Compare and contrast three authority figures in this drama: Hale, Danforth, and Parris. Hypocrisy: A Human Flaw 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. How do the witch trials empower individuals who were previously powerless? Read this character flaw list (with examples) for inspiration and develop interesting character weaknesses: 1. Will you confess yourself with him? (pg. A 17-year-old girl named Abigail Williams had an affair with John Proctor, a wealthy, married man. 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). Hale pg. 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 is told by John to move on but instead, Abigail starts accusing the townspeople of witchcraft, including John Proctors wife Elizabeth. In Act 2, John Proctors guilt over his affair with Abigail is demonstrated through an ironic exchange with Reverend Hale. As he says, How may I live without my name? He appears to have no governing system of morality. 133). 42). Fear plays an immense role in the way people make their decisions, such as when the characters of Danforth and Mary Warren . 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. Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here: PrepScholar 2013-2018. Here again, he is driving the point home that the villagers were greedy and seeking land, so they put some of the pillars of the community to death for their own gain. The ruthlessness with which the suspected witches are treated is aimed at purifying Salem, but it achieves the opposite outcome. Miller accomplishes this through almost, if not every character in the story. Danforth, who has the most authority, is also the most sold on her act, and it only takes a few screams to persuade him that hes in the presence of witchcraft. They could either confess to being guilty and is punished and put into jail or deny any relationship with the devil and be hanged and killed. | Certified Educator Arthur Miller clearly wants the audience to empathize with John Proctor in The Crucible, and we know this based on the principles for which he stands. Just like generosity, honesty and kindness are natural in people with those tendencies. This causes problems down the line as Parris allows his paranoia about losing his position to translate into enthusiasm for the witch hunt. Historical Context. Demosthenes made fun of Aeschines, a famous Greek politician who was also an actor, basically . 118). 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. Proctors good reputation is almost a burden for him at this point because he knows that he doesnt deserve it. 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. 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. The whole purpose of a trial is to hear both sides of the story before a verdict is reached. The most substantial female character is Abigail, who is portrayed as a devious and highly sexualized young woman. Abigail's version of events is held to be true even after John confesses to their affair in a final effort to discredit her. 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). Why is everyone so quick to believe Abigails story? Danforth has extensive pride in his intelligence and perceptiveness. Thomas Putnam claims to be a holy, church-going man, yet his priority in life is to acquire land. She continues to act under the assumption that his reputation is of the utmost importance to him, and she does not reveal the affair. Always include specific details, including direct quotes, to support your argument about how the theme is expressed in the play. These. 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. Salem is under attack from the hysteria that is encouraged by the same people who seek to keep imaginary supernatural demons at bay. John has already confessed that the affair was the reason for Abigails dismissal. Why does Mary Warren behave differently when she becomes involved in the trials? In the final events of Act 4, John Proctor has a tough choice to make between losing his dignity and losing his life. The second major theme in The Crucible (and one that teachers often ask about) is fear and hysteria. In fact, we've all seen hypocrisy in our daily lives. Danforth also becomes frustrated with Proctor when he wont name names in his confession: Mr. This is ironic because, Once the accusations begin, Parris initiates an ironic thought process that persists throughout. 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. How is Millers underlying message revealed in one of these themes and through the character?". They say not to use superstition when dealing with the Devil, who is in fact a superstition used to cover up the sinful dealings of the people. Can a work of art bring about change in the world? I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. Her goal is to help students adopt a less stressful view of standardized testing and other academic challenges through her articles. Hale also makes some unintentionally ironic statements in Act 1 when he begins his investigation. The play is about human weakness, hypocrisy, and vindictiveness. When the petition testifying to the good character of the accused women is presented, the reaction from Danforth, Hathorne, and Parris is to arrest the people who signed it rather than considering that this might indicate that the women are innocent. Reverend Parris' concerns about his reputation are immediately evident in Act 1. Abigail, in particular, has quickly risen from a nobody to one of the most influential people in Salem. 