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How Does Miller Present Conflict In The Crucible

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How does Miller explore conflict in The Crucible? Arthur Miller’s 1952 play The Crucible represents how individual and collective circumstances develop conflict. Set in the puritan town of 1692’s Salem during the famous Salem Witch Trials, the play is an allegory for America’s 1950s communist hunt in which Miller had been blacklisted. Miller links the two revealing the similarities through tension and fear, and how they are the key to developing conflicts in both times. He suggests that an individual’s freedom is detriment to the security within a community. Moral uncertainty and guilt are concepts Miller uses to investigate the contrast between ‘right’ and ‘wrong’. Miller’s depiction of character relations unveils the opportunistic nature …show more content…

Self-alienated from the puritan Salem community, John Proctor is seen as a defiant Christian. His choices are denounced by the church as he refuses to have his third son baptised by Reverend Parris having “see[ing] no light of God in that man” despite him being ordained “thus the light of God is in him.” This defiance of religion and community has him seen as a threat to the power and influence of the church more specifically Paris. This fear of being overthrown is what initiates the church to be sceptical of Proctor, which is what leads to his eventual death. Throughout the play, Proctor is seen as “either with [the] court or he must be counted against it”, and considering his pride will not waver, he is ultimately counted against it. He outright says the priest, Reverend Parris will “preach only hellfire and bloody damnation” criticizing his work in the church. These straight froward remakes make Procter an easy target for the blame of witchery as he openly disrespects the church, and at that, God. However, this accusation lies deeper to also rid him from the society and prevent Proctor’s influence over others. this serves as an example for the people, and a way to control their behaviour. The playwright expresses the desire for peace in the town, in relation to total compliance and conformity as the members who choose to blindly follow are the ones left …show more content…

The feud between the Elizabeth and Abigail is still fresh in Act 1 of the play, and the tension behind it causes Abigail to use accusations of witchery against Elizabeth as she “thinks to take [her] place” as Proctor’s wife. She exploits the hysteria and irrationality of the situation for her own gain in personal issues. This is also evident in the relationship between the Putnams and the Nurses, however this dispute contrast is the first conflict as is has lasted much longer when in comparison. Due to a ‘land war’ and a disagreement regarding Thomas Putnam to run as a candidate for the Salem Ministry, the families lack respect for each other, showing great hostility that is exemplified as Mrs Putnam speaks to Rebecca Nurse “[with a growing edge of sarcasm]”. The witch hunts provide the perfect opportunity for the Putnams to achieve the 'upper hand’ and ‘win’ the dispute by accusing Rebecca Nurse of the “supernatural murder of Goody Putnam’s babies.” Both instances use the situation, where improper and circumstantial evidence is accepted, opportunistically to demolish the reputation of the opposing party. This allows for previously repressed conflict to develop into larger scale matters that dictate life and death. The exploitation of the unreliability of evidence and lack of knowledge for the underlying individual circumstances is why these conflicts

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In the short play, The Crucible, by Arthur Miller The character John Proctor also known as Goody Proctor is both a husband and father and a mild aged farmer in his thirties. He is the protagonist of Arthur Miller 's play. The play is set in the puritanical town of Salem and expectations of their cultural background which is Christianity. Proctor’s main motivation is to protect his wife and family after committing adultery to Abigail and to prove his wife not guilty of witchcraft. He isn’t overly religious but he is a stubborn outspoken man.

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485 Words | 2 Pages

Proctor’s Opposition to His Society In the book, The Crucible, Arthur Miller introduces us to John Proctor. Proctor is married and simple, yet he's argumentative toward his town for the persecution of “witches.” Proctor faces conflict throughout the town, his morals are challenged and his view on ethical implication are changing.

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1063 Words | 5 Pages

Thoroughly titillated by the thrill of the witchcraft narrative currently rife in 17th century Salem, Abigail then seems to channel this passion into something more abrasive. Soon enough, the strange pleasure Abigail derives from brazenly labelling numerous Goodies as nothing but witches extends to the women of Salem. Ergo, making accusations in Salem no longer means solely seeking justice. Now, following Abigail’s influence, the women of Salem accuse others to instead whet their newfound lust for power. “Like one awakened to a marvellous secret insight,” Mary Warren, despite her tearful façade, finds the entire act of naming Goody Good as a witch almost erotic.

