Being in contact with someone else means mediating between ourselves and the other. He shows the hypocrisy of the Puritans by showing their belief system and how they have not acted in accordance with those beliefs. "She sat to dinner in Reverend Parris's house tonight, and without word nor warnin' she falls to the floor. Well, it's not. No one thinks a teenage orphan girl is capable of such extensive deception (or delusion), so she is consistently trusted. Revered Parris claims to be a godly minister, yet he is always clamoring for more: golden candlesticks, property rights, more money. By the end of class, you should be able to: Identify basic elements of McCarthyism, including the following terms: Hale truly believes that the accused have been marked by the Devil. Hales involvement is taken to mean that there must be a supernatural element to Bettys illness. Abigails power skyrockets as the hysteria grows more severe. The overall message is that. Choose a single character and discuss how this person embodies one of the themes. What ACT target score should you be aiming for? To illustrate this, he simultaneously shows the Puritan belief system while describing characters that do not obey that system, yet pretend to in their daily lives. 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Giles got arrested for contempt. 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 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. 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. The Crucible's themes have lent the play artistic longevity because they're more or less universal to the human experience across time. Act 4 is Danforths turn to shine in the irony department. 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. 91). It's one thing to understand the major themes in The Crucible, and it's another thing completely to write about them yourself. Miller depicts through characters such as these that humans cannot exist without the flaw of hypocrisy. Tituba attempts to tell the truth about Abigail when she says, You beg me to conjure! 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. A character named Abigail lived with proctor and his wife and his two sons. 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. In the Crucible by Arthur Miller is a play that is based of 1962 Salem Massachusetts, the site of one of the worst witch-hunts in history. The only power they have left is in refusing to confess and preserving their integrity. How does Reverend Hale make Tituba feel important? Innocent and guilty people have been put to death underneath his Judgement, to him this demonstrates his superiority and power. The main point that the story revolves around is that people would rather lie and blame someone else instead of confessing and accepting the punishment. 73), meaning the girls are testing out the extent of the chaos they can create with their newfound power. As mentioned in the overview, religion holds significant power over the people of Salem. They're also revealed though events in the plot. Danforth insists that John must know more about the Devil's dealings than he has revealed. Goody Good, an old beggar woman, is one of the first to be named a witch. 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. What Are The Human Flaws In The Crucible 1560 Words | 7 Pages. Hale is convinced that a scientific inquiry based only on facts and reality can be conducted to detect a supernatural presence. Miller includes some commentary on Hale: ''One cannot help noting that one of his lines has never yet raised a laugh in any audience that has seen this play; it is his assurance that, 'We cannot look to superstition in this. Miller accomplishes this through almost, if not every character in the story. Danforth is the governor of Massachusetts who thinks of himself as a fair man. Armed with the false proof of these coerced confessions, the court officials aggressively persecute anyone who is accused. This quotation shows the overall theme that hypocrisy is bred from the fear and condemnation of a society. Compare and contrast three authority figures in this drama: Hale, Danforth, and Parris. Reverend Parris has fallen from his position of authority as a result of the outcomes of the trials. He is somewhat responsible for all of the witch trials; if he wouldn't of committed adultery with Abigail, she wouldn't have gone on her rampage of blaming people. John finally comes to the realization that Mary's truthful testimony cannot compete with the hysteria that has taken hold of the court. Why does Mary Warren warn John about testifying against Abigail? The court's attempts to preserve Puritan morality by arresting and executing accused witches ironically lead to the removal of the most virtuous people from society. Proctor is infuriated. The town slips further and further into chaos and paranoia until it reaches a point of total devastation. She is clearly outspoken and dominant, but her initial position in society is one of very little influence and authority. This hysteria-based evidence of witchcraft includes the discovery of the poppet in the Proctor household with a needle in it. 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). The Judge forcing people to lie to save their lives he cant see the wrong hes doing. 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. John feels incredibly ashamed of his affair with Abigail, so he tries to bury it and pretend it never happened. These types of statements made by Hale earlier in the play become even more ironic in Act 4 when he realizes he made a horrible mistake by trusting the evidence that was presented to him. This attitude comes from a man who has shown no remorse for condemning people to death throughout the play. Once there have been enough convictions, the reputations of the judges also become factors. Reverend Parris is in a position of power as the town's spiritual leader, but he is insecure about his authority. 68 lessons Concern for reputation is a theme that looms large over most of the events in The Crucible. The play takes place in the city of Salem, a city filled with people that would do anything to keep their reputation clean. 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. Both flaws led him to delay telling the truth about Abigail's fraudulent claims and their previous relationship, thus dooming himself and many others to death or imprisonment. 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. 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. She is cast as a villain. In this act, we learn more details about the accused that paint a clearer picture of the influence of reputation and social standing on the patterns of accusations. Anns extreme conclusions are gradually accepted because rational people are too afraid to challenge the consensus and risk bringing accusations upon themselves. 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. (Cheever pg. In today's world hypocrisy is demonstrated by everyday citizens and even political leaders. The people who preside over the trials are corrupt. This confess or die mindset is one of the central ironies of the play. 