Superego In The Crucible

The power of the mind is truly extraordinary. It allows humans to learn new things and do good for the world. Contrarily, it drives humans to create conflict and initiate tempting desires. The Crucible explores many of the mind’s capabilities as it tells the tale of a series of witchcraft accusations and the ensuing drama. The play itself is an allegory of McCarthyism and truly shows why understanding the power of the human mind is so essential if mankind wishes to coincide peacefully. In his play The Crucible, Arthur Miller expresses Freud’s structural model of the psyche through characterization. Abigail Williams represents the first of the three parts of the subconscious— the id. Id is basic human desire and is the fundamental root of

Superego is the repository of all socially imposed behavior and sense of guilt, and is quite different from id in that it is not inherited. Rather, it is learned via parental example and general function within society. It develops easily if an environment of criticism and morality is readily present. Elizabeth is very virtuous and always seems to follow the strict social rules of the prohibitory Puritan lifestyle. However, her efficacious qualities also result in negative ones. She is very inhospitable and grows suspicious quite easily, especially when she catches whim of John’s adulterous behavior with Abigail. Her resulting action further supports her desire to always be morally correct and principled: she removes Abigail from the position of being her maid. This then causes Abigail to turn and accuse Elizabeth of witchcraft, essentially plotting Elizabeth’s murder. Though Elizabeth is ultimately accused of witchcraft, she is dismissed from being sent to the gallows because she is pregnant. Many think it is a lie, but Elizabeth is, again, too composed and moral to allow herself to lie…except in court. She tells the judge that the affair between John and Abigail never occurred. This, conclusively, results in Elizabeth realizing that she has been a cold wife, showing her ability to feel guilt, a cardinal sign of being the superego’s representation. She is even able to forgive her husband, and

Ego essentially focuses on reality, and is the balance between id and superego. It takes actions desired by the id and ‘filters’ them through the superego, thus resulting in actions that satisfy all parts of the subconscious. The ego realizes that the id must be satisfied, but there are more definite socially acceptable ways of achieving that vindication. John meets the requirements of being the superego because he is stuck in the middle. He is aware that he has committed adultery with Abigail and feels the guilt associated with it. However, he lacks the capacity to forgive himself. This shows that he is above the basic levels of desire associated with id, but below the intense morality that comes with the superego. In addition, he is tormented by the fact that he must reveal his transgression. He fears of losing his good name, and guilt and regret already consume him. If he is to reveal his wrongdoing, he believes that his guilt can multiply. Ultimately, though, he reveals the sin and actually shows his ability to be good-natured. He willingly sacrifices his good name in order to protect his wife. Because of this, the author shows readers John’s capability of balancing his temptations through social acceptance. By the end of the play, he even goes as far as letting the court nail his false confession to the church door, exhibiting his integrity.