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Abuse Of Power In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

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“The Crucible” is a timeless play whose ideas can be applied to nearly every time period in history. Arthur Miller’s writing contained insights into human nature and displayed the dangers of hearsay and abuses of power. Those dangers were very present in Arthur Miller’s depiction of the Salem Witch Trials and even in more modern times. Through his fictionalized depiction of the events of the 1692 Salem Witch Trials Miller painted a vivid picture that’s allegories can be compared to even modern events. The events of “The Crucible” are comparable to both the Red Scare and the Covid-19 Pandemic. During the 1950’s, when Arthur Miller wrote “The Crucible”, paranoia about communists in the United States had reached its peak. In what was …show more content…

During the start of the pandemic, authority figures abused their power and poorly handled the situation. Much like Judge Danforth. In “The Crucible”, Judge Danforth refused to believe that the trials were a sham and instead stuck by his beliefs. He even went as far as hanging John Proctor, since he would not let him post his confession in town. Despite knowing that Proctor had confessed and despite evidence that the trials were likely fraudulent, Danforth still went with what he believed to be right. It’s this kind of stubbornness that worsened the Covid-19 pandemic. President Trump sidelined experts and instead handled the pandemic in the way that he believed to be right. He claimed that the virus was no worse than the flu, and he acted in ways that dismissed experts. He especially spread his agenda through his daily briefings, where he established himself as the chief source for covid updates (Lewis and Higgins). By stubbornly sticking by his beliefs, like Judge Danforth, President Trump made the Covid-19 pandemic situation worse. Trump’s actions, in which he established himself as a powerful figure, are also similar to McCarthy, who abused his position to gain more power than he should have had. Ultimately, it is amazing how Miller was able to write a story so insightful that it would stay relevant nearly 70 years after it was written. The similarities between “The Crucible”, the Red Scare and the Covid-19 pandemic, show that Miller was a genius writer who was truly great at analyzing human tendencies. It’s through those analytics that his works are still relevant even

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As the 1950’s continued, and the McCarthy trials along with it, Miller noticed that the trials had the same overall process of the Salem Trials so he began writing “The Crucible” hoping that his play would help people realize that McCarthyism may not be as justified as it seems (Miller Interview part 1.1). In a discussion between McCarthy and Joseph Welch-a special council for the army-about Fred Fisher-a lawyer and suspected communist who had been recommended by Welch to join McCarthy’s Committee-the topic of a “needlessly inflicted” scar on Fisher caused by McCarthy could make a person wonder how many more scars were given in this publicity stunt (“McCarthy-Welch

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Throughout history the fear of corruption and change has compelled people to go to drastic measures to prevent it. The Crucible, a play by arthur Miller, is set in an environment of religious citizens who fear that the devil and witchcraft will corrupt their society. Much like The Crucible, McCarthyism caused the citizens in America to fear corruption of the government by communism. Arthur Miller used his play the crucible as a direct response to McCarthyism and through this play Miller writes about the Salem witch trials during the McCarthy period to comment on how history repeats itself. The social and political factors in The Crucible resemble those in America during the red scare and McCarthyism.

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“ Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. ”- Lord Acton. The Crucible is a four act play written in 1953 by Arthur Miller.

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“The Crucible'' is a play written by Arthur Miller in 1953 depicting the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. One of the key themes in “The Crucible” is the abuse of power. Abigail Williams and Judge Danforth are just two main characters of the story who use their power and authority in varying yet destructive forms. While Danforth is a stern judge who upholds the law and attempts to maintain order during the Salem witch trials, Abigail is a cunning and deceptive young woman who uses her influence to cause chaos and manipulate others. The results of their actions only create more issues instead of fixing pre-existing ones.

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Dorothy Good, the 4 year old daughter of previously accused Sarah Good, was the youngest to be accused of witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials. The people that obtained any sort of power during these trials had no mercy whatsoever on anyone. The accusing girls such as Abigail Williams, Reverend Parris, Thomas Putnam, and many others displayed that as long as their high position in the village was kept to themselves, they did not care who was accused or killed. The concern of having power and authority is the factor that caused the most destruction in The Crucible, by Arthur Miller.

