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. Irony abounds throughout The Crucibleascharacters who believe they are combating the Devils handiwork actually perform it themselves. 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. Giles got arrested for contempt. 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. This vicious cycle continues to claim the lives of more and more people as the play progresses. The madness begins in earnest with Abigails claim that Tituba and Ruth were conjuring spirits in the woods. 118). How are characters behaviors affected by concern for their reputations? Essay about Human Flaws in Arthur Miller's The Crucible Examples Of Abigail's Flaws In The Crucible - 709 Words | Bartleby The main pillars of traditional power are represented by the law and the church. Danforth has extensive pride in his intelligence and perceptiveness. 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. Danforth explains his inability to free the accused people because, twelve are already hanged for the same crime. She continues to act under the assumption that his reputation is of the utmost importance to him, and she does not reveal the affair. . makes them feel the best about themselves. This fact could destroy his credibility, so he is biased towards continuing to trust Abigail. Do you not know that God damns all liars? (Miller 101). Why does Mary Warren behave differently when she becomes involved in the trials? The court refuses to challenge anyone who claims to have been afflicted. While I speak Gods law, I will not crack its voice with whimpering (pg. Along with the final say in the putting to death of people during the Salem witch trials. 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. The depths of the hysteria that has gripped Salem are revealed in Act 3 when John finally confronts the court. Arthur Miller's "The Crucible" is a fictional account of the real life Salem witch trials, but the play has far deeper meanings than just a dramatic interpretation of the event. Abigails presence is always rife with irony in. How is Millers underlying message revealed in one of these themes and through the character?". This is especially true with the reputation and hysteria themes. -Hypocrisy is the state of falsely claiming to possess virtuous characteristics that one lacks. MPP friends writing about life, love, and everything else in between together. 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. Explain the irony of Hales position at the end of the play as compared to his actions at the beginning. Abigail possesses a two- pronged approach in her motivation. There's a message here about the choices we have in dealing with guilt. This is irony of the same type that I discussed in the overview of this theme. They're also revealed though events in the plot. 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. The Crucible is a play written by American author, Arthur Miller, in 1953. Hypocrisy in The Crucible - Essays - Notmichaelsellers - Brainia Hypocrisy, actually, didn't have a bad meaning until hypocrisy met politics in the 4th century B.C. 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. 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. Miller explains this further: ''long-held hatreds of neighbors could now be openly expressed, and vengeance taken, despite the Bible's charitable injunctions.'' This is a lesson in how fear can twist perceptions of reality even for those who consider themselves reasonable under normal circumstances. Parris is extremely dismayed by this revelation because of the damage it will do to his reputation. 22). Hales involvement is taken to mean that there must be a supernatural element to Bettys illness. Flaws in Human Reasoning Create a Tragic Figure One tragedy is a result of numerous conflicts and wrongdoings. This is also the commandment that he has violated most explicitly, so youd think it would be the first one to spring to mind. These people are the only ones who refuse to throw out false accusations or lie about involvement in witchcraft, so they find themselves condemned (this is the fate of Rebecca Nurse). 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. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. Examples Of Character Flaws In The Crucible - StudyMode Posted at 02:28h in motion to dismiss child support arrears by how does shakespeare present lady macbeth as ambitious. 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. What Is The Hypocrisy In The Crucible. There are several ironies in Act 1 that center around Abigail Williams. Take a look at this article for details on the history and thematic parallels behind this connection. 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. He is known for making the right decisions and never going against them. He says, I would to God it were not so, Excellency, but these people have great weight yet in the town (pg. He says, I would to God it were not so, Excellency, but these people have great weight yet in the town (pg. 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. She puts on a fake front to get what she wants, ultimately creating a persona thats even worse than that of the hypocrites she criticizes. She is clearly outspoken and dominant, but her initial position in society is one of very little influence and authority. 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. It caused many people, in Salem during this event to think fast, rash and jump to conclusions. 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. As this hysteria begins to rise, other people such as Thomas Putnam, a rich landowner, start to also allege Salem villagers. Get the latest articles and test prep tips! Can a work of art bring about change in the world? He believes there is a group of people in town determined to remove him from this position, and he will say and do whatever it takes to retain control. It can be hard for the deaf and hard of hearing to become engaged in theater. 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. When Hale asks him to recite his commandments, the only one he forgets is adultery. Abigails power skyrockets as the hysteria grows more severe. Examples Of Flaws In The Crucible - 598 Words | Bartleby She continues to act under the assumption that his reputation is of the utmost importance to him, and she does not reveal the affair. Judge Danforth a well respected man in the society that has the supreme rule over the court. Though the play is fictional, the characters are named after real people who lived in Salem during that time. She is enraged when Parris questions her suspicious dismissal from the Proctor household. 129)He is still convinced that all the prisoners are guilty and is determined to force them to admit their guilt. Is hypocrisy a natural human flaw? - Opinions and Principles 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. This hysteria-based evidence of witchcraft includes the discovery of the poppet in the Proctor household with a needle in it. 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. Theme 3: Reputation. 121). 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. The Crucible is set during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. 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. 133). The power of mass hysteria is further revealed when Mary is unable to faint outside of a charged courtroom environment. Nowhere is there any consideration of ulterior motives. South Plantation High School, one of the only schools to offer a program for the deaf, cast tradition aside to create a rendition of The Crucible that is truly one of a kind. Even Judge Danforth, supposedly a reliable source of justice and solidity, goes against what he knows to be true by forcing those arrested to either confess to crimes they did not commit or face the gallows, all to save his name and prevent it from looking like he had hanged innocent people. Hale also contends with his guilt in act 4 for his role in condemning the accused witches, who he now believes are innocent. Why is everyone so quick to believe Abigails story? 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).
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