The Crucible
Men of God?
The Crucible by Arthur Miller is a play in which the Red Scare from the 1950's is paralleled to the Salem Witch Trials in 1692. It contains a wonderfully developed plot, which displays society's flaws by establishing a good versus evil scenario. Miller creates characters to fuel the evil and others that evolve to show the outbreak of good. Two of these characters are Reverend Samuel Parris, and Reverend John Hale. These men are the spiritual leaders for two neighboring towns in New England, whom many in the community looked up to. Although the personalities of these "men of God" seemed very similar throughout the first half of the play, self-centered and ...
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Betty of dealing with the devil, leaving her unconscious. Parris denies all witchcraft accusations, and refuses to believe his household was involved in dealing with the devil. Showing that he is solely consumed with thoughts regarding his reputation, Parris says to his neice, Abigail Williams, "They will topple me with this"(Miller 17). This displays Parris is obviously insecure with his place among the people, and concerned with the effects this event many have on him rather than his daughter. Parris wants to stop the rumors, and therefore calls upon Reverend Hale, a supposed "witch-craft expert" to mediate the controversy surrounding the town of Salem. Parris says, "He's not coming to look for devils" (Miller 28), but most are aware that Hale is coming to find the source of the evil, which will most likely be determined as dealings with the devil.
Another aspect of Parris is also shown in Act 1. Parris is incredibly insecure regarding his standing with the ...
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they want to hear. What seems peculiar is the fact that instead of examining Betty alone, he turns the bedroom into a stage where his spectacle will take place. Hale says before doing his so-called "tests" on the girl, "If she is truly in the Devil's grip, we may have to rip and tear to get her free" (Miller 41). Throughout the act, Hale threatens and manipulates people into falling into the thought that the Devil was involved here. By the end of the act, Hale convinces Tituba (the slave from Barbados), and other girls involved to confess with regards dealing with the Devil. The act resolves with the girls naming names of random people that they claimed to have seen dealing with the ...
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The Crucible. (2005, December 12). Retrieved April 24, 2024, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Crucible/37884
"The Crucible." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 12 Dec. 2005. Web. 24 Apr. 2024. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Crucible/37884>
"The Crucible." Essayworld.com. December 12, 2005. Accessed April 24, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Crucible/37884.
"The Crucible." Essayworld.com. December 12, 2005. Accessed April 24, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Crucible/37884.
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