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. This hysteria-based evidence of witchcraft includes the discovery of the poppet in the Proctor household with a needle in it. Explain the irony of Hales position at the end of the play as compared to his actions at the beginning. Answer (1 of 7): In that all states of mind occur due to the nature of the brain, yes, hypocrisy is natural in people with that tendency. 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. Hypocrisy In Salem And The Crucible Proctor knows that unlike most of the other people who have gotten hanged, his is not completely innocent. 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. As this hysteria begins to rise, other people such as Thomas Putnam, a rich landowner, start to also allege Salem villagers. 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. It is used to draw away from a person's counterargument through addressing something unrelated. Abigails presence is always rife with irony in The Crucible, as she constantly chastises others for sins she herself has committed. Do you not know that God damns all liars? (Miller 101). These are themes that could be considered subsets of the topics detailed in the previous sections, but there's also room to discuss them as topics in their own right. How does Reverend Hale make Tituba feel important? She beg me make charm (Miller, pg. Is reputation more important than truth? Abigail also shows concern for her reputation. What motivates their attitudes and responses toward the witch trials? And he goes to save her, and, stuck two inches in the flesh of her belly, he draw a needle out." Instead of living a simple life and managing his duties in the town, he is always complaining that he either does not have enough material items or someone is attacking him, all thoughts that a priest should not be concerning himself with. In telling people they must confess to their crimes or be hanged, the officials show that they have already decided the person is guilty no matter what evidence is provided in their defense. Judge Danforth a well respected man in the society that has the supreme rule over the court. Rebecca Nurse, a woman whose character was previously thought to be unimpeachable, is accused and arrested. Mary is a hypocrite, because she's supposed to be helping the church rid of conjurers of the devil but instead she is deceitful. Why doesnt John immediately tell the court that he knows Abigail is faking? lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. 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This quotation shows the overall theme that hypocrisy is bred from the fear and condemnation of a society. Once the accusations begin, Parris initiates an ironic thought process that persists throughout The Crucible: You will confess yourself or I will take you out and whip you to your death, Tituba! (pg. The prisoners have lost all faith in earthly authority figures and look towards the judgment of God. She is enraged when Parris questions her suspicious dismissal from the Proctor household. No one thinks a teenage orphan girl is capable of such extensive deception (or delusion), so she is consistently trusted. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. Here are a few questions related to this theme that you can use to test your grasp of irony and its significance as a theme in The Crucible: Hale wrongly assumes that his academic mindset will save him from jumping to the wrong conclusions in the witchcraft investigation. Hypocrisy relates to The Crucible in that both Reverend Parris and Mr. Putnam are incredibly hypocritical characters. In steadfastly refusing to confess, Rebecca Nurse holds onto a great deal of power. Hale truly believes that the accused have been marked by the Devil. 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. Reverend Parris is in a position of power as the town's spiritual leader, but he is insecure about his authority. She believed she had seen spirits earlier because she was caught up in the delusions of those around her. The fact that he forgets only this commandment shows that he is trying extremely hard to repress his guilt. The Crucible remains a staple of high school English because it is rich in themes that are consistently relevant to human beings regardless of time period. Danforth wont listen to him for this reason. Danforth also acts out of concern for his reputations here. If you hope to write an awesome essay onThe Crucible, you should have extensive knowledge of its themes. She continues to act under the assumption that his reputation is of the utmost importance to him, and she does not reveal the affair. mariana enriquez biography is hypocrisy a natural human flaw the crucible. Though their Bible would forbid murder, they condemn people to death with an excuse of witchcraft just to get land. John and Rebeccas solid reputations lead to pushback against their executions even though people were too scared to stand up for them in the midst of the trials. hypocrisy is a flaw in human character that can be avoided if chosen to be. John Proctor is the tragic hero because he is loving, loyal, authoritative, but his tragic flaw is his . In the case of a play like The Crucible, themes are revealed mainly through the dialogue of the characters. Danforths image is extremely valuable to him, and he refuses to allow Parris concerns to disrupt his belief in the validity of his decisions. Parris initially insists that there are no unnatural causes for Bettys illness because he fears that he will lose favor with the townspeople if witchcraft is discovered under his roof. In Act 3, Abigails power in the courthouse is on display. 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. As he says,How may I live without my name? . 