Pros And Cons In The Crucible

1124 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Witchcraft in the sixteenth century

Witchcraft burned tens of thousands of people in the Middle Ages. Just in Salem, Massachusetts, the citizens accused over one hundred and fifty people of witchcraft. As a result of these accusations, the court hanged twenty of these supposed witches. How much evidence was there to convict the supposed witches? Not enough to select death as the punishment. However, the court sentenced the accused to be hanged if they did not confess which causes another problem: why hang when one could confess to a lie and live? Indeed, the court system broke down during these witch trials. Due to adolescents not seeing the consequences of their actions, they have the astonishing power to be persuasive and deceiving. Abigail Williams (Abby) shows this …show more content…

In simpler terms, either accept the plea deal, or die. The majority of people would confess to witchcraft, even if it has been a false confession, just to be able to live. I know I would, and so did others in my class. In The Crucible, Proctor, who is accused of witchcraft, says, "I want my life... I will have my lie" (Miller). He says right there that he is willing to lie to save his own life and live in jail for confessing to a lie just so he was not hanged. However, Proctor then changes his mind and says, "Pray God it speak some goodness for me. Give them no tear. Show them a heart of stone and sink them with it" (Miller). He came to the conclusion that being a witch is not what he wants to be remembered by, since it is a lie. He then says he thinks those who falsely confessed should have a consequence for doing so. However, the court did not even look into if the confessed were lying; they just trusted them, which is something a court should not do. An example where one accepted a plea deal instead of the death penalty is in James Troutman’s case. He confessed to murdering, raping, and brutalizing the body after he killed a nine year old girl. For his actions he deserves to be given the death penalty, but for some reason the court offered him a plea deal to plead guilty and serve life in prison without parole. Even when the convicted

Show More
Related

  • Pros And Cons Of The Crucible

    504 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Crucible was set in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. It was set in a little country town full of what everyone thought were good people. When we started reading The Crucible we were introduced to many people from this small town of Salem. There are many pros and cons to living in a small town, but this book shows us many of these pros and cons. The three main characters that we were introduced are Abigail Williams, John Proctor, and Reverend Hale. In this story these characters contributed some of the most irrational things that caused most of the problems in this small town.

    Read More

  • How The Crucible Changed

    1839 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Crucible the film is an adapted version of Arthur Miller’s play of the same name, which was inspired by the 1692 Salem Witch Trials in Salem, Massachusetts. The two main characters are Abigail Williams played by Winona Ryder and John Procter played by Daniel Day-Lewis. The Crucible’s opening scene is Reverend Parris catching Abigail and her friends dancing in the woods and conjuring spirits. Abigail did not want to get in trouble so she blamed Tituba, a Barbados slave, for making her drink chicken blood, and tempting her to sin.

    Read More

  • Flaws In The Crucible

    631 Words  | 2 Pages

    Fatal flaws are personality imperfections found within characters. Tragedy was a common occurrence in The Crucible. Many of these great tragedies happening in The Crucible, were a result of a tragic flaw or flaws like lust and pride embodied by John Proctor during the play.These flaws could also be seen as noble qualities at times, and play a crucial part in his downfall and death.

    Read More

  • Review of The Crucible

    781 Words  | 2 Pages

    Arthur Miller’s political allegory of McCarthyism, in the form of The Crucible, has been adapted into a faithful companion to the play that is able to incorporate the emotions and atmosphere that may not have been available to some in the play. Miller’s screenplay is very faithful to the book, having many of the same lines and situations the character in the play experience. Because of this, we are able to make an active connection to the play, thus expanding our understanding of the play. Lead by Daniel Day-Lewis, The Crucible’s plot is portrayed by a solid cast, who, for the most part, are able to engross the viewer into the story. The film contains many captivating scenes that exemplify hysteria meant to be depicted in the play, that demands the viewers attention while also immersing them in emotions. The film adaptation of The Crucible is a well produced version of the play that not only serves as a companion to the play, but an entertaining and though provoking experience.

    Read More

  • Differences Between The Crucible

    450 Words  | 1 Pages

    What does the word crucible mean? The word crucible means a severe test or trial. Throughout the novel, The Crucible, many of the characters go through their own crucible. These trials have a major or minor impact on the characters life throughout the novel. These trials all come together creating the story based on the calamity in America around 1952, which inspired Arthur Miller to write this well known novel. In the novel, there are many different examples from various characters about life lessons and choices. Although the book and play are very similar they do share many differences.

