Examples Of Injustice In The Crucible

When faced with injustice, one would assume that the right thing to do would be to defy it. However, as seen in The Crucible, this is not always the case. Characters both challenge and agree with the injustice, when they are faced with the highly prejudiced court and witch trials, for many different reasons. In Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible, he persuades readers to both accept and challenge the view that “Defiance becomes our duty in the face of injustice” through the ironic use of both static and dynamic character’s personal integrity. When faced with the unjust court of Salem, dynamic characters do what is expected, defy the injustice. Reverend Hale is one example of a character who defies the court, going from “No man may longer doubt

There is too much evidence now to deny it” to “I denounce these proceedings, I quit this court!” (Miller 61; 111). Hales starts the story off fully with the court, then as he relizes how corrupt it is, literally goes on to “denounce” it (111). Brilliantly, Hale makes the switch from agreeing to defying the court as a dynamic character, so he overcomes his prestigious schooling and knowledge to do what he believes is right. Proctor, the main defier of the court, also is a dynamic character. He didn’t agree with the court from the start, but makes his switch when he realizes that it is his duty to save the town by first saying “ I say - I say - God is dead!” then eventually confessing himself to the crime of witchery, which he did not commit, and not accusing anyone else (111). Yet, when Proctor is asked to sign his name, he refuses, instead saying “ Damn the village! I

However there are two static characters who challenge this idea, Giles Corey and Rebecca Nurse, as they both are static, yet challenge the court. However, they are both doing this to protect only their own personal integrity, in comparison to Proctor and Hale defying to protect the town. In Giles case he is the scapegoat of the town, so he always defends himself, while Rebecca has always been one of the most respected people in Salem. To defend herself, Rebecca, in response to Proctor’s confession says “Why, it is a lie, it is a lie; how may I damn myself? I cannot, I cannot” (129). When she says this, she is protecting herself, but not influencing anyone else, and Giles, while he defended himself until the bitter end, did not have any real influence on anyone either. These static, yet defying characters further develop the overall message Miller is trying to portray; a dynamic, influential, self-righteous, character will challenge injustice, while a static, only influential in the ways of hysteria, and most importantly dishonorable person will agree with injustice. These ideas connect back to the quote “Defiance becomes our duty in the face of injustice”, because when faced with injustice, a morally correct person will challenge it, while a morally corrupt person will agree with it. Yet, as seen in the play, the