Masters of Carnal Obscurity
The sweet facade of professionalism is everywhere. Confident text highlighting crisp labels, and scientifically inclined words are the pastries that feed our notions of normality. These fabrications are yet evident within the tender crease of holy robes upon the knee, or the fervent prayer of an aching minister. “The Crucible”, by Arthur Miller, cleverly disproves the common image of morality among church-going individuals, burrowing deep into the necrotic heart of corruption.
Near the closure of Act Two, terror is sweeping Salem. Virtually all but one have been convinced that dark forces of evil are upon the entire city and its inhabitants. A man named John Proctor is a lone pillar of disbelief, determined to stand with reason rather than mania. The
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John Proctor remains mildly irritated throughout the long series of tests and questioning that Hale presents him with, yet when the baptism of his child is mentioned, Proctor reveals his honest thoughts on Reverend Parris; “I like it not that Mr. Parris should lay his hand upon my baby. I see no light of God in that man. I’ll not conceal it.”. An almost indignant Hale responds with, “I must say it, Mr. Proctor, that is not for you to decide. The man’s ordained, therefore the light of God is in him.”.(65, 66) There is no question in Hale’s eyes as to whether Parris is morally sound or not. Because of Parris’ position in the church, he is automatically a righteous man. For Proctor, a man who can’t even properly recite the Ten Commandments, to even question the authority of a church official is ludicrous. The prejudice and working order of the church is now becoming even more pronounced through the frustrations of Proctor and Hale’s conversation. To set this all in motion, the author also implies the historical concept of Divine Right, attaching it to Puritan