    Read More

  • The History of the Salem Witchcraft Trials

    2587 Words  | 6 Pages

    ...in their family to become sick and possibly die. Many people were accused of witchcraft. More than twenty people died all together. One person was flattened to death because he was accused of witchcraft. When people were accused they had to go to jail, which the conditions were terrible. Then, they had to get a trial from the Court of Oyer and Terminer. After an accused witch had their trial, and went to jail, they would be carted off to Gallows Hill. This was the hill where all the witches were hanged. After a witch was hanged, later that night, their family would usually take the body down and give it a proper burial. The Salem Witchcraft Trials were one of the most terrible times in the history of America. As you can see the chaotic Salem Witchcraft Trials of 1692 were caused by superstition, the strict puritan lifestyle, religious beliefs, and hysteria.

    Read More

  • The Importance of The Crucible Today

    1066 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Crucible was written in the early 1950s as an exploration of events which took place in Massachusetts in 1692. What does the play have to offer an audience in 2014?

    Read More

  • Arguments For The Crucible

    588 Words  | 2 Pages

    The witchcraft trials became a significant event in Salem. There were 20 innocent people that died and many more accused. There is a debate on whether who was the main reason for the witchcraft trials and all the deaths of the accused. There are good arguments on about every side. Judge Danforth, Abigail Williams, John Proctor, Reverend Hale, Reverend Parris, Elizabeth Proctor and Mary Warren are all the main arguments for the blame. Personally, I believe that Abigail Williams is the main reason why the witchcraft trials came about and that so many people have died and were accused.

    Read More

  • Justice and Injustice in The Crucible by Arthur Miller

    924 Words  | 2 Pages

    Once the accusations began, many innocent people in the community were taken away. They were then either forced to admit that they were witches, to free themselves from a public hanging, or deny that they were witches, saving their integrity, but subjecting themselves to an unjust public hanging.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On The Crucible

    615 Words  | 2 Pages

    A wise human once stated, “People are quick to believe the bad things they hear about good people”(Unknown). Bound by the nature of humans, many are hasty to believe inaccurate accounts, no matter the circumstances, whether the accounts have evidence, or if they have any veracity to them. In Arthur Miller’s, The Crucible, the hysteric citizens of Salem, Massachusetts experience an outrageous witch hunt movement, accumulating a hefty death total of twenty citizens. The play begins with Reverend Parris, a relatively new Puritan minister in Salem, whose daughter, Betty Parris, is stuck in a coma-like state. Parris reveals that his niece Abigail, was seen dancing with Betty, and Tituba, Parris’ black slave from Barbados. Concerned about his reputation,

    Read More

  • Analysis of The Crucible by Arthur Miller

    2228 Words  | 5 Pages

    Analysis of The Crucible by Arthur Miller ‘You have made your magic now, for now I do think I see some shred of goodness in John Proctor.’ Assess the developments in John Proctor’s character that validate this statement. How does Miller create a sense of tension and suspense in the build up to this climatic moment in Act 4? In Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible he has used many dramatic devices in order to create tension and build up to the climaxes of the story.

    Read More

  • Similarities Between The Crucible And Today

    515 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Crucible and today’s society are similar in the way the judicial system works. The Puritans and our society’s judicial system are similar in a good way. In the crucible the Salem witch trials are held which show how the puritans handled trials where people were accused of crimes. Although they did not require evidence to hold or try the accused their process was still a lot like our own.

    Read More

  • Free Essay on The Crucible: The Deterioration of Social Structure

    919 Words  | 2 Pages

    The justice system is designed to protect the people that it serves but during the trials the accused witch had two choices, death or imprisonment.

    Read More

  • Free Essays on The Crucible: The Lessons Learned

    873 Words  | 2 Pages

    Great events, whether they are beneficial or tragic ones, bring change in a person. These scenarios can give one an entirely new perspective on life, and turn around his way of thinking. Events such as the Salem Witch Trials show the people involved what they could not see before. In Arthur Miller's The Crucible, Elizabeth Proctor, Reverend Hale, and John Proctor gain valuable insight into themselves, as well as others.

    Read More

  • Conflicts in "The Crucible"

    528 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Salem, during the times of the Salem witch trials, the church and the people were very close. This is what led to the hysteria and chaos which was the Salem witch trials. It also led to many conflicts between the characters in this book, because anyone who was against the church was considered a criminal. Some of these conflicts were between; Abigail and the other children, Danforth and the town folk, and John Proctor with himself and his wife.

    Read More

More about Pros And Cons In The Crucible

Open Document