Essay on The Crucible Essay Example for Free

Essay on The melting pot EssayThe Crucible was written by the great play writing legend Sir Arthur Miller. He created manhoody ingenious plays. In fact I would like to focus on the play (The Crucible) is based on a original story. The Crucible is set in America in the state of Massachusetts within the small liquidation of Salem in the late seventeenth century. In this period of time, witch hunting was at its peak. In addition, religion was regarded as the law it was correctly over every 1 and no one could question its authority. No one would d are speak against it or the consequences could be lethal.For many hundreds of years throughout Europe there was a belief in witchcraft. At times the principle turned into historical care, leading into campaigns or persecution against suspect witches. It was thought that witches were agents of the devil. In 1692 there was an outbreak of accusations of witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts (USA). The colonists there were Puritans who foll owed a particular form of Protestant Christianity and would tolerate no other. They felt surrounded by ungodly people and they associated the woodland with savages and with evil.Salem was a puritan community their lives were ruled by religion. The role pf religion is very strengthful and id used to control the community within the courts of Salem, religion is referred to throughout the play. The Crucible criticises the effects of the Cold warfare America experienced in the 1950s. McCarthy felt his power threatened by his peoples interest in communism. It was feared that Russia hire over the world. This links to The Crucible because the people in the play are craving for freedom, they dont want to be tied to religion and the Bible.The Crucible begins with the village girls cleaning and making something in a pot, which is against the laws of Salem. This action leads to a whole plot of jealousy, betrayal and ends up in hangings. Miller tries to display the act of the girls dancing in the forest as a form of plea, a cry for help. Throughout the play there are many characters with a variety of strong agendas that display their notions by insinuating them in ways, which cause arguments and stir the pot. after(prenominal) both exercise and watching The Crucible I noticed that there were four main categories in which the characters fell into.The powerful, the righteous, the weak and the jealous. Most of the characters or the main characters rather entered the powerful and jealous categories. Judge Danforth for example, a powerful man with extreme authority, he turns a blind eye to the truth to go his smear and stay in power. He is bought and biased, looks more for his own benefit rather than helping others which should be the case. He abuses his position magnificently to stay in power. Reverend Paris, also has a considerable amount of power in the village of Salem.His main concern seems to be keeping his reputation and hes bent on doing anything and everything t o keep his authority and be feared. He has controlling power yet refuses to shift position for the right cause. thaumaturgy follow is an honest man who isnt easily led. He is a hardworking farmer in his thirties with logical thought. He is married, even tempered but is powerful of mind and body. Proctor is feared and respected in Salem, however he is no saint he has committed adultery with Abigail Williams who worked for Proctor as a servant but was subsequently fired when Proctor realized his mistake.Hes a good-hearted man who wants to rile his wrongs right. An honourable man, who stands up for what is right and uses his wisdom against that which is wrong. Abigail, a very cunning young woman, she has committed adultery with hindquarters Proctor and uses this to her advantage by blackmailing and threatening him. She blames lies on other to save herself, she plays free and acts nai ve when in reality she is the cause of the disputes. She is evil and spiteful, cares for nobody b ut herself she is simply selfish.Mary rabbit warren, one of the weak and terror-struck characters, who can be moulded through threatening, as she is easily intimidated. She sides with Proctor when he threatens her and then sides with Abigail when she blackmails her. She is very controlled as though she doesnt call for a mind of her own nor any opinions. Because her worth is less than a striver she grew up with no honour, respect, honesty or independence, this is why she is unable to see the wrong as salubrious as Proctor and in the end sides with the wrong people out of pure fear.Unfortunately, Mary warren is a timid and gullible character who plays an unwitting role in the outcome of the trial. The audience go forth see the tension build up when they see such a combination of characters who all have very different agendas and are extremely volatile arguing in this type of situation. In this essay, I will focus mainly on act 3. It begins in the courtroom the witch trial has co mmenced. thither are of course two parties, those accused of being witches (John Proctor, his wife etc) and the accusers (Rev. Parris etc).Proctor has a tough trouble defending himself because he has to prove that the court is wrong, Danforth questions Proctor and finds out what kind of a man he is before he hears the case. Giles Corey testifies for his wife (she was accused of being a witch). Giles feels guilty since it was he who told the court that his wife, Martha, had been reading some books. The court believes that she was reading them books to learn how to curse people. Francis Nurse testifies and defends his wife, Judge Hathorne supposes they are the bad ones and is savage by their blatant denial so consequently orders Corey and Nurse to be arrested.Proctor forces Mary Warren to testify for the defence and she complies by saying she lied in the court before. John says the girls are fictionalization about the witchcraft. This makes the judge very nervous because if Proctor is correct then they have killed many innocent people. Proctor presents his case, he has three depositions to offer for evidence, the first being a signed petition proving the purity of the three mens wives. The second statement comes from Giles Corey, he tells the judges that Thomas Putnam is a ravenous and greedy man who is obsessed with attaining land through any means.However, Putnam denies this and Corey refuses to tell the court who gave him this information on Putnam in fear of being arrested. Unfortunately, he is still arrested for contempt of court. From here we are taken back to Rev. Hale who has accomplished his mistake and has changed sides, now supporting Proctor. Mary is the third final element of Johns defence. John tells her what to say and that he is supporting her. But Mary Warren is afraid no one will believe her (that the witchcraft was all untrue and the girls had been lying all along) because she lied earlier. Danforth brings in the accusers led by Abigail.W illiams says that Mary is lying, the judges begin to wonder how Mary could be feigning to be a witch earlier. She is asked to demonstrate this pretending for the court. She cant. Abigail and Danforth argue when Williams is questioned and then pretends to be seeing Mary as a bird in the pushover from the devil. The rest of the girls on Abigails side mimic her for their act to look believable. Proctor having no options left reveals his purpose with Abigail. The men are horrified, John and Abigail are instructed to turn their backs while Elizabeth Proctor is bought in.She is asked if her husband has committed lechery. not knowing he has confessed and thinking of his protection, her loyalty to John gets the better of her and she denies it. As she is led out John tells her he has confessed and they both realize that have lost completely. Abigail and the girls continue to act as though laid low(p) Mary Warren until she finally cracks. She accuses Proctor for having used her for the de vils work and runs into the now welcoming arms of Abigail. Proctor and Giles Corey are led to the prison.