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The College Entrance Examination BoardTM does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content of this site. 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. Danforth, Hathorne, and Parris become even more rigid in their views when they feel they are under attack. 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. 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. All rights reserved. Abigails power skyrockets as the hysteria grows more severe. John has already confessed that the affair was the reason for Abigails dismissal. Tituba is conscious that she is in danger, she is also very frightened because her slave sense has warned her that, as always, trouble in this house eventually lands on her back (Miller, pg. How are characters behaviors affected by concern for their reputations? These hypocritical actions take away from the authority of the person or people committing them. By Act 2, there are nearly 40 people in jail accused of witchcraft. 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. Mary Warrens sense of self-importance has increased as a result of the perceived value of her participation in court. 129). Is hypocrisy a natural state of the human mind? - Quora Parris begs Danforth to postpone their hangings because he fears for his life if the executions proceed as planned. His guilt leads to great tension in interactions with Elizabeth because he projects his feelings onto her, accusing her of being judgmental and dwelling on his mistakes. 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. The most substantial female character is Abigail, who is portrayed as a devious and highly sexualized young woman. It is part of our carnal nature to hold others to a higher standard than our own. How do you think Arthur Miller wishes the audience to respond - eNotes What Are The Human Flaws In The Crucible | ipl.org Abigails low status and perceived innocence under normal circumstances allow her to claim even greater power in her current situation. The depths of the hysteria that has gripped Salem are revealed in Act 3 when John finally confronts the court. The Crucible is commonly viewed as an allegorical representation of the communist "witch hunts" conducted in the 1950s. These attributes are seen in both character, John Proctor from Arthur Millers play, The Crucible, set in Salem in the early seventeenth century and in Atticus Finch from Harper Lees novel, To Kill a Mockingbird set in New York in 1950. Can a work of art bring about change in the world? No one thinks a teenage orphan girl is capable of such extensive deception (or delusion), so she is consistently trusted. The power of collective hysteria ultimately becomes insurmountable because it grows larger than the influence of the few rational voices in the community. This fact could destroy his credibility, so he is biased towards continuing to trust Abigail. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. Not living up to our beliefs, opinions,virtues, feelings, qualities, or standards is not a hypocrisy.Hypocrisy is pretending (and lying to others) to have them when we don't. The overall message is that when a person's actions are driven by desires to preserve favorable public opinion rather than do the morally right thing, there can be extremely dire consequences. 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. Danforth insists that John must know more about the Devil's dealings than he has revealed. What are some of the factors that feed the panic and suspicion in Salem, and why are. Many of us in today's society do not believe in this; however, the Puritans really did believe that people could be vessels for the Devil. In fact, we've all seen hypocrisy in our daily lives. Explain the irony of Hales position at the end of the play as compared to his actions at the beginning. He shows the hypocrisy of the Puritans by showing their belief system and how they have not acted in accordance with those beliefs. Salem is under attack from the hysteria that is encouraged by the same people who seek to keep imaginary supernatural demons at bay. 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 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. Through this statement he clearly demonstrates his belief that lying will send a person to Hell. Then, on the other end of the spectrum, we have Rebecca Nurse. Here are some discussion questions to consider after reading about the thematic role of the concepts of power and authority in the events of the play: Mary Warren when she comes back from Salem in Act 2. Proctors strengths consist of, honesty and pride. When Abigail accuses Elizabeth, a respected farmers wife, it shows that she is willing to take big risks to remove Elizabeth from the picture. Innocent and guilty people have been put to death underneath his Judgement, to him this demonstrates his superiority and power. The whole purpose of a trial is to hear both sides of the story before a verdict is reached. The Crucible - 534 Words | Studymode The fear caused by the thought of supernatural evil in Salem causes the characters in the play to turn a blind eye to logic and instead believe in claims not backed by actual "hard as rock" proof. The dark, witchcraft-filled production follows a series of deaf characters who are narrated in English, rather than the other way around. In today's world hypocrisy is demonstrated by everyday citizens and even political leaders. Hypocrisy: A Human Flaw The Crucible's themes have lent the play artistic longevity because they're more or less universal to the human experience across time. As Reverend Hale says to Danforth, Excellency, there are orphans wandering from house to house; abandoned cattle bellow on the highroads, the stink of rotting crops hangs everywhere, and no man knows when the harlots cry will end his life - and you wonder yet if rebellions spoke? (Act 4, pg. Abigail Williams was the main accuser of withes in Salem, and in her accusations she gained power in the town. Hypocrisy involves the deception of others and is thus a kind of lie. The girls are essentially given permission by authority figures to continue their act because they are made to feel special and important for their participation. Its easy for more respectable citizens to accept that shes in league with the Devil because she is an "other" in Salem, just like Tituba. There are two examples of Ad hominem from The Crucible in Act 2 and Act 3. 