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. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. The Crucible by Arthur Miller is set in Salem in a Puritan community. Later in Act 4, Danforth becomes angry at the implication that Johns confession may not be the truth. Hypocrisy is shown between the characters: Abigail Williams, Reverend Parris, and Hale. One path to higher standing and greater control would be in becoming John Proctors wife. Essay prompts will ask about these themes in a variety of different ways. Why is hypocrisy so common in repressive communities like Salem? Abigail possesses a two- pronged approach in her motivation. When Abigail accuses Elizabeth, a respected farmers wife, it shows that she is willing to take big risks to remove Elizabeth from the picture. The each profess to want truth and to desire to punish actual wrongdoers. Though actions are often motivated by fear and desires for power and revenge, they are also propped up by underlying worries about how a loss of reputation will negatively affect characters' lives. The only power they have left is in refusing to confess and preserving their integrity. The Crucible is a play written by American author, Arthur Miller, in 1953. Abigail distracts the judges from any rational investigation in this act by playing into this hysteria. In high school, she earned a 2400 on the SAT, 5's on all seven of her AP tests, and was named a National Merit Scholar. Hales involvement is taken to mean that there must be a supernatural element to Bettys illness. Danforth explains his inability to free the accused people because, twelve are already hanged for the same crime. flashcard sets. He believes that Postponement now speaks a floundering on my part; reprieve or pardon must cast doubt upon the guilt of them that died till now. To Danforth, anything that doesnt confirm that he was right all along is a lie. 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. The human lust and want for power has been and is the base of each and every witch-hunt. In a case like this, you'd be writing directly about a specific theme in connection to one of the characters. When Hale asks him to recite his commandments, the only one he forgets is adultery. Hypocrisy involves the deception of others and is thus a kind of lie. The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points, How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer. For example, Bridget Bishop dressed in red, a color that was abhorrent in the Puritan eyes. 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 The Crucible by Arthur Miller many people panicked from the witch hysteria which caused many to be accused of being witches, Judge Danforth decided what happens to the accused witches and is the most corrupted in Salem because his power of being a judge made him go overboard with his decisions on people. 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. 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. 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. Johns concern for his reputation is strong throughout the play, and his hesitation to reveal Abigails true nature is a product of his own fears of being labeled an adulterer. As this hysteria begins to rise, other people such as Thomas Putnam, a rich landowner, start to also allege Salem villagers. The irony is that, in the face of Johns rejection, Abigail turns around and creates her own lies soon after that give her increased control over the society she resents. He is completely oblivious to the fact that the victims might be lying. People were put to death because their neighbors suspected them of committing a crime, but murder is a sin in the Puritan religion. 50). John Proctor surrenders his agency at the end of Act 3 in despair at the determination of the court to pursue the accusations of witchcraft and ignore all evidence of their falsehood. 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. John has already confessed that the affair was the reason for Abigails dismissal. Lust and pride were John Proctors tragic flaws, lust is of course, one out of the seven sins. Hale tries to combat his guilt by persuading the prisoners to confess, refusing to accept that the damage has already been done. 22). Miller portrays Danforths characterization as stubborn, highly religious, and arrogant in order to to provide a clearer understanding. To Danforth, anything that doesnt confirm that he was right all along is a lie. Elizabeth is defined by her relationship to John, and Mary is pushed around by other characters (mostly men) throughout the play. How does the central tragic character change throughout the play, and how does this relate to the play's title? Proctors good reputation is almost a burden for him at this point because he knows that he doesnt deserve it. Abigails many deceptions are sometimes laughably ironic as she chastises others for lying even as she is spinning falsehoods. Why wont Danforth hear his evidence? What makes Danforth so unwilling to consider that the girls could be pretending? Where before she was just an orphaned teenager, now, in the midst of the trials, she becomes the main witness to the inner workings of a Satanic plot. She attended church regularly and was the embodiment of how a Puritan woman should behave. While I speak Gods law, I will not crack its voice with whimpering (pg. Furthermore, this is destructive influence because by telling Elizabeth to tell Proctor to lie, this adds upon his sins. If you hope to write an awesome essay onThe Crucible, you should have extensive knowledge of its themes. These connections will bolster your responses by positioning them in relation to the most important concepts discussed throughout the play. 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." Abigail accuses Tituba first because Tituba is the one person below her on the ladder of power, so she makes an easy scapegoat. She is clearly outspoken and dominant, but her initial position in society is one of very little influence and authority. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 88,000 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. There is a culture of keeping up appearances already in place, which makes it natural for people to lie about witnessing their neighbors partaking in Satanic rituals when the opportunity arises (especially if it means insulating themselves from similar accusations and even achieving personal gain). He is appalled by Elizabeths lack of emotion when he asks her to help the court get a confession out of her husband (pg. Thomas Putnam claims to be a holy, church-going man, yet his priority in life is to acquire land. The whole purpose of a trial is to hear both sides of the story before a verdict is reached. An example of hypocrisy is when Mary defends Elizabeth in court, but then gives her a poppet which lands Elizabeth in jail for owning a tool of witchcraft. In Act 1 he jumped on board with the hysteria to preserve his power, but he ended up losing what little authority he had in the first place (and, according to Miller's afterward, was voted out of office soon after the end of the play). Many people are under the impression that irony is just when something happens that you don't expect (or that you really hoped wouldn't happen). Parris is hypocritical because he is not a . Explain who you believe is the central tragic character in the play. The College Entrance Examination BoardTM does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content of this site. This is ironic because, Once the accusations begin, Parris initiates an ironic thought process that persists throughout. Rebecca Nurse's accusation further demonstrates the hypocrisy in the play. He chooses to die instead of providing a false confession because he doesnt think life will be worth living after he is so disgraced. 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 Comprehensive Guide. The classic example of an incorrect use of irony is in Alanis Morisette's song "Ironic" when she says that "rain on your wedding day" is an example of irony. We hear a lot about hypocrisy, or when someone's actions don't match up with the professed values. Arthur Miller's 1953 play, ''The Crucible,'' features hypocrisy as a recurrent theme. Sure, you don't expect or want rain, but it's not the polar opposite of getting married. Irony abounds throughout The Crucibleascharacters who believe they are combating the Devils handiwork actually perform it themselves. This shows us how one person who starts. 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. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. The Crucible is not only a dramatization of . Hypocrisy is "the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform". He insists,I am not empowered to trade your life for a lie (pg. People who were accused of witchcraft are wrongfully indicted, and those transgressions must be justified. Danforth is convinced that there is a moving plot to topple Christ in the country! and anyone who doubts the decisions of the court is potentially involved. How is Millers underlying message revealed in one of these themes and through the character?". By Act 2, there are nearly 40 people in jail accused of witchcraft. Can a work of art bring about change in the world? SAT is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination BoardTM. 71). While it does provide an entertaining experience at face value, the true literary genius behind the work is Miller's . This is a lesson in how fear can twist perceptions of reality even for those who consider themselves reasonable under normal circumstances. you are exactly right. The faces that people present to the public are designed to garner respect in the community, but the witch trials have thrown this system into disarray. This fact could destroy his credibility, so he is biased towards continuing to trust Abigail. The Crucible is set during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Miller's portrayal of women in The Crucible is a much-discussed topic. Though the play is fictional, the characters are named after real people who lived in Salem during that time. Miller fills us in on much of the history in breaks in the play where he offers commentary in his own voice. Goody Good, an old beggar woman, is one of the first to be named a witch. They use children's stories as evidence though not respecting them otherwise. 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 atoxic strategy that causes panic to spread quickly and fear for ones life to take the place of rationality. In this act, we learn more details about the accused that paint a clearer picture of the influence of reputation and social standing on the patterns of accusations. Get unlimited access to over 88,000 lessons. The accusers cannot present concrete evidences, and their wrongful convictions must be further scrutinized. 67). references the many sentencing decisions he has already made in the trials of the accused. 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. is hypocrisy a natural human flaw the crucible 16 is hypocrisy a natural human flaw the crucible. Miller addresses a similar hysteria throughout his play. Ironically, though she is normally honest to a fault, in this situation Elizabeth decides to lie to preserve Johns reputation, not knowing he has already confessed. I have not seen a single politician who isnt a hypocrite. Though actions are often motivated by fear and desires for power and revenge, they are also propped up by underlying worries about how a loss of reputation will negatively affect characters' lives. His only goal is to get on the good side of the community as a whole, even in the midst of this bout of collective hysteria. How does Parris pride prevent him from doing anything to stop the progression of events in the play? Her goal is to help students adopt a less stressful view of standardized testing and other academic challenges through her articles. The prisoners have lost all faith in earthly authority figures and look towards the judgment of God. 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 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." Revenge in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Theme, Examples & Analysis, Allusion in the Crucible by Arthur Miller | Examples & Overview, Thomas Putnam in The Crucible | Character Traits, Quotes & Personality, Irony in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Overview & Examples, Abigail Williams in The Crucible | Quotes, Traits & Descriptions, The Crucible by Arthur Miller: Act 1 | Quotes, Overview & Analysis, Judge John Hathorne in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Analysis & Quotes, John Proctor in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Quotes, Analysis & Development, Reverend John Hale in the Crucible by Arthur Miller | Traits, Quotes & Analysis, Reverend Parris in The Crucible | Character Traits & Quotes, Hysteria in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Theme, Quotes & Examples, Fear in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Quotes, Examples & Analysis, Judge Danforth in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Character & Quotes, Giles Corey Character Analysis & Quotes | The Crucible by Arthur Miller, Ruth Putnam in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Character & Analysis, Symbols in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Examples & Analysis, NYSTCE English Language Arts (003): Practice and Study Guide, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Study Guide, English 103: Analyzing and Interpreting Literature, EPT: CSU English Language Arts Placement Exam, ILTS English Language Arts (207): Test Practice and Study Guide, Common Core ELA Grade 8 - Language: Standards, College English Composition: Help and Review, Create an account to start this course today.

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