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Comparing The Crucible And The Lottery

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As a coherent set of views manifested through interpersonal interaction, political ideologies become a significant aspect of the human experience which is susceptible to manipulation and interpretation. The ramifications of political and moral issues of Arthur Miller’s milieu are encapsulated in his1953 play The Crucible, an allegory of the Salem witchcraft trials influenced by his personal context of the McCarthy Era. The political representation in The Crucible aligns with Shirley Jackson’s 1948 short story The Lottery, a powerful allegory of barbarism and social sacrifice. Both texts exhibit the behavioural patterns of individuals as a result of traditional, religious and patriotic values. Therefore, the composer’s political motivation is purposefully addressed through representation and it’s medium of production. Unfaltering conflict between authority and personal conscience is embodied within the play most prevalent in Miller’s characterisation of Deputy-Governor Danforth. Danforth is a figure of jurisdiction representative as the …show more content…

The theocracy in Salem was essential to a Puritan society where everything was subject to spiritual scrutiny and enabled individuals like Parris to assume power over the village. This entitlement also allowed for greater consolidation of power through persecutions and trials where the defendants were often guilty until proven innocent. Like most Puritans, Danforth remains convinced of the reality of witchcraft testified by Abigail in Act Three, an act integrated with immense dramatic irony. Despite the persuasion of Hale who once held substantial power over the town with as the Puritan pastor of Beverly, Danforth is quick to imprison and condemn a suspect to death demonstrating the powerplay in Salem as orchestrated by Abigail and the girls

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Danforth’s reckless abuse of authority and biased proceedings make him the most despicable character in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible. As a judge presiding over the court in Salem, Danforth’s

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Miller, through Judge Danforth was able to illustrate this individual corruption by his rigidity of purpose, one which we find difficult to sympathise with as he miss uses his power to punish the innocent, in order please the town’s majority. This Is clearly noted at the back end of Act III where he asks a series of short, sharp questions “you are a lecher”, “-do you deny it Mr Parris”, -you deny every scrap and title of this”, in hope the truth will come out. This is significant because he’s combining this illicit fear of the supernatural and political manipulation in order to get a well-regarded individual in John Proctor to confess to witchcraft. With him dealing with political absolutes “witchcraft is an invisible crime … who may possibly be witness to it?” leads to countless flawed and irrational judgements.

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807 Words | 4 Pages

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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106 Words | 1 Pages

In our society, many people rely on the power of law and justice in order to protect themselves. Some powerful men abuse and misuse their power which brings many unfairnesses and tragedies. In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, Judge Danforth is a deputy governor of the state, and he is also the judge for the witchcraft trail. Judge Danforth represents the authority and supremacy in the entire play. Throughout the play, Danforth’s tyrannous and stubborn personality caused many wrong decisions that he made in the court.

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Judge Danforth’s unwavering egotism culminates in the unfortunate deaths of Salem townsfolk. Arthur Miller’s classic play The Crucible demonstrates how the actions of one person can affect many others. Judge Danforth cares more about his own reputation than what is right. Often times people try to think of what is right instead of saving their own face, Judge Danforth is an exception to this stereotype. The Salem Witch Trials were a horrible time where many people lost their lives due to an unjust court system.

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533 Words | 3 Pages

Reverend Hale and Judge Danforth are two authoritative figures in The Crucible whose roles in society are to lead the community in the ways and likeness of God so that the people of Salem can, basically, be good Puritans. Despite their similar intentions, there are also blaring differences which distinctly separate the two and their beliefs. To start, both Hale and Danforth work chiefly to serve God and lead his people on Earth to live holy and just lives. When the question of the Devil and witchcraft arise within Salem, both men come to investigate and cleanse the town of evil. While Judge Danforth considers himself “a minister of the Lord” and does “not take a life without there be proof so immaculate no slightest qualm of conscience

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The man who ran the show in the courtroom was Judge Danforth. As the judge of the court of a theocratic government, Danforth was religious. The idea of witchcraft being practiced in his own town was terrifying to him. Due to this, Danforth wanted any witch in Salem to be dealt with. Judge Danforth would believe Abigail or any other girl of the group that they had seen the devil in the defendant.

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“What made a minister who saw the dangers, who wanted to protect the innocent and convict the guilty, side with the court?” ( Overview) Hale was brought into the village of Salem on a mission to prove if there was witchcraft present. Hale comes into the village with good intentions, and a strong desire to help the village. (Overview) As the story unfolds, Hale begins to notice how the girls are throwing out the accusations as a way to gain attention, and causing innocent people to be murdered or taken to prison.

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Arthur Miller’s play “The Crucible” obtains a theme that is an ongoing battle of reputations that similarly relates to “Father Was a Spy” by Sam Roberts’s theme. When hardships took a role in the characters lives, multiple people will fight for a lie to protect themselves while throwing new accusations to the next person.

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Originally, Hale is convinced that there is witchcraft in Salem stating, “I have seen too many frightful proofs in court—the Devil is alive in Salem…” (Miller 71). This belief changes when he begins to question the validity of the court trials and starts to realize that Abigail is a fraud. When Hale fails to convince Judge Danforth of Abigail’s lies, he denounces the trial proceedings and quits the court. Hale boldly shows a sign of his opposition to the outrageous ways the court was being run.

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The Crucible Essay As Mark Twain once said, “The less there is to justify a traditional custom, the harder it is to get rid of it.” Many communities, in fiction or in real life, are affected by traditional beliefs. In both The Crucible and “The Lottery”, Jackson and Miller communicate that many will stay true to their traditions rather than stay loyal to their community; however, they also show how these traditions may create a community.

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Human is a species that live in group, and conformity is one of the distinct characteristic of human nature. In the play The Crucible, Arthur Miller investigates various natures in community throughout Act 1 and 2. The play took place at Salem, a town that primarily based on puritanism, the major plot of this play is about witchcraft and witch hunt. Miller conveys a essential message of people always search for conformity from society as a form to prove their identity, further, any rebellion would consider as outcast from majority. The author explores the theme by the use of conflict, this literary element best demonstrates changes of characterizations and complication between others and internal struggle.

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775 Words | 4 Pages

In “The Crucible,” Judge Danforth addresses Francis Nurse saying, “You must understand, sir, that a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it. There be no road between.” In this line, Arthur Miller uses absolutism to demonstrate how the government utilises its power to control the people of society, stating that if the people do not abide by the government’s jurisdiction they shall be persecuted. The political judiciary in this extract from the play exploits Salem society’s fear of incrimination to ensure that their verdict in the witchcraft hearings is not questioned. Likewise, Bob Dylan investigates the issue of political hegemony in his song.

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961 Words | 4 Pages

The Crucible by Arthur Miller is a play which contains a multitude of complex characters . In the play, the characters’ motivations and inner processes are explored. Because of the historical setting, the characters live in a society of judgement and extreme religious devotion. This is a factor that places any of the characters’ choices and morals in a public balance to be judged by others. Abigail Williams is the main character of the play and acts with an utter selfishness and obsession.

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1004 Words | 5 Pages

In the present, the economics of solar power is showing the dynamic behavior and it is growing with the passage of time that is decreasing the cost in many sectors. In this era, the industrialists are more interested to produce the electricity from the roofs by planting the solar panels as it is the cheapest and inexpensive way to cover the utility requirements in the industries as well as homes. By taking the advantage of the merits of the solar power the energy providers can earn high revenue on the investment that they made in the solar energy plants. The increasing utilization of the solar power in the present happening in the different parts of the United States of America and it is estimated that

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