The Crucible: The Injustice System of Salem
Justice systems have changed greatly over the years. Since the Puritan justice system, much has been improved. In 1692, in the town of Salem, many people lost their lives or were punished unfairly due to their justice system. Justice to Puritans really is not justice at all – but rather injustice - it is only a quick fix to a complex problem. In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, a dim light is cast upon the Puritan justice system by illustrating the lack of evidence necessary to obtain a conviction, excessive church influence in the outcome and the setting of the Puritan society.
With the witch trials in Salem, the lack of evidence has a large effect on many people’s lives. Someone can accuse another of a crime, and in almost no time at all, there will be a trial in the town court. Not only those who are personally affiliated with the crime are affected, everyone in the town is touched also. When Putnam states, “ She cannot bear to hear the Lord’s name… that’s a sure sign of witchcraft,” he jumps to conclusions about the girls being witches. Simply because he made this accusation, talk was stirred up in town. The townsfolk become highly agitated over this situation, and the scenario is blown completely out of proportion. Soon after this happens, trials dates are set.
The church has a great deal of influence over the government in The Crucible. Sins and crimes are very closely connected, whereas, if one is committed, the other is likewise. Since the authority of the church, such as reverends are looked at as “high and mighty” these “sinless” people are also often the heads of, or have a lot of say in the town’s government. At one point in the book, Reverend Hale declares: “in my ignorance I find it hard to draw a clear opinion of them that come accused before the court…God forbid such a one be changed. She [Rebecca Nurse] is mentioned somewhat” (Hawthorne page #). He is saying Rebecca Nurse’s name was mentioned in court today, as if she involved with witchcraft also. Reverend Hale is looked at as holy among the townsfolk, along with he plays a role in the town’s court system. The town’s religion and law are much alike, and very intertwined, which is believed to be best for this group of people.
The setting in The Crucible helps to enhance the theme. The plot of this story makes the time, place, and general environment seem almost too perfect to be true. The witch trials take place in the spring of 1692, in Salem, Massachusetts. At this time, the ways of the Puritan justice system are completely acceptable, whereas public hangings and executions do not seem out of the ordinary. When Arthur Miller writes:
They [Puritans] carried about an air of innate resistance, even of persecution… So now they and their church found it necessary to deny any other sect its freedom, lest their New Jerusalem be defiled and corrupted by wrong ways and deceitful ideas… They believed, in short, that they held in their steady hands the candle that would light the world (Hawthorne page #).
He is remarking about the way of life and beliefs of Puritans. He says they will not let their new world be polluted with sin and crime, and the world will imitate their actions, depending on the way their society is ruled. The people of this time and era think their justice system is acceptable, and throughout the many scenes in the book, nothing is thought of as prodigious.
Lack of evidence in trials, church influence in the justice system and government, and the setting all compute up to an ineffective justice system in the Puritan society. It is unjust and unfair for the elders of this fellowship to change as many of the lives as they do with the injustice system they have.
1. When quoting always cite the name of the author and the page number after the quote.
2. Also, the punctuation of the quotation should come after the parentheses, not inside the quote. “Ann! Tell Mr. Parris what you have done” (Hawthorne 14).
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