Examples Of Abuse Of Power In The Crucible

In Arthur Miller’s play, “The Crucible”, power is a central issue, and characters' increasing or decreasing possession of it moves the story considerably. The play explores how people in power can experience megalomania, and consequently fail to resolve the issues at hand. The root of the problem is the unchecked power of the Puritan leaders, who are able to use their authority to manipulate and control the beliefs and behaviors of the people. When the young girls of Salem begin to act strangely and accuse others of witchcraft, the community is thrown into chaos, and the court officials are given a platform to assert their power. The girls are able to wield their accusations as a weapon, and the officials use the opportunity to further their

Abigail is the young girl who leads the charge against the supposed witches of Salem. She uses her position as one of the accusers to manipulate and control the people around her. She is able to convince the court officials that the accused are guilty, and is able to turn the community against those who oppose her. Abigail's power over the other girls is demonstrated when she threatens them with physical harm saying “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 saw Indians smash my dear parents’ heads on the pillow next to mine, and l have seen some reddish work done at night, and l can make you wish you had never seen the sun go down” (575). If they don't support her lies. She even goes so far as to accuse Elizabeth Proctor, the wife of her former lover, of witchcraft, in an attempt to remove her from the

When power goes unchecked and unchallenged, it becomes a breeding ground for exploitation and oppression. In a Business.com article, Petrina Coventry states that “Victims of abuse are often stressed and confused about their situation. This confusion can block the person’s confidence to report the issue, or they ignore it, thinking it will go away in time” (Coventry). Victims of abuse are often intimidated and overwhelmed, making it difficult for them to speak out against their abusers. If the abuse of power is not recognized and addressed, it can continue to perpetuate and cause harm to vulnerable individuals. Recognizing abuse of power is essential to protect the most vulnerable members of society and to prevent the abuse from going unchecked. By creating awareness about the signs of abuse of power and providing support to victims, we can encourage them to come forward and seek help. It is only through collective action that we can create a society that is safe, just, and equitable for