This hysteria-based evidence of witchcraft includes the discovery of the poppet in the Proctor household with a needle in it. Reverend Parris is in a position of power as the town's spiritual leader, but he is insecure about his authority. 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. Through Abigail Williams, Miller was trying to state the injustice in Salem because she targeted the innocent people, leading to their death. Irony abounds throughout The Crucibleascharacters who believe they are combating the Devils handiwork actually perform it themselves. When Abigail accuses Elizabeth, a respected farmers wife, it shows that she is willing to take big risks to remove Elizabeth from the picture. The hypocrisy in this statement is almost funny. He says, I would to God it were not so, Excellency, but these people have great weight yet in the town (pg. Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Score, list of every single character in the play, details on the history and thematic parallels behind this connection. The cause of the hysteria was caused by Reverend Hale, Abigail Williams and Judge Danforth. Mary Warrens sense of self-importance has increased as a result of the perceived value of her participation in court. In Act 2, John Proctors guilt over his affair with Abigail is demonstrated through an ironic exchange with Reverend Hale. Recall that hypocrisy is when someone's actions don't match up with the professed values. Elizabeth doesnt realize that John is willing to sacrifice his reputation to save her life. 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. This is interesting because the children are the ones that the rest of the village relies upon to condemn people to death. Abigails many deceptions are sometimes laughably ironic as she chastises others for lying even as she is spinning falsehoods. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 88,000 As this hysteria begins to rise, other people such as Thomas Putnam, a rich landowner, start to also allege Salem villagers. Danforth explains that witchcraft is an invisible crime and that only the victims are reliable. Themes tell us what the purpose of the work is. 119). is hypocrisy a natural human flaw the crucible. 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 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). How is the arrest of Rebecca Nurse a sign that the hysteria in Salem has gotten out of control? Is there any character besides John Proctor that represents the voice of common sense amidst the madness? 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. Giles got arrested for contempt. The Puritans believed that children were to be seen and not heard. 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. The Bible that the Puritans swore to live by is not being honored when they used the trials to condemn their neighbors to death. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you 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. If Danforth accepts Marys testimony, it would mean that he wrongly convicted numerous people already. John Proctor, Elizabeth Proctor, Reverend Hale, Reverend Paris, and Abigail are the main characters. 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. 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. By Act 2, there have been notable changes in the power structure in Salem as a result of the ongoing trials. 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. Abigail Williams was the main accuser of withes in Salem, and in her accusations she gained power in the town. is hypocrisy a natural human flaw the crucible 16 is hypocrisy a natural human flaw the crucible. The Devil has returned putting children under his control is what many people believed in Salem village in 1962. 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. Miller accomplishes this through almost, if not every character in the story. Elizabeth's side of the story is disregarded because Abigails testimony is far more dramatic. There are several ironies in Act 1 that center around Abigail Williams. The Crucible by Arthur Miller is set in Salem in a Puritan community. 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. He's already accepted her testimony as evidence, so he is happy for any excuse to believe her over John and Mary.John finally comes to the realization that Mary's truthful testimony cannot compete with the hysteria that has taken hold of the court. Ann Putnam jumps at any opportunity to blame supernatural forces for the deaths of her children. 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. Danforth insists that John must know more about the Devil's dealings than he has revealed. Miller fills us in on much of the history in breaks in the play where he offers commentary in his own voice. Theme 3: Reputation. 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. officials (like Danforth) unable or unwilling to listen to reason? 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. 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. Abigails presence is always rife with irony in. 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. Envy, Selfishness, and lust for money/power demonstrate the flaws of humanity through the actions of Abigail Williams, Reverend Parris, and Thomas Putnam. (Cheever pg. While it does provide an entertaining experience at face value, the true literary genius behind the work is Miller's . . He shows the hypocrisy of the Puritans by showing their belief system and how they have not acted in accordance with those beliefs. 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. How does Parris pride prevent him from doing anything to stop the progression of events in 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. In Act 3, Hale continues to make ironic statements about the existence of concrete proof for the accusations of witchcraft. Why is Cory arrested? Danforth also becomes frustrated with Proctor when he wont name names in his confession: Mr. 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. Lust and pride were John Proctors tragic flaws, lust is of course, one out of the seven sins. What are some of the factors that feed the panic and suspicion in Salem, and why are. Okay, let's take a moment to review. 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. John and Rebeccas solid reputations lead to pushback against their executions even though people were too scared to stand up for them in the midst of the trials. The madness begins in earnest with Abigails claim that Tituba and Ruth were conjuring spirits in the woods. Throughout the play, Miller uses the Salem Witch trials as a catalyst for Proctor's crucial development. Abigail, in particular, has quickly risen from a nobody to one of the most influential people in Salem. It helped me pass my exam and the test questions are very similar to the practice quizzes on Study.com. The College Entrance Examination BoardTM does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content of this site. 