Rebecca Nurse is a pure soul, who always took care of other people's children. Reverend Parris' concerns about his reputation are immediately evident in Act 1. This means that much of the population that remains is comprised of the power-hungry, the selfish, and the cowardly. Proctor, a score of people have already testified they saw [Rebecca Nurse] with the Devil (pg. 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. This is also the commandment that he has violated most explicitly, so youd think it would be the first one to spring to mind. Miller writes: ''As for Rebecca herself, the general opinion of her character was so high that to explain how anyone dared cry her out for a witchwe must look to the fields and boundaries of that time.'' 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!). No one even considers Mary's statement about sticking the needle in herself. you are exactly right. This new power is exciting and very dangerous because. 91). In Act 3, Abigails power in the courthouse is on display. Concern for reputation is a theme that looms large over most of the events in. 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. The first is that she is looking to escape . Hypocrisy relates to The Crucible in that both Reverend Parris and Mr. Putnam are incredibly hypocritical characters. Later in the play, she is accused. This quotation shows the overall theme that hypocrisy is bred from the fear and condemnation of a society. Reverend Parris' concerns about his reputation are immediately evident in Act 1. Reverend Hale, Abigail Williams and Judge Danforth. In this environment, whoever yells the loudest seems to get the most credibility. 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. 123). Logic has no power to combat paranoia and superstition even when the claims of the girls are clearly fraudulent. Miller wrote it as an allegory to the Red Scare, the promotion of fear of a potential rise of communism. The whole purpose of a trial is to hear both sides of the story before a verdict is reached. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? He says, I would to God it were not so, Excellency, but these people have great weight yet in the town (pg. 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. Danforth, Hathorne, and Parris become even more rigid in their views when they feel they are under attack. It's atoxic strategy that causes panic to spread quickly and fear for ones life to take the place of rationality. People in power continue to believe the accusers out of fear for their own safety, taking the hysteria to a point where no one is above condemnation. 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. 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. It is a somewhat fictional play about the Salem Witch Trials. This immaculate proof that has led him to sign numerous death warrants is nothing but the fabrications of teenage girls and other townspeople seeking petty revenge. How does reputation influence who is first accused of witchcraft? 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. While it does provide an entertaining experience at face value, the true literary genius behind the work is Miller's . In fact, we've all seen hypocrisy in our daily lives. 73), meaning the girls are testing out the extent of the chaos they can create with their newfound power. Once there have been enough convictions, the reputations of the judges also become factors. Salem is under attack from the hysteria that is encouraged by the same people who seek to keep imaginary supernatural demons at bay. . Through Abigail Williams, Miller was trying to state the injustice in Salem because she targeted the innocent people, leading to their death. She has the power to utterly destroy peoples lives with a single accusation because she is seen as a victim and a savior. In today's world hypocrisy is demonstrated by everyday citizens and even political leaders. How does Reverend Hale make Tituba feel important? I chose . Create your account, 7 chapters | Parris is extremely dismayed by this revelation because of the damage it will do to his reputation. 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. Abigails presence is always rife with irony in The Crucible, as she constantly chastises others for sins she herself has committed. Hale is convinced that a scientific inquiry based only on facts and reality can be conducted to detect a supernatural presence. She openly threatens Danforth for even entertaining Mary and John's accusations of fraud against her. All rights reserved. Read this character flaw list (with examples) for inspiration and develop interesting character weaknesses: 1. This is irony of the same type that I discussed in the overview of this theme. 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. Is hypocrisy a natural human flaw? 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. Thomas Putnam claims to be a holy, church-going man, yet his priority in life is to acquire land. If you argued that John Proctor was the central tragic character, you could say that his flaws were an excessive concern for his reputation and overconfidence in the power of reason to overcome hysteria. Hypocrisy involves the deception of others and is thus a kind of lie. 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. 