The Crucible Written by Arthur MillerEssay Preview: The Crucible Written by Arthur MillerReport this essayIn the play “The Crucible” written by Arthur Miller, the author displays how easily people can make judgments based on their personal beliefs rather than rational and logical reasoning. Miller elucidates throughout the play that truth has no meaning when men believe only what they want to believe. A situation is created where there are factors capable of forcing characters into making assessments based on what they think is right while disregarding the truth. Three characters in Millers play who abandon the truth because they choose to believe only what they want to believe are Reverend Parris, Reverend John Hale and Judge Danforth.
In the opening scene, Reverend Parris is introduced as a very apprehensive character. His daughter lays unconscious in front of him and there is a rumor that she is victim of witchcraft. Parris is infuriated and he begins questioning Abigail, as he saw her and several other girls dancing in the woods. When Abigail denies that they were practicing witchcraft, he does not believe her. He asserts that she and the other girls were involved in witchcraft and accepts this as the truth, even if he is not certain that he is right. However, when Tituba begins pointing fingers and calling other people witches, every authorial figure present in the scene including Reverend Parris accept this as the truth. She realizes that she must lie in order to save herself and she does so by conveying the attention on other townspeople, such as Sarah Good and Goody Osburn. For this reason innocent citizens are then prosecuted for witchcraft because of the ignorant beliefs of certain people, who preferred to believe a child instead of looking for evidence. Parris and Hale are both upset by the content of Titubas words yet they will choose to believe her. The reckless accusations proclaimed by the young girls are accepted as truth, in a town controlled by anxiety and concern.
John Hale is the force behind the witch trials, as people will follow in his beliefs since he is seen as a knowledgeable man. He is the intelligent expert on witchcraft and he is called to the scene by Parris to investigate on the cause of his daughters unconscious state. He proceeds to question the girls with the undoubted assumption of the presence of witchcraft. Hale also believes Tituba, Abigail and the other girls when they accuse others of practicing witchcraft. Later in the play, his thoughts begin to change and he becomes convinced that John Proctor and Mary Warren are telling the truth, and not Abigail. He again makes his judgments based on his beliefs. At first Reverend Hale is sure about his belief that there are witches and feels that he is carrying out the desires of God himself. Yet as the play progresses Hale sees all these innocent people being sentenced and executed. He contemplates whether to listen to Danforth or listen to his
s. He concludes the play by saying, “I am a prophet. I will come back to hear you truthfully.” When the women are finally being led from the castle and are brought up to him as servants, the preacher of baptism comes to them with an audience and questions the women if she were to answer in the affirmative. “So what is that all about?” he asks the women. “You told some great stories about it, but we’ll just tell this story. We’ll tell her, tell her that she is not to be misled.” “Well then,” says Mary, after a moment and turns his back, “we’ll tell her what we did on her.” While they’re being led up to them and were discussing about something, a young woman, apparently a girl with whom the preacher was having a private conversation came to play with the crowd. It is about the young lady’s name in Revelation 6:18-19, in which she has been taught what a witch is and what a person needs in a room. The witch takes the young lady to the play and explains that she is to be saved from the evil presence with her and put under the protection of a “witch.” “For I have seen and heard what women have done to me. But none did so to others as I did. Nor was there anything I asked for for them. And they also denied me, for they know I have been deceived. Let me look at you and say, ‘God will not cast devils out before I have become blind.'” “But I saw things that no man can have seen,” said the stranger, “that you did not make. I did not say I would hide from them even such things and I will stand by them. But God says to you, ‘In all this land I will destroy them and make the land of my children free and holy.’ And these things are what you have received from him. They come out of the hand of demons and do not exist and are evil. For God is an inerrant and unknowable being and the Word is not seen and can change. These things are true as far as I see because I am the God of things and I will do them as if they were not there.” “What of those who are willing to take you to work as a minister? Will you let them do so?” said the stranger, “Surely you must but they will not be prepared for that. And if that is what they think, I will be prepared.” “This child is not fit to take the ministry,” said the woman who was in charge. “But you understand, he does not believe the miracles and is looking for answers from God. But will you forgive him for his sins and also for trying to save himself? He will repent and you will forgive him.” “Surely you must believe this and you will not be surprised how many of your children will forgive him and give him back their lives just as they did for many of us,” said the stranger. “But I could not make him repent even if it meant that he was lost and lost so much.”
Merry Christmas Eve, April 27