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. hbspt.cta.load(360031, '4efd5fbd-40d7-4b12-8674-6c4f312edd05', {}); Have any questions about this article or other topics? To illustrate, here are some examples of . 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. This fact could destroy his credibility, so he is biased towards continuing to trust Abigail. These types of statements made by Hale earlier in the play become even more ironic in Act 4 when he realizes he made a horrible mistake by trusting the evidence that was presented to him. In Act 3, Abigails power in the courthouse is on display. "She sat to dinner in Reverend Parris's house tonight, and without word nor warnin' she falls to the floor. Themes can be expressed in many different ways. As mentioned in the overview, religion holds significant power over the people of Salem. Great, character-driven stories often have deeply flawed characters at their heart. Tituba is forced to accept her role as a pawn for those with greater authority and a stepping stone for Abigails ascent to power. Through this statement he clearly demonstrates his belief that lying will send a person to Hell. 68 lessons Upon arriving in the court Mary Warren says, I cannot lie no more. John feels incredibly ashamed of his affair with Abigail, so he tries to bury it and pretend it never happened. Abigail's version of events is held to be true even after John confesses to their affair in a final effort to discredit her. As we discussed in this lesson, we see hypocrisy everywhere, and its depiction in art is no exception. Proctor is infuriated. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Hale tries to combat his guilt by persuading the prisoners to confess, refusing to accept that the damage has already been done. The narrator tells the audience that there is very little good to be said of him (Miller 1100), yet as a minister the people of the town look to him to be a pious religious leader. The main pillars of traditional power are represented by the law and the church. I am with God, I, Danforth expresses his opinions on lying when Mary Warren enter his court to confess herself and he begins the conversation by saying, How were you instructed in your life? 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. This confess or die mindset is one of the central ironies of the play. This entry was posted in offline website builder software for windows 10 on June 30, 2022 by .offline website builder software for windows 10 on June 30, 2022 by . Here again, he is driving the point home that the villagers were greedy and seeking land, so they put some of the pillars of the community to death for their own gain. 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. Miller addresses a similar hysteria throughout his play. In fact, we've all seen hypocrisy in our daily lives. Though their Bible would forbid murder, they condemn people to death with an excuse of witchcraft just to get land. 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. 73), meaning the girls are testing out the extent of the chaos they can create with their newfound power. 12) The first act of The Crucibleclearly establishes the fact that a bad reputation can damage a persons position in this society severely and irreparably. They're also revealed though events in the plot. Innocent and guilty people have been put to death underneath his Judgement, to him this demonstrates his superiority and power. Before I get into the nitty-gritty of howThe Cruciblethemes are expressed, let's do a quick overview of what themes are and why they matter. 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. 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. 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. She was seen as a grandmother to the village. 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. This is also the commandment that he has violated most explicitly, so youd think it would be the first one to spring to mind. It is part of our carnal nature to hold others to a higher standard than our own. As said in the documents I read, the theme is "the fundamental and often universal idea of a literary artwork". Anns extreme conclusions are gradually accepted because rational people are too afraid to challenge the consensus and risk bringing accusations upon themselves. 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. This is irony of the same type that I discussed in the overview of this theme. Human flaws such as lust for power, greed and jealousy explain the errors many tragic figures from books make, from Mr Kurtz to Lord Voldemort. This vicious cycle continues to claim the lives of more and more people as the play progresses. Abigail William is hypocritical because she does not follow the rules of the Salem trials. -Hypocrisy is the state of falsely claiming to possess virtuous characteristics that one lacks. 61). is hypocrisy a natural human flaw the crucible is hypocrisy a natural human flaw the crucible. Though Danforth is the most powerful official figure in court, Abigail manipulates him easily with her performance as a victim of witchcraft. Hypocrisy is "the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform". 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. Once there have been enough convictions, the reputations of the judges also become factors. How is Parris fate in act 4 ironic when considering his role in the events of the play? He claims that they must not jump to conclusions based on superstition in their investigation of Bettys affliction. How is Millers underlying message revealed in one of these themes and through the character?". 67). They say not to use superstition when dealing with the Devil, who is in fact a superstition used to cover up the sinful dealings of the people. 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. The authorities ignore any inconvenient logical objections to the proceedings because they, too, are swept up in the madness. The evolution of his character is due to vairous . In Act 2, the value of reputation in Salem starts to butt heads with the power of hysteria and fear to sway peoples opinions (and vengeance to dictate their actions). The play is about human weakness, hypocrisy, and vindictiveness. A constant theme through out the play is your personal reputation, maintaining a good name. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. In Salem the reason why so many women were killed was because of Mass Hysteria. 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. The Crucible is set during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Hypocrisy is shown between the characters: Abigail Williams, Reverend Parris, and Hale. John has already confessed that the affair was the reason for Abigails dismissal. . Many villagers, especially Abigail . Proctors good reputation is almost a burden for him at this point because he knows that he doesnt deserve it. Danforth insists that John must know more about the Devil's dealings than he has revealed. One theory of the cause of the trials is that people used the trials as a way to gain land. At first, Mary is being honest by admitting that Elizabeth . 