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. | 2 Abigail, on the other hand, faces an uphill battle towards more power over her situation. There's a message here about the choices we have in dealing with guilt. Mary is a hypocrite, because she's supposed to be helping the church rid of conjurers of the devil but instead she is deceitful. In Act 2, John Proctors guilt over his affair with Abigail is demonstrated through an ironic exchange with Reverend Hale. Hale also makes some unintentionally ironic statements in Act 1 when he begins his investigation. However, this runs up against Danforths desire to preserve his reputation as a strong judge. In steadfastly refusing to confess, Rebecca Nurse holds onto a great deal of power. She openly threatens Danforth for even entertaining Mary and John's accusations of fraud against her. 50). Danforth has extensive pride in his intelligence and perceptiveness. John And Elizabeth Proctor's Flaws In The Crucible | Studymode This act also sees the irony of Hale discussing the powers of the dark that are attacking Salem (pg. In Act 3, Hale continues to make ironic statements about the existence of concrete proof for the accusations of witchcraft. Themes can be expressed in many different ways. 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. PPTX The Crucible by Arthur Miller - Dr. Coffman's English Classes How is Millers underlying message revealed in one of these themes and through the character?". Danforth has extensive pride in his intelligence and perceptiveness. 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. Read this character flaw list (with examples) for inspiration and develop interesting character weaknesses: 1. 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The classic example of an incorrect use of irony is in Alanis Morisette's song "Ironic" when she says that "rain on your wedding day" is an example of irony. Choose a single character and discuss how this person embodies one of the themes. Hale doesnt realize that his own fears and suspicions are the real powers of the dark. The Hypocrisy Of Characters In The Crucible - Edubirdie He appears to have no governing system of morality. I chose . She is enraged when Parris questions her suspicious dismissal from the Proctor household. He refers to Johns refusal to confess as a calamity, looking past his own involvement in the larger calamity of the conviction that led John to this point. No one even considers Mary's statement about sticking the needle in herself. HypocrisyHuman Nature? | Connor Boyack - Author, Public Speaker 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. Danforth also acts out of concern for his reputations here. 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. 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. Why doesnt John immediately tell the court that he knows Abigail is faking? An example of hypocrisy is when Mary defends Elizabeth in court, but then gives her a poppet which lands Elizabeth in jail for owning a tool of witchcraft. He is appalled by Elizabeths lack of emotion when he asks her to help the court get a confession out of her husband (pg. In the next few sections,I'll take a look at a group of broad themes inThe Crucible, including irony, hysteria, reputation, and power. succeed. If Tituba was permitted to explain what really happened, the ensuing tragedy might have been prevented. 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. Like a struck beast, he says, and screamed a scream that a bull would weep to hear. Samantha is also passionate about art and graduated with honors from Dartmouth College as a Studio Art major in 2014. Do you not know that God damns all liars? 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. Proctor changes from a normal citizen and sinner to a tragic hero with a high sense of morality. Giles got arrested for contempt. 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. 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. Arthur Miller's 1953 play, ''The Crucible,'' features hypocrisy as a recurrent theme. 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. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. He is appalled by Elizabeths lack of emotion when he asks her to help the court get a confession out of her husband (pg. Proctor, a score of people have already testified they saw [Rebecca Nurse] with the Devil (pg. Some will be very direct. The Crucible provides an example of how convenient lies can build on one another to create a universally accepted truth even in the absence of any real evidence. "(3-84), since Danforth is in power for being the judge he thinks that everyone else is ignorant and not being equal as him. Is hypocrisy a natural human flaw? The town suspected her of lewd dealings, so she was put to death for it. Why is Cory arrested? 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. 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. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. Shes not a traditionally accepted target like the others (except in her susceptibility as a woman to the misogyny that runs rampant in the play). 