Role Reversal In The Crucible Analysis

One of the most prominent themes in Arthur Miller’s 1953 drama, The Crucible, is the use of role reversals within race and gender boundaries, social status, and superficial power. In the not-so-sleepy town of Salem, Massachusetts, the rumor of witches among the community runs rampant as various characters work to accuse their fellow citizens of witchery or defend their neighbors from the gallows. Driven by jealously and pure hatred, those who have minor roles within the community lust after a more notable place in society by accusing the more distinguished members to rid them of their land, wealth, or reputation – and even their life. Those wrongfully accused are driven by fear as they either admit their guilt to save their own lives or find someone else to blame for the supposed crime. In turn, this causes the well-known citizens to be reduced to their salt and the minor townsfolk to gain a certain type of fame or air about themselves. The turn of tables proves to benefit certain female characters with minor roles and damage the more notable male characters within the community. Tituba, a Barbadian slave brought to America by Reverend Parris, is the first and only to demonstrate a significant role reversal through race as she is

Although Tituba is mostly minimalized through her race, there are other females who grasp ahold of the situation and use it to their advantage. As the servant girls overtake the trials and the town, the traditional male character’s authority is challenged as the trials are no longer in their hands. Although Danforth and Hale are no longer the town’s self-proclaimed saviors, salvation is not far away. Growing from a man with reservations to a man who must shed his tears and bear his heart, Proctor loses control of himself and, martyr-like, dies a different