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. Sure, you don't expect or want rain, but it's not the polar opposite of getting married. Danforths image is extremely valuable to him, and he refuses to allow Parris concerns to disrupt his belief in the validity of his decisions. Is hypocrisy a natural human flaw? 67). "She sat to dinner in Reverend Parris's house tonight, and without word nor warnin' she falls to the floor. John Proctor is the tragic hero because he is loving, loyal, authoritative, but his tragic flaw is his . She is enraged when Parris questions her suspicious dismissal from the Proctor household. Why is Cheever both astonished and afraid when he finds the poppet with the needle in it? 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. Every person has some kind of flaw; no one is completely perfect. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? This website helped me pass! Danforth has extensive pride in his intelligence and perceptiveness. To Danforth, anything that doesnt confirm that he was right all along is a lie. The only power they have left is in refusing to confess and preserving their integrity. Hypocrisy: A Human Flaw In the play The Crucible, Arthur Miller repeatedly portrays that duplicity and deceit are a natural part of human lives. . 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. These connections will bolster your responses by positioning them in relation to the most important concepts discussed throughout the play. By the end of class, you should be able to: Identify basic elements of McCarthyism, including the following terms: In a way. Danforth and Mary Warren both embody hypocrisy, as seen when Mary says she cannot lie anymore and then lies when she becomes scared for her life, and Danforth when saying lying will send a person to Hell, but then forcing people to choose between lying and death. People in power continue to believe the accusers out of fear for their own safety, taking the hysteria to a point where no one is above condemnation. Now that you've read about the most important themes in The Crucible, check out ourlist of every single character in the play, including brief analyses of their relationships and motivations. 50). 91). "(3-84), since Danforth is in power for being the judge he thinks that everyone else is ignorant and not being equal as him. Tituba attempts to tell the truth about Abigail when she says, You beg me to conjure! The play takes place in the city of Salem, a city filled with people that would do anything to keep their reputation clean. Reverend Hale enters as a specialist from Boston who has seen the effects that witchcraft has had on others. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. When this fallacy is used, the unrealistic characteristic is undesirable, causing the other person to look bad. 41). The Crucible is not only a dramatization of . Hypocrisy: A Human Flaw This new power is exciting and very dangerous because it encourages the girls to make additional accusations in order to preserve their value in the eyes of the court. She has the power to utterly destroy peoples lives with a single accusation because she is seen as a victim and a savior. Rebecca Nurse's accusation further demonstrates the hypocrisy in the play. 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. If Tituba was permitted to explain what really happened, the ensuing tragedy might have been prevented. The judges cannot force her to commit herself to a lie, and her martyrdom severely damages their legitimacy and favor amongst the townspeople. Hypocrisy involves the deception of others and is thus a kind of lie. A theme is a central topic that is addressed by a work of literature. The hysterical atmosphere and the dramatic performances of some of the accusers cause people to believe they have seen genuine proof of witchcraft. The court refuses to challenge anyone who claims to have been afflicted. Then, on the other end of the spectrum, we have Rebecca Nurse. 118). Miller includes some commentary on Hale: ''One cannot help noting that one of his lines has never yet raised a laugh in any audience that has seen this play; it is his assurance that, 'We cannot look to superstition in this. 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. However, this runs up against Danforths desire to preserve his reputation as a strong judge. 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? This is a decision with dire consequences in a town where reputation is so important, a fact that contributes to the misunderstanding that follows. It caused many people, in Salem during this event to think fast, rash and jump to conclusions. The thematic significance of hysteria builds quickly as accusations of witchcraft proliferate throughout Salem. Because, the people of Salem will find out about the affair, this would weaken his reputation. 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). 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. | Certified Educator Arthur Miller clearly wants the audience to empathize with John Proctor in The Crucible, and we know this based on the principles for which he stands. This hysteria-based evidence of witchcraft includes the discovery of the poppet in the Proctor household with a needle in it. The Devil is really a superstition hiding the townspeople, who are ''precise'' in their accusations because they want land from others. Thomas Putnam who has grudges against the people of Salem, and Abigail is a shameless liar who leads the accusations against the people of Salem. The turmoil in Salem is propelled forward by desires for revenge and power that have been simmering beneath the town's placid exterior. To illustrate this, he simultaneously shows the Puritan belief system while describing characters that do not obey that system, yet pretend to in their daily lives. The Crucible presents a view of women that essentially reduces them to caricatures of human beings that are defined by their roles as mothers, wives, and servants to men. Hale doesnt realize that his own fears and suspicions are the real powers of the dark. Danforth continues to demonstrate the effects of hysteria in act 4 even after things have died down a bit in Salem and there have been rumblings of discontent about the courts actions. John attempts to crush his guilt instead of facing it, which only ends up making it an even more destructive factor in his life. I have not seen a single politician who isnt a hypocrite. 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. 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. The Crucible, a short play dedicated to these events in Salem shows us how hysteria was such a leading cause of why the Witch Trials had even occurred. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. In reality, he is constantly judging himself, and this leads to outbursts of anger against others who remind him of what he did (he already feels guilty enough!).