Selfish Desires Vs. Selfless Acts: Spiritual Leadership In The Crucible

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Aqsa Khalil Ms. Aquilina ENG 3U 13 April 2015 Selfish Desires vs. Selfless Acts: Spiritual Leadership in The Crucible A true spiritual leader follows the example of God. In the allegory, The Crucible by Arthur Miller, Elizabeth Proctor and Reverend Parris’ actions prove that ordination does not necessarily mean sound spiritual leadership. Miller uses the backdrop of the 1692 witch hunts to criticize the flawed society of Puritanism. The play is also a critique of McCarthyism in the United States of America which occurred in the 1950’s. Goody Proctor, a simple farmer’s wife, is the moral centre for John and becomes the voice of his salvation. Elizabeth’s honesty is compromised when she gives it up in an attempt to save her husband. Elizabeth’s …show more content…

When Mary Warren is in the court testifying against Abigail, Parris prompts Mary to faint as she said she was pretending before, “Then no see no spirits now, and prove to us that you can faint by your own will, as you claim” (99). Parris wants to continue to support his story about the girls in the forest and so he targets Mary as she is fearful and weak. She is not able to faint as it was an electric impulse she felt with the girls and the power of suggestion that made her faint at the time. As the girls pretend to have Mary’s spirit on them, Parris joins in, “Cast the Devil out! Look him in the face! Trample him! We’ll save you, Mary, only stand fast against him and-” (109). Parris is insidious as he pretends that the devil is in Mary to convince Judge Danforth of Abigail’s lie. Parris manipulates the courts along with Abigail to discredit Mary’s story. On the other hand, Elizabeth is willing to accept culpability even for the sins she has not committed. Elizabeth attempts to tell John that she cannot decide whether he should confess or not for him, “I have read my heart this three month, John. I have sins of my own to count. It needs a cold wife to prompt lechery” (126). Elizabeth has been away from John for three months and in this time away from …show more content…

Elizabeth possesses all the qualities that one should have to be a competent leader, her ability to put others before herself, her values such as truth which she holds dear to her heart, and the way in which she takes responsibility like an empowered leader should. Nevertheless, Parris, whose purposes do not serve his congregation, is willing to put those that he preaches to at Church at risk in an attempt to serve himself. One’s spirituality should never be dictated based on their standing in

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