Good and Evil in The Crucible by Arthur Miller

In the past, every decade and every generation has had its momentous event that has shaped it and left a mark on its history. The 1600's were no different. In The Crucible, the author, Arthur Miller, demonstrates many examples of the complexity of “good” and “evil” in his characters. He does this through many characters, seen and unseen. The entire village bases its belief system on the conflict between Good vs. evil, or Satan vs. God. It may seem like evil is winning, as one innocent person after another is put to death. The towns people are mislabeling people as good or evil like Mary Warren, although they have very little evidence. Rebecca Nurse is an outstanding example of honesty, and a well-respected member of the community and the church. Rebecca, is accused of killing Mrs. Putnam's babies and witchcraft. Saving the last for the best Abigail Williams, uniquely gifted at spreading death and destruction wherever she goes. She has an eerie sense of how to manipulate others and how to gain control over them. All these things add up to make her a marvelous antagonist. So who really has a pact with the Devil? Or is it just non-sense taking the lives of innocent people?

Rebecca Nurse is a pillar of the community, a devoutly religious woman in her seventies. When she is accused of witchcraft, it makes the Reverend Hale pause and reconsider whether the proceedings are just and fair. "Pray, John, be calm. Pause.This will set us all to arguin' again in the society, and we thought to have peace this year. I think we ought rely on the doctor now, and good prayer. Rebecca, the doctor's baffled! There is prodigious danger in the seeking of loose spirits. I fear it, I fear it. With a growing edge of sarcasm: But I m...

... middle of paper ...

...es, and the ones said to be "good" are evil. Imagine being in a life or death situation like Mary Warren? Would you lie knowing that there could be other innocent people out there being treated like you are? Well everyone has there own personal choices. Life in the 1600's talking medicine wise, wasn't advanced as it is today. Mrs. Putnam's babies could of died because of an illness or any other birth cause, Rebecca nurse a women in her seventies wouldn't have the heart to do that, in my opinion. She's just an example of those who are innocent, but mislabeled as doing bad (evil). Abigail Williams the the "Villain Extraordinary" is a whole different story. Williams being manipulated, and vengeful because she's not the one married to John Proctor, is willing to do anything to make Elizabeth get out of her way... All resulting in a big tragedy, all full of mislabeling.