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. In reality, true irony only happens when a situation is the exact opposite of what you would expect. The main display of Abby's hypocrisy is her incessant accusations of the accused as being unholy, God-damned and doing the Devils work. 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. Explain who you believe is the central tragic character in the play. He claims that they must not jump to conclusions based on superstition in their investigation of Bettys affliction. In saying this he admits that a person can only avoid a hanging by confessing to witchcraft even if their statement contains no truth. It is another trait we inherited from them, and it has helped to discipline us as well as to breed hypocrisy among us.'' 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. 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. Later in Act 4, Danforth becomes angry at the implication that Johns confession may not be the truth. A 17-year-old girl named Abigail Williams had an affair with John Proctor, a wealthy, married man. Do you not know that God damns all liars? (Miller 101). hbspt.cta.load(360031, '4efd5fbd-40d7-4b12-8674-6c4f312edd05', {}); Have any questions about this article or other topics? Lust and pride were John Proctors tragic flaws, lust is of course, one out of the seven sins. In The Crucible, they all fear witchcraft, because there is a rumor going around. Essay prompts will ask about these themes in a variety of different ways. Hale also contends with his guilt in act 4 for his role in condemning the accused witches, who he now believes are innocent. 50). I have given you my soul; leave me my name! (pg. As he says, How may I live without my name? John feels incredibly ashamed of his affair with Abigail, so he tries to bury it and pretend it never happened. Danforth also acts out of concern for his reputations here. references the many sentencing decisions he has already made in the trials of the accused. Mary Warren exemplifies hypocrisy extraordinarily well in the scene when she and Proctor travel to the courthouse so she can confess that the girls have pretended everything and they never actually saw spirits. 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. The play takes place in the city of Salem, a city filled with people that would do anything to keep their reputation clean. The turmoil in Salem is propelled forward by desires for revenge and power that have been simmering beneath the town's placid exterior. Abigail, in particular, has quickly risen from a nobody to one of the most influential people in Salem. What are their strengths and personal flaws? Abigail accuses Tituba first because Tituba is the one person below her on the ladder of power, so she makes an easy scapegoat. Abigail, in particular, has quickly risen from a nobody to one of the most influential people in Salem. Combining this notion with the one he declared earlier displays the hypocritical nature of Danforth when put in this hysterical. 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. This includes not only accusatory lies about the involvement of others in witchcraft but also the lies that people consistently tell about their own virtuousness and purity in such a repressive society. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. Hales involvement is taken to mean that there must be a supernatural element to Bettys illness. 123). She believed she had seen spirits earlier because she was caught up in the delusions of those around her. I am with God, I, Danforth expresses his opinions on lying when Mary Warren enter his court to confess herself and he begins the conversation by saying, How were you instructed in your life? He is appalled by Elizabeths lack of emotion when he asks her to help the court get a confession out of her husband (pg. John Proctor sabotages his own reputation in Act 3 after realizing it's the only way he can discredit Abigail. What the people of Salem have seen as demonic possessions of the girls is nothing more than an act of deception. Rebecca Nurse, a woman whose character was previously thought to be unimpeachable, is accused and arrested. I propose that each and every one of us is, or at some time has been, guilty of hyopcrisy. Here are a few questions about hysteria to consider now that you've read a summary of how this theme was expressed throughout the plot of the play: Even though there is significant reason to believe Abigail is lying about Elizabeth's familiar spirit stabbing her, the frenzied investigators ignore testimony that challenges their chosen witchy narrative. 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). Nowhere is there any consideration of ulterior motives. 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. Some will be very direct. 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. Thus demonstrating how mob mentality can impact an individual and ultimately drive the action of the play. 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. In this play, the author illustrates the central idea that people should not allow jealousy to control their actions. She openly threatens Danforth for even entertaining Mary and John's accusations of fraud against her. The prisoners have lost all faith in earthly authority figures and look towards the judgment of God. Abigails many deceptions are sometimes laughably ironic as she chastises others for lying even as she is spinning falsehoods. is hypocrisy a natural human flaw the crucible is hypocrisy a natural human flaw the crucible. Elizabeth notes that Mary's demeanor is now like that of the daughter of a prince (pg. 