Miller addresses a similar hysteria throughout his play. A Comprehensive Guide. He insists,I am not empowered to trade your life for a lie (pg. By Act 4, many of the power structures that were firmly in place earlier in the play have disintegrated. He is known for making the right decisions and never going against them. Examples Of Hypocrisy In The Crucible. 61). Now that you've read about the most important themes in The Crucible, check out ourlist of every single character in the play, including brief analyses of their relationships and motivations. In another section, Miller explains the teachings of the Puritans and how it related to the mess that the trials became: ''These people had no ritual for the washing away of sins. Will you confess yourself with him? (pg. Goody Proctor is a gossiping liar!" Rebecca Nurse, a woman whose character was previously thought to be unimpeachable, is accused and arrested. Essay prompts will ask about these themes in a variety of different ways. 130). This is irony of the same type that I discussed in the overview of this theme. Here's another example of a potential essay question for The Crucible that's less explicit in its request for you to discuss themes of the play: "Most of the main characters in the play have personal flaws and either contribute to or end up in tragedy. Her goal is to help students adopt a less stressful view of standardized testing and other academic challenges through her articles. This act also sees the irony of Hale discussing the powers of the dark that are attacking Salem (pg. This is a decision with dire consequences in a town where reputation is so important, a fact that contributes to the misunderstanding that follows. What ACT target score should you be aiming for? 121). The only power they have left is in refusing to confess and preserving their integrity. Armed with the false proof of these coerced confessions, the court officials aggressively persecute anyone who is accused. However, this runs up against Danforths desire to preserve his reputation as a strong judge. Thomas Putnam claims to be a holy, church-going man, yet his priority in life is to acquire land. The Crucible, a short play dedicated to these events in Salem shows us how hysteria was such a leading cause of why the Witch Trials had even occurred. Through this statement he clearly demonstrates his belief that lying will send a person to Hell. How does reputation influence who is first accused of witchcraft? They are extremely biased towards believing they have made the correct sentencing decisions in court thus far, so they are reluctant to accept new evidence that may prove them wrong. Reverend Hale, Abigail Williams and Judge Danforth. 73), meaning the girls are testing out the extent of the chaos they can create with their newfound power. Rational explanations are ground up by the drama of the rumor mill, and people see only what they want to see (whatever keeps them in the good graces of society andmakes them feel the best about themselves) in situations that don't appear to have easy explanations. This is taken as evidence that things are really getting out of control ("if Rebecca Nurse be tainted, then nothing's left to stop the whole green world from burning." When she cant get John to abandon Elizabeth for her, she decides to take matters into her own hands and gain control through manipulating the fears of others. What the people of Salem have seen as demonic possessions of the girls is nothing more than an act of deception. Parris is extremely dismayed by this revelation because of the damage it will do to his reputation. The hysterical atmosphere and the dramatic performances of some of the accusers cause people to believe they have seen genuine proof of witchcraft. The Puritans believed that children were to be seen and not heard. In today's society no one want to hear about something they fear, they would rather it be left alone than try to understand it. Abigail insists that she did nothing to deserve it and tries to put all the blame on Elizabeth Proctor. In The Crucible many examples of hypocrisy are shown. In each paragraph these traits will be further explained . Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com, allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. (pg. The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points, How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer, Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests. One path to higher standing and greater control would be in becoming John Proctors wife. In Act 2, the value of reputation in Salem starts to butt heads with the power of hysteria and fear to sway peoples opinions (and vengeance to dictate their actions). Other essay questions may not ask you directly about the themes listed in this article, but that doesn't mean that the themes are irrelevant to your writing. At the end this act, John Proctor delivers a short monologue anticipating the imminent loss of the disguises of propriety worn by himself and other members of the Salem community. First off, what is irony? mariana enriquez biography is hypocrisy a natural human flaw the crucible. The two characters that could have ended the mass hysteria are Abigail Williams and Deputy Governor Danforth. This new power is exciting and very dangerous because. Danforth and Mary Warren both embody hypocrisy, as seen when Mary says she cannot lie anymore and then lies when she becomes scared for her life, and Danforth when saying lying will send a person to Hell, but then forcing people to choose between lying and death. The meaning of HYPOCRISY is a feigning to be what one is not or to believe what one does not : behavior that contradicts what one claims to believe or feel; especially : the false assumption of an appearance of virtue or religion. If you can show that you understand the themes of a work of literature, you've clearly mastered the material on a deeper level. As the story progresses, Danforth and many other officials begin to realize that the entire situation in Salem progressed to far and honest people will continue to die unless they can convince people to lie in order to save themselves. Arthur Miller's 1953 play, ''The Crucible,'' features hypocrisy as a recurrent theme. It is not just, (Miller 129). flashcard sets. Hale is convinced that a scientific inquiry based only on facts and reality can be conducted to detect a supernatural presence. In her conversation with John, Abigail claims that he helped her realize all the lies she was told by two-faced people in Salem who only publicly adhere to the conventions of respectable society (pg. -Hypocrisy is the state of falsely claiming to possess virtuous characteristics that one lacks. Once there have been enough convictions, the reputations of the judges also become factors. Proctors good reputation is almost a burden for him at this point because he knows that he doesnt deserve it. In the next few sections,I'll take a look at a group of broad themes inThe Crucible, including irony, hysteria, reputation, and power. Shes not a traditionally accepted target like the others (except in her susceptibility as a woman to the misogyny that runs rampant in the play). These two institutions fuse together in The Crucible to actively encourage accusers and discourage rational explanations of events. First off, what is irony? Act 4 is Danforths turn to shine in the irony department. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? But these themes aren't always easy to explain or dissect in the context of the play, and they can be even harder to develop into essays. Its easy for more respectable citizens to accept that shes in league with the Devil because she is an "other" in Salem, just like Tituba. references the many sentencing decisions he has already made in the trials of the accused. This lie essentially condemns both of them. Get the latest articles and test prep tips! Other essay questions may not ask you directly about the themes listed in this article, but that doesn't mean that the themes are irrelevant to your writing. Arthur Miller speaks of Reverend Parris, stating: ''until this strange crisis he, like the rest of Salem, never conceived that the children were anything but thankful for being permitted to walk straight, eyes slightly lowered, arms at the sides, and mouths shut until bidden to speak.''. Why is Cheever both astonished and afraid when he finds the poppet with the needle in it? Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. This leads to Marys hysterical accusation of Proctor after she finds herself targeted by the other girls and about to be consumed by the hysteria herself if she doesnt contribute to it. By examining the characters of the play, I believe that the three major characters who should be blamed the most for the witch trials are Abigail Williams. The seeds are planted in Act 1, when Abigail is questioned about her activities in the woods and ends up accusing Tituba of witchcraft to avoid punishment. The play, The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller demonstrates the implications of a society in complete chaos over an irrational fear of witchcraft in the town of Salem, Massachusetts. The idea that a witch's familiar spirit is capable of stabbing people is too scary for the superstitious and now hysterical people of Salem to give Elizabeth the benefit of the doubt. It's here that we see the hypocrisy of the situation. Parris is very quick to position himself on the side of the accusers as soon as Abigail throws the first punch, and he immediately threatens violence on Tituba if she doesn't confess (pg. Her jealousy of Elizabeth Proctors position as Johns wife has led her to attempted murder, first by the charm in the woods and now by accusing Elizabeth of witchcraft. This act also sees the irony of Hale discussing the powers of the dark that are attacking Salem (pg. The whole purpose of a trial is to hear both sides of the story before a verdict is reached. To Danforth, anything that doesnt confirm that he was right all along is a lie. As Abigail begins to be accused she is pressured to deter from the truth. A 17-year-old girl named Abigail Williams had an affair with John Proctor, a wealthy, married man. We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. This vicious cycle continues to claim the lives of more and more people as the play progresses. This is taken as evidence that things are really getting out of control ("if Rebecca Nurse be tainted, then nothing's left to stop the whole green world from burning." A real example of irony would be if two married guests got into a fight about going to your wedding that ended in their divorce. This lie essentially condemns both of them. Though the play is fictional, the characters are named after real people who lived in Salem during that time. Reverend Parris, the paranoid widower and heaven-ordained minister of the town of Salem, was, simply put, a hypocrite. Nowhere is there any consideration of ulterior motives. Is there any character besides John Proctor that represents the voice of common sense amidst the madness? 123). He says, I would to God it were not so, Excellency, but these people have great weight yet in the town (pg. Most Important Themes in The Crucible, Analyzed. No one even considers Mary's statement about sticking the needle in herself. What makes Danforth so unwilling to consider that the girls could be pretending? I have given you my soul; leave me my name! (pg. