and the children of my brother’s children?”

A Tragic Hero is a common figure in many of Shakespeare’s works. A Tragic Hero is usually a figure of royalty, fame or greatness. This person is predominately good, but falls from prominence due to personality flaws that eventually lead to self-destruction.