Are The Similarities Between The Times They Are A-Changin And The Crucible

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Political figures develop their motivations equivocally through events, personalities and situations, to achieve their own personal and societal goals of authority. In the 1955 prescribed text, “The Crucible,” playwright Arthur Miller establishes the political motivations of characters through dramatised staging features. Similarly, in the 1964 related text, “The Times They are A-Changin’,” artist Bob Dylan insights authoritative ambitions in his audience through musical and poetic devices. The shared ideas of the modernist era such as the significance of religion and political hegemony are investigated by both composers in their respective texts. Due to the elegant composure of these texts, the responder completely comprehends the motivations of the characters represented. Religion is an …show more content…

Throughout the play, the antagonist Abigail is able to manipulate authoritative figures by claiming she is acting with divine jurisdiction. This is clearly exhibited when Abigail asserts Danforth saying, “Think you to be so mighty that the power of Hell may not turn your wits?” This is phrased as a rhetorical question to give the impression that Danforth believes Abigail to understand the power and motivations of the devil. Acting under this pretence of religious righteousness, Abigail is able to achieve her individual aspirations due to the significance of religion in the Salem society. Similarly, Bob Dylan relies on the piety of his audience to successfully convey his personal political notions. In the line from “The Times They are A-Changin’”, “And the first one now will later be last,” Dylan alludes to the Beatitudes to warn the responder that those who have persecuted the under-privileged members of society will themselves be persecuted as a result of their actions. By foreshadowing the consequences of unjust actions through this religious allusion, Dylan inspires his audience to change their