The Puritan Myth

The Puritan Myth

The Puritans cam to America in the late 1500's and early 1600's for the freedom

to practice their own religion. Their whole way of life was based off of their strict religion.

They had a fait-based theocracy. The puritans where to follow the bible strictly. That was

not always how it was. The "Puritan" lifestyle which they where expected to follow was

really a myth. Merriam-Webster states that a myth is an unfounded or false notion. Many

of these people where portrayed in the play by Arthur Miler called "Crucible". Some of

the ways they were hypocritical where in that they did nor follow the ten commandments

and they where not kind people to each other.

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary the word hypocrite means a person

who puts forth on a false appearance of virtue or religion. In 1692 the colony of

Massachusetts was plagued by a witchcraft hysteria that resulted in the death of at least

twenty people and the jailing of at least 150 others ( Miller 1033 ). This witchcraft hysteria

was known as the Salem witchtrial.

During this time many puritans went back on their religion. One of the big ways

they were hypocritical was that they disobeyed many of the ten commandments. The main

ones where: A- Thou shall not murder, B- Thou shall not lie, and C- Thou shall not

commit adultery.

A. Thou shall not murder. At least 20 people where murdered due to the

tubornis of the people to accept they where wrong in their accusations.

B- Thou shall not lie. This is perhaps the most important on of them all. The

whole witchtrial was based off of lies. "Don't lie! She comes to me while I sleep;

he's always making me dream corruption's!" ( Miller 1058 ). This is an example

of irony and hypocrisy. Abby is accusing Tituba of coming to her in her dreams

with the devil but this is not true. When Abby tells Tituba not to lie she is in fact

lying herself and also not following the commandments.

C- Thou shall not commit adultery. IN this play John Proctor cheats on his

wife with Abigail. "I have known her, sir. I have know her." ( Miller 1098). In this

sentence John admits to adultery. Although John was a good man because of this