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. Ironically, though she is normally honest to a fault, in this situation Elizabeth decides to lie to preserve Johns reputation, not knowing he has already confessed. Danforth makes a shocking argument defending the way the trials have been conducted, insisting that only the victims testimony can serve as reliable evidence in this type of trial. People are quick to believe something even if there is no evidence for their fear. Will you confess yourself with him? (pg. Being in contact with someone else means mediating between ourselves and the other. 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. In fact, we've all seen hypocrisy in our daily lives. The Crucible is not only a dramatization of . Miller accomplishes this through almost, if not every character in the story. A theme is a central topic that is addressed by a work of literature. In one of the most well-known quotes in the play, John Proctor angrily insists that the little crazy children are jangling the keys of the kingdom (pg. 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. 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. The crucible, based during the Salem, Massachusetts witch trials of 1692. 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. 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. The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points, How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. Elizabeth is defined by her relationship to John, and Mary is pushed around by other characters (mostly men) throughout the play. The power of mass hysteria is further revealed when Mary is unable to faint outside of a charged courtroom environment. What motivates their attitudes and responses toward the witch trials? She says, "My name is good in the village! The Crucible is a tragedy play written by Arthur Miller. However, this runs up against Danforths desire to preserve his reputation as a strong judge. The Crucible is set during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. " jesus christThe simple answer is of course, yes! The only power they have left is in refusing to confess and preserving their integrity. Through Abigail Williams, Miller was trying to state the injustice in Salem because she targeted the innocent people, leading to their death. What is the difference between dissent and disloyalty? 6). How to use hypocrisy in a sentence. This shows us how one person who starts. This hysteria-based evidence of witchcraft includes the discovery of the poppet in the Proctor household with a needle in it. She continues to act under the assumption that his reputation is of the utmost importance to him, and she does not reveal the affair. Hereferences the many sentencing decisions he has already made in the trials of the accused. We hear a lot about hypocrisy, or when someone's actions don't match up with the professed values. He claims that they must not jump to conclusions based on superstition in their investigation of Bettys affliction. I have given you my soul; leave me my name! (pg. The court refuses to challenge anyone who claims to have been afflicted. What Are The Human Flaws In The Crucible 1560 Words | 7 Pages. Though Rebecca Nurse's involvement has already been corroborated by other confessors, Danforth demands to hear it from John to confirm that John is fully committed to renouncing his supposed ties to Satan. 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. One path to higher standing and greater control would be in becoming John Proctors wife. John feels incredibly ashamed of his affair with Abigail, so he tries to bury it and pretend it never happened. This is ironic becausesearching for "the Devil's marks" as the potential cause of an ailment is inherently superstitious. 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. Danforth, Hathorne, and Parris become even more rigid in their views when they feel they are under attack. Throughout "The Crucible", Abigail Williams commits the largest act of hypocrisy. In Act 2, John Proctors guilt over his affair with Abigail is demonstrated through an ironic exchange with Reverend Hale. 119). A real example of irony would be if two married guests got into a fight about going to your wedding that ended in their divorce. In Act 1 he jumped on board with the hysteria to preserve his power, but he ended up losing what little authority he had in the first place (and, according to Miller's afterward, was voted out of office soon after the end of the play). 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. 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. 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. 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. What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For? Judge Danforth a well respected man in the society that has the supreme rule over the court. No one thinks a teenage orphan girl is capable of such extensive deception (or delusion), so she is consistently trusted. The Crucible is a play written by American author, Arthur Miller, in 1953. By Act 2, there have been notable changes in the power structure in Salem as a result of the ongoing trials. The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points, How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer, Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests. Later in Act 4, Danforth becomes angry at the implication that Johns confession may not be the truth. 61). They're also revealed though events in the plot. The Bible that the Puritans swore to live by is not being honored when they used the trials to condemn their neighbors to death. 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. Theme 3: Reputation. Why does Mary Warren warn John about testifying against Abigail?