Examples Of Scapegoation In The Crucible

What if there was a society where God was loved the same amount as His wrath is feared? Well, in the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller, the Puritans were a society who loved and feared God equally. They loved and feared Him to a point where they blamed others for their sins. A group of young girls were caught doing witchcraft in the forbidden woods. The girls put the blame on others so they would not be the ones in trouble and the accused Puritans were all innocent of doing witchcraft. This is called scapegoating. Although some believe that vengeance is the main purpose, it is actually scapegoating. The theme scapegoating is the main purpose of the play because the girls blamed innocent Puritans just to protect themselves. Abigail Williams

Abigail wanted to get her vengeance on Elizabeth Proctor for firing her as a maid. John Proctor screamed in rage at Judge Danforth, “She thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grave!... But it is a whore’s vengeance, and you must see it…”(3.863-8). Abigail wanted to kill or blame Elizabeth for witchcraft to get her vengeance. She may have wanted vengeance, but that did not happen as much as scapegoating like when Abigail scapegoated Tituba. Abigail blamed Tituba for witchcraft because Abigail did not want the blame and Tituba was an easy scapegoat since she is black. Abigail yelled at Paris, “She made me do it! She made Betty do it!”(1.905). This is just one of the victims of Abigail scapegoating. The main purpose, scapegoating, occurred more than vengeance did. Some may believe that vengeance is the main theme, but it really is scapegoating.

Scapegoating is the main purpose and theme of the play The Crucible rather than vengeance. Scapegoating is the main purpose because the Puritans were blaming others for something the accused Puritans never did. Scapegoating happens in real life all around the world. Just like how Steve Bartman was scapegoated for making the Major League Baseball team, the Chicago Cubs, lose the