Salem Trial in The Crucible by Arthur Miller

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Recommended: Character analysis for john proctor in act 3 of the crucible

The Crucible by Arthur Miller is an interpretation of the Salem witch trials of 1692 in Puritan Massachusetts in which religion, self- preservation and self-dignity play a vital role. The three factors I listed played a huge role in John Proctor, Rebecca Nurse, Reverend Hale, Danforth and many other lives. Many other characters such as, Abigail Williams and her friends can be characterized by being greedy, bitter, and selfish. In the play, Miller reveals how people can go against their own morals, therefore they can protect themselves. In Arthur Miller's play, The Crucible, he reveals to readers how fear escalated in Salem because of people's desire for personal gain.

Fear escalated so far that it prevented people from taking action in what they know is right. The increase of the accused and the punishment delivered to them is also causing fear in the town, increasing both silence and responsibility. The fear is taking hold of the town, with Abigail at its wheel helps to create a situation where the search for truth will no longer be available. Fear toke over the town so much that people would expose their neighbors of misleading crimes, just to protect themselves.

Fear is the key subject in The Crucible. The reason the young girls are able to make such accusations and able to convict innocent people of witchcraft is because they prey on the fear of the townspeople. Fear of being caught dancing in the woods leads the young girls to start

telling their tale of lies. Fear of disappointing god is why Reverend Hale starts his questionings. Fear of being known as an adulterer makes John Proctor silent when he should have spoken up. Fear of what may come if she confesses the truth keeps Mary from confessing. Fear of being ca...

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...aid he forced her to say all those things. The girls were just as guilty as the characters I have listed above. They were only considered about protecting themselves, not taking responsibility for their actions.

All the characters I have talked about throughout my essay have one common interest, which is self-preservation. All the characters believed I one concept, protect myself and myself only. Many of them threw innocent people under the bus just to protect themselves from going under the bus. Tituba was helping the girls she was not practicing witch craft, she was simply expressing the rituals of her culture. When the girls knew they may be in trouble for dancing in the woods, they quickly turned on Tituba. Fear made all the people living in Salem terrified of being accused of misleading crimes, so most people did what they can to protect themselves.

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