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Causes Of Downfall Of Salem In The Crucible

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The Downfall of Salem Be a leader not a follower. In the play, The Crucible by Arthur Miller, displays the destruction of the town of Salem beginning with Abigail’s lust for power and the other’s lack of judgment. As the play continues, more problems are created causing more chaos and death within the village. Salem’s downfall was caused by conformity, fear, and jealousy conveying the central theme that conformity can create a corrupt and unjust society. Conformity is revealed as a major issue with the people of Salem. During a heated argument, Abigail and John discuss their past relationship and the problems that surrounded it. Abigail exclaims, “ I never knew what pretense Salem was, I never knew the lying lessons I was taught by all …show more content…

in the beginning of the play, the girls surround Betty Parris as she lies inert on her bed, the girls are worried about being blamed for witchcraft. Abigail gets irritated and explains, “ Now look you. All of you. We danced ... Let either of you breathe a word, or the edge of a word, about the other things, and I will come to you in the black of some terrible night and I will bring a pointy reckoning that will shudder you. And you know I can do it ... I have seen some reddish work done at night, and I can make you wish you had never seen the sun go down!” (12) Abigail is fearful for what may occur to her if the people of Salem find out about the things that were done in the forest. To cover up her fear, she threatens the girls into doing as she says; which creates a fear of loyalty from the girls to Abigail. John pressures Mary to confess the truth to the court about the girls and Mary cannot confess and says, “ in terror: ‘ I cannot. They'll turn on me’” (47). Mary worries about the actions that the girls will attempt to do to her because of her confessions. The fears instilled in her are because of the power that Abigail has over her and the town. Mary is conscious of what Abigail is capable of doing and does not want to be the one receiving her wrath. As fear takes a role in Salem so does

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