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. The power of mass hysteria is further revealed when Mary is unable to faint outside of a charged courtroom environment. How to use hypocrisy in a sentence. If Danforth accepts Marys testimony, it would mean that he wrongly convicted numerous people already. I chose . Proctors good reputation is almost a burden for him at this point because he knows that he doesnt deserve it. Fear plays an immense role in the way people make their decisions, such as when the characters of Danforth and Mary Warren resort to hypocrisy when no other options remain. In Act 3, Abigails power in the courthouse is on display. Why is hypocrisy so common in repressive communities like Salem? When this fallacy is used, the unrealistic characteristic is undesirable, causing the other person to look bad. Elizabeth is a victim of cruel irony in this Act when she is summoned to testify on the reasons why she dismissed Abigail from her household. The evidence used in the Salem Witch Trials further demonstrates the hypocrisy in the Puritan times. When the petition testifying to the good character of the accused women is presented, the reaction from Danforth, Hathorne, and Parris is to arrest the people who signed it rather than considering that this might indicate that the women are innocent. In a way,John welcomes the loss of his reputation because he feels so guilty about the disconnect between howhe is perceived by others and the sins he has committed. I highly recommend you use this site! A man of conscience is one who is aware of his moral and ethical beliefs and judgments and one who will prefer right over wrong. 41). Two characters who demonstrate how mob mentality can lead to the demise of Salem are Abigail and Mary Warren. An error occurred trying to load this video. 91). Tituba is forced to accept her role as a pawn for those with greater authority and a stepping stone for Abigails ascent to power. 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. 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. He claims that they must not jump to conclusions based on superstition in their investigation of Bettys affliction. This means that much of the population that remains is comprised of the power-hungry, the selfish, and the cowardly. The people in charge are so eager to hold onto their power that if anyone disagrees with them in the way the trials are conducted, it is taken as a personal affront and challenge to their authority. He believes there is a group of people in town determined to remove him from this position, and. Even before Abigail makes accusations, rumors of witchcraft have morphed into accepted truths in the minds of the more superstitious members of the community. Arthur Miller portrays the protagonist, Proctor, as the tragic hero of his play The Crucible. She is clearly outspoken and dominant, but her initial position in society is one of very little influence and authority. Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com, allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. 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. Get the latest articles and test prep tips! Why wont Danforth hear his evidence? To Danforth, anything that doesnt confirm that he was right all along is a lie. John Proctor, Elizabeth Proctor, Reverend Hale, Reverend Paris, and Abigail are the main characters. 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The madness begins in earnest with Abigails claim that Tituba and Ruth were conjuring spirits in the woods. In today's world hypocrisy is demonstrated by everyday citizens and even political leaders. Concern for reputation is a theme that looms large over most of the events in. He wrote the play as an allegory of McCarthyism, when the US government discriminated communists. The main pillars of traditional power are represented by the law and the church. 6). When Abigail accuses Elizabeth, a respected farmers wife, it shows that she is willing to take big risks to remove Elizabeth from the picture. Lying- Explain why the girls are more willing to lie . 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. Proctor, a score of people have already testified they saw [Rebecca Nurse] with the Devil (pg. The ruthlessness with which the suspected witches are treated is aimed at purifying Salem, but it achieves the opposite outcome. Many of the conflicts that occurred in the play were caused by Abigail Williams. He is appalled by Elizabeths lack of emotion when he asks her to help the court get a confession out of her husband (pg. The Crucible provides an example of how convenient lies can build on one another to create a universally accepted truth even in the absence of any real evidence. 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. 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. 123). Though hysteria overpowered the reputations of the accused in the past two acts, in act 4 the sticking power of their original reputations becomes apparent. Proctors strengths consist of, honesty and pride. Elizabeth notes that Mary's demeanor is now like that of the daughter of a prince (pg. By Act 2, there have been notable changes in the power structure in Salem as a result of the ongoing trials. Danforth continues to demonstrate the effects of hysteria in act 4 even after things have died down a bit in Salem and there have been rumblings of discontent about the courts actions. In this play, the author illustrates the central idea that people should not allow jealousy to control their actions. references the many sentencing decisions he has already made in the trials of the accused. Some will be very direct. SAT is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination BoardTM.

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