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. Believer, Baltimore City IEP Chair, and 2:39 marathon runner. It's here that we see the hypocrisy of the situation. 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. 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. 118). In Act 3, Hale continues to make ironic statements about the existence of concrete proof for the accusations of witchcraft. At first, Mary is being honest by admitting that Elizabeth . 41). 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. Abigail Williams was the main accuser of withes in Salem, and in her accusations she gained power in the town. This new power is exciting and very dangerous because it encourages the girls to make additional accusations in order to preserve their value in the eyes of the court. By the end of class, you should be able to: Identify basic elements of McCarthyism, including the following terms: Why is everyone so quick to believe Abigails story? By Act 2, there are nearly 40 people in jail accused of witchcraft. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. This is interesting because the children are the ones that the rest of the village relies upon to condemn people to death. Parris begs Danforth to postpone their hangings because he fears for his life if the executions proceed as planned. This is a lesson in how fear can twist perceptions of reality even for those who consider themselves reasonable under normal circumstances. The two characters that could have ended the mass hysteria are Abigail Williams and Deputy Governor Danforth. Hale pg. 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. Throughout the play, Miller uses the Salem Witch trials as a catalyst for Proctor's crucial development. The authorities ignore any inconvenient logical objections to the proceedings because they, too, are swept up in the madness. 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. The fact that he forgets only this commandment shows that he is trying extremely hard to repress his guilt. 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. The evidence used in the Salem Witch Trials further demonstrates the hypocrisy in the Puritan times. Abigail William is hypocritical because she does not follow the rules of the Salem trials. The judges cannot force her to commit herself to a lie, and her martyrdom severely damages their legitimacy and favor amongst the townspeople. The judges cannot force her to commit herself to a lie, and her martyrdom severely damages their legitimacy and favor amongst the townspeople. Concern for reputation is a theme that looms large over most of the events in The Crucible. Arthur Millers portrayal of a town in the midst of a downfall The Crucible, tells the story of how mob mentality and hysteria can significantly influence not only individuals but the whole town. succeed. These two institutions fuse together in The Crucible to actively encourage accusers and discourage rational explanations of events. 42). What is the writer attempting to convey to the viewer? Themes can be expressed in many different ways. Giles got arrested for contempt. Hale doesnt realize that his own fears and suspicions are the real powers of the dark. This is irony of the same type that I discussed in the overview of this theme. 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 most substantial female character is Abigail, who is portrayed as a devious and highly sexualized young woman. 61). 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. A Comprehensive Guide. I highly recommend you use this site! Of course, we know that Danforth has been trading peoples lives for lies this whole time. 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. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. 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. Choose a single character and discuss how this person embodies one of the themes. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. 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. Proctors good reputation is almost a burden for him at this point because he knows that he doesnt deserve it. To Danforth, anything that doesnt confirm that he was right all along is a lie. Read on for an overview of what a theme is, a list of important themes in The Crucible with specific act-by-act details, and a summary of how to use this information in your essays and other assignments. hypocrisy is a flaw in human character that can be avoided if chosen to be. Abigail's strength in Act I is the strength that is within her ability to influence others. By Act 2, there have been notable changes in the power structure in Salem as a result of the ongoing trials. As mentioned in the overview, religion holds significant power over the people of Salem. The authorities ignore any inconvenient logical objections to the proceedings because they, too, are swept up in the madness. John Proctor, Elizabeth Proctor, Reverend Hale, Reverend Paris, and Abigail are the main characters. They're also revealed though events in the plot. The desire to preserve and gain power pervadesThe Crucible as the witch trials lead to dramatic changes in which characters hold the greatest control over the course of events.