Examples Of Determinism In The Crucible

How does Arthur Miller use contrasting images in The Crucible to explore ideas related to the conflict between free will and determinism?
The conflict between free will and determinism is a universal and recurring theme in society. In The Crucible, Arthur Miller explores this theme using symbols of individual desire and social responsibility, and different characters to represent the theme. In doing so, the author symbolises religion and witchcraft to compare the puritanical society of The Crucible with the McCarthy Era. Subsequently, Miller communicates the universal idea that everyone has free will, regardless of the type of society they live in. This is foundational for the communication of the author’s other ideas, which express that determinism

Miller uses the symbol of individual desire and the symbol of social responsibility to illustrate his ideas about the theme in the play. One way this is shown, is through the actions of characters in relation to the contrast of their individual desire from social responsibilities, which govern their society. For instance, Miller uses the character Goody Putnam who disregarded her social responsibilities and willingly sent her daughter to “conjure up the dead”, committing a “formidable sin” in doing so. Consequently, in dialogue the character openly expressed that “[she takes] it on [her] soul, but who else may surely [tell] what person murdered [her] babies?” (Pg. 23). Hence, Miller shows that her actions were guided by free will, even in the deterministic setting

The symbols are used to explore the demonization of characters, and even inanimate objects, which do not comply with the societal stereotypes of the deterministic and authoritarian setting. Such demonization and fear of the “other” is prevalent in modern society with respect to conflict regarding equality. Miller displays this when he uses prose to describe the forest as “the last place on Earth that was not paying homage to God” (Pg. 15), and again when he uses dialogue of Parris to comment that “abominations are done in the forest” (Pg. 19). Thus, Miller demonizes the forest as many people have demonized difference throughout history, in this context owing to the inability of Christians to convert the Indians. Therefore, highlighting the extent to which difference was feared in the play. Furthermore, the author then uses the actions of Proctor to highlight the extent to which free will conflicts with determinism, when the character chooses to die, rather than accuse others and “blacken all of them when [his confession] is nailed to the church the very day they hang for silence” (Pg. 124). Thus, Miller showed that a balance should exist between free will and determinism, and that everyone has free will, regardless of the type of society they reside