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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. Parris initially insists that there are no unnatural causes for Bettys illness because he fears that he will lose favor with the townspeople if witchcraft is discovered under his roof. Reverend Parris' concerns about his reputation are immediately evident in Act 1. Lust and pride were John Proctors tragic flaws, lust is of course, one out of the seven sins. 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 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. Danforth insists that John must know more about the Devil's dealings than he has revealed. -Hypocrisy is the state of falsely claiming to possess virtuous characteristics that one lacks. He has sentenced people to death based on lies about their dealings in black magic, and he has accepted other false confessions from those who would rather lie than be executed. It is used to draw away from a person's counterargument through addressing something unrelated. Though actions are often motivated by fear and desires for power and revenge, they are also propped up by underlying worries about how a loss of reputation will negatively affect characters' lives. Abigails power skyrockets as the hysteria grows more severe. In addition to grubbing for a few extra pounds every year, Parris makes a show out of needing golden candlesticks for the altar to replace the pewter ones that have served the church since it was built. The Crucible is not only a dramatization of . Why is hypocrisy so common in repressive communities like Salem? 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. Posted at 02:28h in motion to dismiss child support arrears by how does shakespeare present lady macbeth as ambitious. The town suspected her of lewd dealings, so she was put to death for it. In this environment, whoever yells the loudest seems to get the most credibility. A professor tells us that he has a strict rule about cell phones in the classroom, then he answers it midway through his own lecture. The irony is that, in the face of Johns rejection, Abigail turns around and creates her own lies soon after that give her increased control over the society she resents. Proctor, a score of people have already testified they saw [Rebecca Nurse] with the Devil (pg. Elizabeth notes that Mary's demeanor is now like that of the daughter of a prince (pg. 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. As Abigail begins to be accused she is pressured to deter from the truth. Hypocrisy is "the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform". She beg me make charm (Miller, pg. What is the writer attempting to convey to the viewer? How is Millers underlying message revealed in one of these themes and through the character?". Salem is under attack from the hysteria that is encouraged by the same people who seek to keep imaginary supernatural demons at bay. 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. Recall that hypocrisy is when someone's actions don't match up with the professed values. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? Proctors good reputation is almost a burden for him at this point because he knows that he doesnt deserve it. 67). This makes him particularly averse to accepting that he's been fooled by a teenage girl. 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. Combining this notion with the one he declared earlier displays the hypocritical nature of Danforth when put in this hysterical. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 88,000 Abigails low status and perceived innocence under normal circumstances allow her to claim even greater power in her current situation. Abigail also shows concern for her reputation. She says, "My name is good in the village! One path to higher standing and greater control would be in becoming John Proctors wife. In the Crucible by Arthur Miller is a play that is based of 1962 Salem Massachusetts, the site of one of the worst witch-hunts in history. In today's society no one want to hear about something they fear, they would rather it be left alone than try to understand it. They so fear the devilish consequences of challenging the accusers that theyre willing to take them at their word and ignore any defenses the accused have to offer. Deception is a major driving force inThe Crucible. As John gives his confession, Danforth says to Rebecca Nurse Now, woman, you surely see it profit nothin to keep this conspiracy any further. No one considers that the accusers are lying, partially because theyre seen as innocent children and partially because many witches confess to avoid the death penalty. The other two main female characters, Elizabeth and Mary Warren, are somewhat bland. Abigails many deceptions are sometimes laughably ironic as she chastises others for lying even as she is spinning falsehoods. How to use hypocrisy in a sentence. The power of mass hysteria is further revealed when Mary is unable to faint outside of a charged courtroom environment. 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. Hale also makes some unintentionally ironic statements in Act 1 when he begins his investigation. This is a lesson in how fear can twist perceptions of reality even for those who consider themselves reasonable under normal circumstances. Why doesnt John immediately tell the court that he knows Abigail is faking? Mary is a hypocrite, because she's supposed to be helping the church rid of conjurers of the devil but instead she is deceitful. For example, Bridget Bishop dressed in red, a color that was abhorrent in the Puritan eyes. Giles got arrested for contempt. 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. MPP friends writing about life, love, and everything else in between together. 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. Reverend Parris is in a position of power as the town's spiritual leader, but he is insecure about his authority. He believes there is a group of people in town determined to remove him from this position, and. 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. 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. To Danforth, anything that doesnt confirm that he was right all along is a lie. Many people confess when threatened with execution, and this only heightens the paranoid atmosphere. Hypocrisy involves the deception of others and is thus a kind of lie. Danforth, Hathorne, and Parris become even more rigid in their views when they feel they are under attack. 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 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. Hypocrisy, actually, didn't have a bad meaning until hypocrisy met politics in the 4th century B.C. The most substantial female character is Abigail, who is portrayed as a devious and highly sexualized young woman. Ann Putnam jumps at any opportunity to blame supernatural forces for the deaths of her children. 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. The play loosely follows the tale of Salem and how the trials came to pass. Reverend Parris' concerns about his reputation are immediately evident in Act 1. As mentioned in the overview, religion holds significant power over the people of Salem. I have given you my soul; leave me my name! (pg. It is a somewhat fictional play about the Salem Witch Trials. When Abigail accuses Elizabeth, a respected farmers wife, it shows that she is willing to take big risks to remove Elizabeth from the picture. Miller portrays Danforths characterization as stubborn, highly religious, and arrogant in order to to provide a clearer understanding. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, the setting is Salem, Massachusetts during the late 1600s where the towns pious Puritan beliefs directly influence their government. In steadfastly refusing to confess, Rebecca Nurse holds onto a great deal of power. 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. This vicious cycle continues to claim the lives of more and more people as the play progresses. Parris is extremely dismayed by this revelation because of the damage it will do to his reputation. Miller's portrayal of women in The Crucible is a much-discussed topic. They're also revealed though events in the plot. The Crucible by Arthur Miller is a play about the Salem witch trials. She is clearly outspoken and dominant, but her initial position in society is one of very little influence and authority. 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. This lie essentially condemns both of them. The Bible that the Puritans swore to live by is not being honored when they used the trials to condemn their neighbors to death. Can a work of art bring about change in the world? This is ironic becausesearching for "the Devil's marks" as the potential cause of an ailment is inherently superstitious. Thomas Putnam tells him to Wait for no one to charge you - declare it yourself.Parris must rush to be the first accuser so he can place himself beyond reproach. officials (like Danforth) unable or unwilling to listen to reason? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. 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. 121). 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. Danforth has extensive pride in his intelligence and perceptiveness. First off, what is irony? This leads to Marys hysterical accusation of Proctor after she finds herself targeted by the other girls and about to be consumed by the hysteria herself if she doesnt contribute to it. Danforths image is extremely valuable to him, and he refuses to allow Parris concerns to disrupt his belief in the validity of his decisions. She is clearly outspoken and dominant, but her initial position in society is one of very little influence and authority. The crucible, based during the Salem, Massachusetts witch trials of 1692. As we discussed in this lesson, we see hypocrisy everywhere, and its depiction in art is no exception. 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. The play is about human weakness, hypocrisy, and vindictiveness.