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Danforth makes a shocking argument defending the way the trials have been conducted, insisting that only the victims testimony can serve as reliable evidence in this type of trial. The town, already primed with rumors of black magic, is quickly willing to accept that the first few women who are accused are involved in black magic because theyre beggars and slaves. He has sentenced people to death based on lies about their dealings in black magic, and he has accepted other false confessions from those who would rather lie than be executed. Choose a single character and discuss how this person embodies one of the themes. The play is about human weakness, hypocrisy, and vindictiveness. Hale doesnt realize that his own fears and suspicions are the real powers of the dark. The importance placed on reputation helps perpetuate hysteria because it leads to inaction, inflexibility, and, in many cases, active sabotage of the reputations of others for selfish purposes. Great, character-driven stories often have deeply flawed characters at their heart. Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Score, list of every single character in the play, details on the history and thematic parallels behind this connection. 44) but realizes that her word against Abigail will not stand. The ruthlessness with which the suspected witches are treated is aimed at purifying Salem, but it achieves the opposite outcome. By Act 2, there are nearly 40 people in jail accused of witchcraft. AbracaDENIAL! He refers to Johns refusal to confess as a calamity, looking past his own involvement in the larger calamity of the conviction that led John to this point. Even before the witch trials, the people of Salem are doing lots of little magic tricks to make all their unholy thoughts and actions disappear. How does this philosophy perpetuate hysteria? Tituba is forced to accept her role as a pawn for those with greater authority and a stepping stone for Abigails ascent to power. Danforth insists that John must know more about the Devil's dealings than he has revealed. Giles got arrested for contempt. This is a lesson in how fear can twist perceptions of reality even for those who consider themselves reasonable under normal circumstances. If Danforth accepts Marys testimony, it would mean that he wrongly convicted numerous people already. 73), meaning the girls are testing out the extent of the chaos they can create with their newfound power. An example would be something like: "How are themes like hysteria, hunger for power, reputation, or any of a number of others functional in the drama? In addition to grubbing for a few extra pounds every year, Parris makes a show out of needing golden candlesticks for the altar to replace the pewter ones that have served the church since it was built. Flaws in Human Reasoning Create a Tragic Figure One tragedy is a result of numerous conflicts and wrongdoings. Human Flaws in Arthur Miller's The Crucible Many of the characters in Arthur Miller's The Crucible have specific human flaws that cause the tragedy of the Salem Witch Trials. Tituba is pressured to confess and name the names of other witches to avoid execution, which leads to Abigail and Bettys accusations, now validated by a coerced confession. Sure, you don't expect or want rain, but it's not the polar opposite of getting married. In fact, we've all seen hypocrisy in our daily lives. As Reverend Hale says to Danforth, Excellency, there are orphans wandering from house to house; abandoned cattle bellow on the highroads, the stink of rotting crops hangs everywhere, and no man knows when the harlots cry will end his life - and you wonder yet if rebellions spoke? (Act 4, pg. This makes him particularly averse to accepting that he's been fooled by a teenage girl. Hale also contends with his guilt in act 4 for his role in condemning the accused witches, who he now believes are innocent. The girls are essentially given permission by authority figures to continue their act because they are made to feel special and important for their participation. The thematic significance of hysteria builds quickly as accusations of witchcraft proliferate throughout Salem. Hypocrisy is just one of many personality traits along many spectrums. A character named Abigail lived with proctor and his wife and his two sons. Each new false confession is thrown onto the pile of evidence of a grand Satanic plot, and as the pile grows larger, the hysteria surrounding it is fed generously. A constant theme through out the play is your personal reputation, maintaining a good name. Abigail, the one character who breaks from this mold slightly, is portrayed extremely unsympathetically despite the fact that the power dynamic between her and John makes him far more culpable in their illicit relationship. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you The overall message is that when a person's actions are driven by desires to preserve favorable public opinion rather than do the morally right thing, there can be extremely dire consequences. The importance placed on reputation helps perpetuate hysteria because it leads to inaction, inflexibility, and, in many cases, active sabotage of the reputations of others for selfish purposes. Hypocrisy is not simply failing to practice those virtues that one preaches, or known as saying one thing but doing another. In Act 3, Abigails power in the courthouse is on display. John has already confessed that the affair was the reason for Abigails dismissal. He says, I would to God it were not so, Excellency, but these people have great weight yet in the town (pg. The accusers cannot present concrete evidences, and their wrongful convictions must be further scrutinized. Fear that spread among a group of people in Salem during the Salem Witch Trials, that event in history is a prime example of Mass Hysteria. Do you not know that God damns all liars? (Miller 101). Both Hale and Proctor don't want to live with the consequences of their mistakes, so they try to ignore or undo their past actions. In the book the Crucible there are many hypocrites some dishonest some just following any one to be guilty, but one of the many character is Judge Danforth he mocks Marry when he ask "How were you instructed in your life? The second major theme in The Crucible (and one that teachers often ask about) is fear and hysteria. John tells the judge to summon Elizabeth to back him up because he knows she always tells the truth. In reality, he is constantly judging himself, and this leads to outbursts of anger against others who remind him of what he did (he already feels guilty enough!). In saying this he admits that a person can only avoid a hanging by confessing to witchcraft even if their statement contains no truth. Danforth also becomes frustrated with Proctor when he wont name names in his confession: Mr. The petition he presents to Danforth is used as a weapon against the signers rather than a proof of the innocence of Elizabeth, Martha, and Rebecca. The accused people of Salem are all innocent and have nothing to do with neither witchcraft nor convening with the devil. He questions Abigail aggressively because hes worried his enemies will learn the full story of what happened in the woods first and use it to discredit him. officials (like Danforth) unable or unwilling to listen to reason? One such example would be the scene in which Proctor and Parris are discussing Parris style of sermon, when Parris randomly exclaims that he is not being provided with as much wood as his contract spells out, as well as arguing for an extra six pounds per year. When Hale asks him to recite his commandments, the only one he forgets is adultery. The narrator tells the audience that there is very little good to be said of him (Miller 1100), yet as a minister the people of the town look to him to be a pious religious leader. Abigail is told by John to move on but instead, Abigail starts accusing the townspeople of witchcraft, including John Proctors wife Elizabeth. Reverend Parris' concerns about his reputation are immediately evident in Act 1. She continues to act under the assumption that his reputation is of the utmost importance to him, and she does not reveal the affair. When he starts to realize he continues to avoid people from getting mad at him for putting innocent people in jail and killing them. One flaw that can always be found in society and the Crucible is hypocrisy. John finally comes to the realization that Mary's truthful testimony cannot compete with the hysteria that has taken hold of the court. . Hale pg. This well-intentioned mistake seals both of their fates. He is weak and vulnerable after Abigail's theft of his life's savings, and hes even facing death threats from the townspeople as a result of John and Rebecca's imminent executions. Miller carries the theme of hypocrisy through Parris by giving the reverend a very greedy nature. While touting his holy credentials, he claims that he dare not take a life without there be a proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of my conscience may doubt it (pg. Proctor's wife, Elizabeth, is accused of being a witch and Proctor has to make a moral decision . Always include specific details, including direct quotes, to support your argument about how the theme is expressed in the play. This is irony of the same type that I discussed in the overview of this theme. Proctors good reputation is almost a burden for him at this point because he knows that he doesnt deserve it. A professor tells us that he has a strict rule about cell phones in the classroom, then he answers it midway through his own lecture. 61). It can be hard for the deaf and hard of hearing to become engaged in theater. These attributes are seen in both character, John Proctor from Arthur Millers play, The Crucible, set in Salem in the early seventeenth century and in Atticus Finch from Harper Lees novel, To Kill a Mockingbird set in New York in 1950. The depths of the hysteria that has gripped Salem are revealed in Act 3 when John finally confronts the court. What Are The Human Flaws In The Crucible 1560 Words | 7 Pages. The crucible, based during the Salem, Massachusetts witch trials of 1692. is hypocrisy a natural human flaw the crucible 16 is hypocrisy a natural human flaw the crucible. The overall message is that. There are many characters in the Crucible who are guilty of taking innocent lives, but there are three major characters who, without a doubt, are the most at blame. In the play The Crucible, Arthur Miller repeatedly portrays that duplicity and deceit are a natural part of human lives. Shes not a traditionally accepted target like the others (except in her susceptibility as a woman to the misogyny that runs rampant in the play). The Crucible by Arthur Miller, is a play based upon events that occurred in Salem circa 1690s. Though Rebecca Nurse's involvement has already been corroborated by other confessors, Danforth demands to hear it from John to confirm that John is fully committed to renouncing his supposed ties to Satan. She continues to act under the assumption that his reputation is of the utmost importance to him, and she does not reveal the affair.