The Crucible Essays (1058 words) - Salem Witch Trials, The Crucible

The Crucible The Crucible The play, The Crucible, is one with a vast amount of strength, and intelligence. The play is one in which a small suburban town in Massachusetts is overtaken by the devil, and witchcraft. It accurately retells the historic happenings of what the town of Salem, Massachusetts, went through during the spring of 1692. In this play, many if not all, of the characters make some sort of sacrifice cracter that sacrifices many more substantial things to him, which dramatically changes the course of the play, is John Proctor. In the play, John Proctor sacrificed: his word to Abigail to never tell anyone about their secret affair, his family, and he sacrificed his life to keep his name good in the town. John Proctor sacrificed many very meaningful things, which were ever so dear to him. In the play, The Crucible, John Proctor sacrificed his word to Abigail, to never tell anyone about their affair. While being married to a beautiful wife, Elizabeth, and having children, John Proctor goes and cheats on Elizabeth by having a secret affair with Abigail. John and Abigail had always kept this little secret to themselves and had not told a soul about it. However, when Abigail charges Elizabeth with witchcraft, in order to get closer to John so she can have him, John explains to Abigail that she must drop the charges on Elizabeth, or he will tell the whole town about their affair and it will destroy her well-known, clean, name. To prove this point, John warns Abigail, I will prove you for the fraud you are! (152) John also explains to her, to further her understanding, ?I say I will! If you can still hear, hear this! Can you hear! You will tell the court you are blind to spirits; you cannot see them anymore, and you will never cry witchery again, or I will make you famous f or the whore you are! (152) Also once the court found out that Elizabeth was pregnant with John's baby, they let her go anyway for one year, but they would recapture her again after that one-year was up. Abigail never dropped the charges on Elizabeth so in return, John told the whole town about their affair. John Proctor sacrificed his family. John got fed up with all that everyone was saying about witchcraft and the devil so out of sheer frustration, while in court one day, John shouts out at the top of his lungs I say--- say---God is dead! (119) By saying this, John is instantly sent to jail. After thinking in jail for a short time, he is presented with a disposition. In this disposition, he has to confess that he saw the devil and he was overtaken by witchcraft. If he signs the disposition, then he will be released from jail and let free. However, if he chooses not to sign this disposition, he will be hung. This disposition was then to be hung on the church door for the whole town to see, and act as an incentive for the rest of the townspeople's who have been a victim of witchcraft to come forth and confess for their crime. However John did not want this to happen, he just wanted to confess in words and keep it between him, his wife, the judge's, and the other few onlookers, but they would not allow that. To prove that John Proctor confessed in words, signed the disposition, but would not let them keep it, No, no. I have signed it. You have seen me. It is done! You have no need for this! (142) John felt that his confession in words was just as good as the signed disposition, I have confessed myself! Is there no good penitence but it being in public God does not need my name nailed upon the church! God sees my name; God knows how black my sins are! It is enough! (142) As a result of John not allowing them to keep the disposition showing his confession, he was hung and he sacrificed his family, which in turn made them suffer a great loss. John Proctor sacrificed his own life in order o keep his name white The Crucible Essays (1058 words) - Salem Witch Trials, The Crucible The Crucible The Evolution of a Truth Seeker A crucible is a severe test as of patients or belief, a trial. The play The Crucible is a journey through the trials of many townspeople caused by the superstitious belief of witchcraft. In The Crucible, Arthur Miller progresses and evolves the outlooks and views of the townspeople of Salem and shows how events, people, and catastrophes cause the characters to change their views on whether the people prosecuted were guilty or innocent of witchcraft. Reverend John Hale changes his view, more and more drastically as the play advances, as a result of the events that he underwent and the experiences he had. Soon he had total belief in the innocence of all those convicted and hung in Salem. Arthur Miller weaves many events into the story that contribute to the alteration in Hales mindset. In the middle of Act 1, Hale arrives and is perceived by the town as The truth seeker. Hale is called upon to determine what sort of witchcraft, if any, is occurring (Page 33-35). Hale arrives admired by the people, who all want him to claim it was witchcraft that has occurred. Although unsure, he understands he is being led toward the conclusion of witchcraft by the towns false pretences and mass hysteria. He begins to see a weakness in the position of the townspeople of Salem and tries to not let common accusations be the support for his diagnosis. The conversations that Hale has demonstrate the evolution of his mindset. In Act II, Hale is traveling around the town, going house-to-house, searching for accused women to warn them that their names have been mentioned in the court. Soon, Hale finds himself standing at the Proctor home. At this moment, Hale sees a different perspective on the entire situation. Proctor: I I have no witness and cannot prove it, except my word be taken. But I know the childrens sickness had naught to do with witchcraft. Mr. Parris discovered them sportin in the woods. They were startled and took sick. Hale: Who told you this? Proctor: Abigail Williams.(Page 68-69) Originally, Hale was only provided evidence that witchcraft was occurring in the town. Now that he has visited the Proctors home, he finds more support for his suspicion of the girls claims as he finds truth in the words of John Proctor. Abigail Williams told you it had naught to do with witchcraft Why why did you keep this? Nonsense! Mister, I have myself examined Tituba, Sarah Good, and numerous others that have confessed to dealing with the Devil. Thy have confessed it And you would you testify to this in court?(Page 68-69) No longer believing that Abigail and her crew were correct, Hale finally opens his eyes to the new possibility that those who confessed did it for the sake of not being hung. Hale sees the honesty in Procter and believes he is able to trust his word and at last not be as closed-minded about the witchcraft situation in Salem. Abigail Williams and her crew are now appearing in the court. Hale is really perceiving the show that the girls are putting on. Danforth may not be recognizing the lies of the children, but Hale become convinced that the claims of the children are false. I denounce these proceedings. I quit this court(Page 120). Hale is becoming frustrated with the mass hysteria of the town and fed up with the lies of the girls. He can see the lack of truthfulness in all of the testimonies and court appearances of the girls. Later, Hale stands up for his belief in the innocence of the victims even though they have been forced to admit their guilt (Page 130). You will confess yourself or you will hang (Page 117). Postponement means a floundering on my part(Page 129). He starts to realize that the court although, apparently truthful and fair, can be misleading and forceful in finding the guilt or innocence of a person depending on what the court desires. Miller uses the strongest form of influence possible to finally sway Hale into total belief in the innocence of those convicted in Salem. The deaths of the people served as an enormous influence on the opinion