Essay About Lies In The Crucible

In some specific situations, people will choose to either tell the truth or lie. The consequence is what drives them to make that choice. Well, in Act I of The Crucible, Arthur Miller displays that people are willing to lie to ensure they will live; conflicts, aids this idea which also reveals people's true character.

To start, as Abigail was being confronted by Reverend Parris, Reverend Hale and watched by many spectators, Arthur Miller then wrote, “‘Why—common dancing is all.’ Then Parris responds with, ‘I think I ought to say that I—I saw a kettle in the grass where they were dancing.’ Abigail quickly protests, ‘That were only soup.’ Followed by the interruption of Hale, ‘Soup? What sort of soup were in this kettle, Abigail? ...any

Tituba called him!’” (Miller 42). Readers will find that, this section of the play is very tense with the rise of a newly formed conflict. The conflict is clearly depicted, Abigail is lying to resolve the pressure of questions from both Reverend Parris and Reverend Hale about the events that occurred that night with the dancing. Abigail trying to resolve this conflict led to Abigail ‘confessing’ or lying to ensure her own life and not be hung for witchcraft. Now, following the quote, as Tituba is called up for questioning from mainly Reverend Hale and Abigail continuing to lie to add pressure. Tituba is asked by Hale, “‘Tituba, I want you to wake this child.’ Where Tituba responds with “I have no power on this child, sir.’ Hale aggressively responds with, ‘You most certainly do, and you will free her from it now! When did you compact with the Devil!’ Tituba protest, ‘I don’t compact with no Devil!’ Parris now intrudes with, ‘You will confess yourself or I will take

There was four.’ Parris asks, ‘Who? Who? Their names, their names!’ … “‘You work for me, Tituba, and I make you free! I give you pretty dress to wear, and put you way high up in the air, and you gone fly back to Barbados!’ And I say, ‘You lie, Devil, you lie!’ And then he come one stormy night to me and he say, ‘Look! I have white people belong to me.’ And I look-- and there was Goody Good’ … ‘and Goody Osburn’ (Miller 47). Now Tituba’s true character is displayed with this continuation of the ‘confession’ or lie. The reasoning for Tituba displaying her true character is, she has already because of conflicts, made the decision of lying and feels safe doing so As she will not be punished, but protected because she is a key to solving the witchcraft in the town of Salem. Now, to not forget, Abigail’s true character is displayed broadly after Tituba confesses. Abigail rises, staring as though inspired, and cries out. “I want to open myself! I want the light of God, I want the sweet love of Jesus! ...I saw Goody Osburn with the devil! I saw Bridget Bishop with the Devil!’ As she is speaking, Betty is rising from the bed, a fever in her eyes, and picks up the chant. ‘I saw George Jacobs with the