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Danforth, who is the highest authority figure in Salem, uses his power to control the proceedings of the witch trials. He abuses his influence to force confessions from the accused Defendant. He is convinced of the guilt of the accused and unwilling to consider any evidence that suggests their innocence. This

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In this time of crisis the townspeople decided to seek a high class judge to help further understand and identify the suspicious activity taking place in salem. Throughout this play the Judge literally has the power of God, in the sense he can pick and choose who will die and who will live. The Judge does actually believe, regrettably that he is doing the right thing, “who weeps for these weeps for corruption.” Danforth in the end becomes corrupt and unjust as he realises the power he has gained through these trials. Judge Danforth was given immense power which made him an important person in salem but negatively affected his character altering his

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In the Crucible, the reputation of those in power, in Salem during the witch trials, was valued above innocent lives; however, there were people, like John Proctor, who believed that a worthy cause was more important than a spotless reputation. Those in power, such as Danforth and Parris, will jump through hoops to protect their reputation. Danforth is willing to take more innocent lives to prove that he was right in hanging the accused witches that did not confess. When Proctor confesses to witchcraft, Danforth tries to prompt Proctor into accusing someone else of witchcraft to protect Danforth’s reputation. He

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Arthur Miller’s tragedy The Crucible, published in 1953, takes place in Salem Massachusetts around 1692 during the Salem witch trials. The Puritan society's government and laws are controlled by the church. The play follows a group of teenage girls led by Abigail Williams who cause mania by accusing citizens of the town of witchcraft. John Proctor, a farmer who had an affair with Abigail, tries to stand up against the girls and the tyrannical government but falls victim to Abigail’s rampage and is hung as a witch. Throughout The Crucible, hysteria and the abuse of authority are the two most important subjects explored because they are primarily used to manipulate fear while simultaneously promoting excessive avarice that ultimately leads to

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Everyone longs for success. They desire the acceptance and approval for following their moral compass, being rewarded, and being acknowledged. However, one cannot maintain success without a purposeful and achievable position of power. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller the power of society is bound upon a pronounced hierarchy. Men naturally are deemed as having higher status than women in society.

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Crucible Essay The Salem Witch Trials, which occurred in the late 17th century in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, were a dark and tragic period in American history. Through Arthur Miller’s play, “The Crucible”, readers have been given a closer look into the hysteria and paranoia of the time period. The play’s characters and events serve as a representation of the underlying causes of the trials. By analyzing The Crucible, it is possible to identify the causes of these trials which are depicted as a complex mix of factors including societal tensions, religious fervor, and personal grievances.

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The Salem Witch Trials forced townspeople to lie and possibly lead another to death or deny accusations and get hung as a result. In The Crucible by Arthur Miller, people with authority in Salem make unfair decisions in order to punish those that have been accused of witchcraft. Judges knew the hangings were wrong, but continued to hang innocent townspeople. In The Crucible, Arthur Miller shows hypocrisy,judgment, and abuse of power throughout the town of Salem by explaining people’s lies and accusations in the play. Authorities in Salem were not truthful, felt little sorrow for their wrongdoings, and used their power to their advantag,in a bad way.

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(Miller 211) Now to the other conflict, you could have probably figured out from the last conflict. Sense the judge has no proof that he has confessed, Danforth can do nothing to keep Proctor from being hanged. “You will give me your honest confession in my hand, or I cannot keep you from the rope. Which way do you go, Mister?”

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According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, power is the “possession of control, authority, or influence over others” (Power). Men held a majority of the power in the Salem community in the 1600s. The Salem Witch Trials in Salem, Massachusetts, in the 1600s, are an example of the results of people suddenly acquiring power. The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, shows how when individuals who are not used to power, gain it, the effects can be disastrous. When weak people gain power without restrictions, it can get out of control, causing others to become defenseless.

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Deputy Governor Danforth, otherwise known as Judge Danforth, prides himself of the ranking he holds, but his use of power is negatively used during the Salem Witch Trials. “Do you know who I am, Mr.Nurse? And do you know that near four-hundred are in the jails upon my signature? And seventy-two are condemned to hang by that signature?” (80-81).

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