Examples Of Seeking Truthfulness In The Crucible '

Paul Volmar

Ms. Battista

Junior English Accelerated - Period 8

2 May 2023

Discovering Truthfulness

“No one wants the truth if it is inconvenient”(Arthur Miller). The idea of how difficult truth can be to obtain is also found in The Crucible. Arthur Miller was one of the most talented and influential American playwrights of the post World War II era. Using the Salem Witch trials as a base, Arthur Miller created The Crucible play, which presents an allegory for events in contemporary America. The Salem Witch Trials took place in Salem, Massachusetts and were based on the accusations of a twelve-year-old girl. In the book Abigail, wanting to keep the event secret, hid the truth from the adults and caused them to turn the situation into a blame

Danforth's stubbornness is shown when Proctor is presenting his evidence to the court: “Indeed not, but it strike hard upon me that she will dare come here with such a tale. Now, Mr. Procter, before I decide whether I shall hear you or not, it is my duty to tell you this. We burn a hot fire here; it melts down all concealment”(Miller 89). This shows how Danforth has no room for consideration, especially with Procter because he sees him as someone who seeks to dismantle the court. The fire he speaks of that burns all concealment doesn't work, so he gets frustrated and gets confirmation that he is in the right from Abigail. Abigail’s reassurance is the easiest way for his beliefs to be correct and for the opposing argument to be invalid. Another time this is shown is when Danforth is telling Procter his wife is jailed but not being hanged because Elizabeth is pregnant: ”We have thought it too convenient to be credited. However, if i should tell you now that i will let her another month; and if she shows her natural signs, you shall have her living yet another year until she is delivered” (Miller 92). This shows Danforth is still looking for the truth even though he is very misled. He seeks justice but will not let others' ideas interfere with his own beliefs and ideas. This attempt shows that Danforth contains a bias in his court against and toward certain characters. This bias led him to situate himself on the wrong side of the argument and witch acquisitions, which caused Danforth to not be able to find the truth. Danforth was siding with Abigail and was unable to be convinced that this person he thought was trustworth was not afterall. He took abigails fiction, the easiest way out, and deemed anything else as false information According to Harild Bloom, “He immediately tells Danforth that he must pardon the prisoners. When Danforth remains