The price he has to pay in reputation to save his own life is ultimately too high. 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. 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. However, this runs up against Danforths desire to preserve his reputation as a strong judge. 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. Hale doesnt realize that his own fears and suspicions are the real powers of the dark. It's one thing to understand the major themes in The Crucible, and it's another thing completely to write about them yourself. 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. MPP friends writing about life, love, and everything else in between together. Reverend Hale enters as a specialist from Boston who has seen the effects that witchcraft has had on others. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? The attitudes towards women in the 1950s, when the play was written, are evident in the roles they're given. The second major theme in The Crucible (and one that teachers often ask about) is fear and hysteria. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. If you can show that you understand the themes of a work of literature, you've clearly mastered the material on a deeper level. Once there have been enough convictions, the reputations of the judges also become factors. 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. Even before Abigail makes accusations, rumors of witchcraft have morphed into accepted truths in the minds of the more superstitious members of the community. In this act, she yells Dont lie! at Tituba immediately before she tells some of the most damning lies of the play accusing Tituba of witchcraft (She comes to me while I sleep; shes always making me dream corruptions! pg. 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. Abigails presence is always rife with irony in. 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. Elizabeth doesnt realize that John is willing to sacrifice his reputation to save her life. If Tituba was permitted to explain what really happened, the ensuing tragedy might have been prevented. How does reputation influence who is first accused of witchcraft? This is a lesson in how fear can twist perceptions of reality even for those who consider themselves reasonable under normal circumstances. People are quick to believe something even if there is no evidence for their fear. 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. Greed is a sin in the Puritan religion, so the people who supported the accusations were indeed hypocrites. In this environment, whoever yells the loudest seems to get the most credibility. 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." Abigails presence is always rife with irony in The Crucible, as she constantly chastises others for sins she herself has committed. 119). 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. This act also sees the irony of Hale discussing the powers of the dark that are attacking Salem (pg. mariana enriquez biography is hypocrisy a natural human flaw the crucible. 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. What is the difference between dissent and disloyalty? The Crucible is set during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. 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. Throughout "The Crucible", Abigail Williams commits the largest act of hypocrisy. 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. 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. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. I feel like its a lifeline. 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. Proctors strengths consist of, honesty and pride. In Act 2, John Proctors guilt over his affair with Abigail is demonstrated through an ironic exchange with Reverend Hale. John Proctor is the tragic hero because he is loving, loyal, authoritative, but his tragic flaw is his . 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? The judges cannot force her to commit herself to a lie, and her martyrdom severely damages their legitimacy and favor amongst the townspeople. I have given you my soul; leave me my name! (pg. No one will listen to Tituba until she agrees to confirm the version of events that the people in traditional positions of authority have already decided is true, a pattern which continues throughout the play. | 2 She openly threatens Danforth for even entertaining Mary and John's accusations of fraud against her. This makes him particularly averse to accepting that he's been fooled by a teenage girl. Ann Putnam jumps at any opportunity to blame supernatural forces for the deaths of her children. This well-intentioned mistake seals both of their fates. 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. The overall message is that. 50). 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. Later in Act 4, Danforth becomes angry at the implication that Johns confession may not be the truth. Innocent and guilty people have been put to death underneath his Judgement, to him this demonstrates his superiority and power. Abigail distracts the judges from any rational investigation in this act by playing into this hysteria. Always include specific details, including direct quotes, to support your argument about how the theme is expressed in the play. By Act 2, there have been notable changes in the power structure in Salem as a result of the ongoing trials. In today's world hypocrisy is demonstrated by everyday citizens and even political leaders. Like a struck beast, he says, and screamed a scream that a bull would weep to hear. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. If you hope to write an awesome essay onThe Crucible, you should have extensive knowledge of its themes. It is a somewhat fictional play about the Salem Witch Trials. Why is Giles Cory expelled from court? Will you confess yourself with him? (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. 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. . I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. As he says,How may I live without my name? Danforth is the governor of Massachusetts who thinks of himself as a fair man. 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. 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. 42). 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. 130). 130). Arthur Miller's 1953 play, ''The Crucible,'' features hypocrisy as a recurrent theme. In the next few sections,I'll take a look at a group of broad themes inThe Crucible, including irony, hysteria, reputation, and power. Elizabeth notes that Mary's demeanor is now like that of the daughter of a prince (pg. 67). In reality, true irony only happens when a situation is the exact opposite of what you would expect. 133). Abigail, in particular, has quickly risen from a nobody to one of the most influential people in Salem. She is clearly outspoken and dominant, but her initial position in society is one of very little influence and authority. Flaws in Human Reasoning Create a Tragic Figure One tragedy is a result of numerous conflicts and wrongdoings. If Tituba was permitted to explain what really happened, the ensuing tragedy might have been prevented. 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. builds quickly as accusations of witchcraft proliferate throughout Salem. The town slips further and further into chaos and paranoia until it reaches a point of total devastation. 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. Thomas Putnam claims to be a holy, church-going man, yet his priority in life is to acquire land. How does this philosophy perpetuate hysteria? It is another trait we inherited from them, and it has helped to discipline us as well as to breed hypocrisy among us.'' Hypocrisy is shown between the characters: Abigail Williams, Reverend Parris, and Hale. Ask below and we'll reply! 121). 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.'' Along with the final say in the putting to death of people during the Salem witch trials. 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. Lying- Explain why the girls are more willing to lie . This causes problems down the line as Parris allows his paranoia about losing his position to translate into enthusiasm for the witch hunt. It can be hard for the deaf and hard of hearing to become engaged in theater. Themes tell us what the purpose of the work is. Tituba attempts to tell the truth about Abigail when she says, You beg me to conjure! Most Important Themes in The Crucible, Analyzed. While it does provide an entertaining experience at face value, the true literary genius behind the work is Miller's . Even with prompts that ask you to discuss a specific character or plot point, you can find ways to connect your answer to major themes. This vicious cycle continues to claim the lives of more and more people as the play progresses. 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. Her goal is to help students adopt a less stressful view of standardized testing and other academic challenges through her articles. 6). She is cast as a villain. Danforth explains his inability to free the accused people because, twelve are already hanged for the same crime. Danforth has extensive pride in his intelligence and perceptiveness. 71). 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. Hypocrisy In Salem And The Crucible Proctor knows that unlike most of the other people who have gotten hanged, his is not completely innocent. 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. hypocrisy is a flaw in human character that can be avoided if chosen to be. People were put to death because their neighbors suspected them of committing a crime, but murder is a sin in the Puritan religion. 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. The play takes place in the city of Salem, a city filled with people that would do anything to keep their reputation clean. We hear a lot about hypocrisy, or when someone's actions don't match up with the professed values. This is also the commandment that he has violated most explicitly, so youd think it would be the first one to spring to mind. Based on the background knowledge of the time, slaves were not considered part of the class system, so she was not valued as a community member. The power of collective hysteria ultimately becomes insurmountable because it grows larger than the influence of the few rational voices in the community. Arthur Miller used this notion of hypocrisy when he wrote The Crucible to show us the theme, or underlying message, that a hypocritical society can be dangerous. 22). 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.''. No one even considers Mary's statement about sticking the needle in herself. It caused many people, in Salem during this event to think fast, rash and jump to conclusions. The Crucible, a play by Arthur Miller, is a story where many people had been accused of witchcraft and a lot of innocent victims faced a difficult decision. The fact that he forgets only this commandment shows that he is trying extremely hard to repress his guilt. 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.
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