Examples Of Light Vs Dark In The Crucible

You got accused for doing supernatural activities. The court deems you as guilty for performing witchcraft. The judge says that the consequence for disrespecting God is a hanging. Utter shock and confusion is etched on your face as the ruling of the court is unfair and inhumane. The court gives you two choices: confess your participation in witchcraft or die behind the noose in front of the whole village. Would you die or confess? The Crucible by Arthur Miller is a play that occurred in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. The play was inspired by a historical event called the Salem Witch Trials. The Crucible’s main protagonist is John Proctor. The other characters are Reverend Parris, Reverend Hale, Abigail Williams, Betty, Mary Warren, Danforth,

In Puritan society, lightness represents truth and honesty. Although, darkness represents dishonesty and the Devil. Reverend Hale is a local expert on witchery and traces down evil spirits. He came as a desperate measure for Reverend Parris’s ill daughter, Betty. She hasn’t woken up, and people are suspecting that she is exposed to an evil spirit. Hale comes to John and Elizabeth Proctor’s house to have a talk, and get to know the people in the village. Hale reveals to Proctor that he’s heard Proctor “holds no beliefs that there may even be witches in the world,” (Miller 66). Light vs dark connects to the Salem Witch Trials because those who were “light” as in people who who believe in God fought the people who perform witchcraft which is “dark.” In the Salem Witch Trials, the court hangs those that perform witchcraft. According to Puritan society, witchcraft is a sin because it goes against God. Thus, the community unravels because the divide between the “light” and the “dark” causes them to always attack each other. Additionally, Miller utilizes the motif of light vs dark to prove to the readers the importance of the court system in Puritan society. Abigail Williams, Reverend Parris’s niece, and Mary Warren both appear in court because they are testifying against the people who did witchcraft.Elizabeth Proctor explains to

Danforth, John Proctor, and Giles Corey are in court. Giles is trying to bail his wife out of jail because feels she was wrongfully accused. Danforth promises to get rid of all evil so “we live no longer in the dusky afternoon when evil mixed itself with good and befuddled the world,” (Miller 87). Puritan society doesn’t tolerate people who they believe go against God. Danforth, the judge of the Salem Witch Trials, feels like it’s responsibility to purify the town by hanging the toxicities. Therefore, anyone accused of witchcraft goes to jail and is sent be hanged. Thus, this connects to the Salem Witch Trials because the court would persecute people who went against their laws. In addition, Miller uses intolerance in Act 3 to prove what Puritans view is the highest in their village. Giles Corey introduces himself in front of Judge Danforth. Giles defends Martha, his wife, to release her from jail. Giles said that “they”, as in Abigail, is lying about his wife, Danforth, offended, said,”This is the highest court of the supreme government of this province..” (Miller 79). Danforth took Giles distrust in the court seriously. Intolerance is evident in Danforth’s words because when Giles said the court is lying, which isn’t something Puritans believe, Danforth quickly contradicted Giles’s words. He did this by stating how