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807 Words | 4 Pages

Throughout history the fear of corruption and change has compelled people to go to drastic measures to prevent it. The Crucible, a play by arthur Miller, is set in an environment of religious citizens who fear that the devil and witchcraft will corrupt their society. Much like The Crucible, McCarthyism caused the citizens in America to fear corruption of the government by communism. Arthur Miller used his play the crucible as a direct response to McCarthyism and through this play Miller writes about the Salem witch trials during the McCarthy period to comment on how history repeats itself. The social and political factors in The Crucible resemble those in America during the red scare and McCarthyism.

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In the play John Proctor is put in a tough situation between life and death. Proctor can either confess to witchcraft, which is a lie, or stick with the truth and get executed. John Proctor believes in keeping his reputation clean and decides to stick to the truth and get killed because of it. Proctor wanted to be remembered as the man who stuck to the truth no matter what rather

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648 Words | 3 Pages

Elizabeth and Abigail Williams, John Proctor’s one-time affair, have had a conflict throughout the play. From Elizabeth firing Abigail to Abigail naming Elizabeth as a witch. The conflict between the two has now become a life or death deal, where Abigail is willing to send Elizabeth to the gallows in order to be with John, her true love. The witch trials of Salem gave Abigail her opportunity to do just that. The conflict between the two could be resolved if Abigail were to succeed and Elizabeth dies, it is also possible if Abigail were to find a new man.

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Blatantly admitting his dislike for Parris and showing his clear love for God perhaps not in the eyes of all of Salem, but to himself. Furthermore it made it clear to me that my particular thinking was not incorrect, Proctor had no love for Parris. This is also the reason Proctor did not get his third son baptised. There is justification for why Proctor rebels, he does not do it out of spite for the church, he does it out of lack of respect for the people running the church. Proctor is still a firm believer in Christ, he just chooses not to follow a system that he does not believe in, and that system is the way Salem is run, by corruption, hatred for others and self-serving lies.

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605 Words | 3 Pages

It is well known that John Proctor does not see Parris to be a godly man. He disagrees with his teachings and his candlesticks and is not shy in admitting that he possesses “no love for Mr. Parris”(90). Parris no doubt sees this and relishes in the idea that he can use witchcraft to discredit Proctor so that there will be no displeasure from anyone in the town toward him and his teachings. In the court, he does everything possible to discredit John Proctor’s argument by influencing Danforth’s view of him in a negative manner. The reverend argues that Proctor is “such a Christian that will not come to church but once in a month” (90).

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As the niece of Samuel Parris, an authoritative reverend in Salem, Abigail’s name is already tied with an influential and powerful family. When girls throughout Salem are found in unusual circumstances the town turns to witchcraft. Coincidentally the first unusual sighting included Parris’ own daughter and niece, Abigail. Abigail took advantage of this opportunity and manipulated many innocent people. It is important to acknowledge Abigail's history in the town and any motives she may have had.

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439 Words | 2 Pages

In theocratic Salem, where personal and public morality is synonymous, reputation is crucial. The dread of guilt by association becomes especially harmful in a setting where reputation is so important. The residents of Salem are concerned with upholding their good reputations and must be concerned that the transgressions of their friends and associates would tarnish their names. The desire to preserve their reputations is the motivation behind the acts of many personalities. Parris worries that his reputation will be threatened and that his removal from the pulpit will be caused by Abigail's increasingly dubious conduct and the suggestions of witchcraft surrounding his daughter's coma as the play opens.

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819 Words | 4 Pages

The Crucible reflects the compelling power that fear holds on people and the erratic behaviours that it drives people to perform, and forces them to believe that they must forfeit their humanity by turning against their fellow people to ensure themselves of a false sense of security. After John Proctor, who is a man that holds a high status in society and is well-respected begins having an affair with the familys teenage servant Abigail Williams, they both begin to illustrate rampant hysteria. Despite the misogynistic system of the village, Abigail is a dominant accuser of witchcraft in Salem who begins to go around accusing many people of witchcraft which results in many innocent deaths. Abigail holds a manipulative and power-hungry nature which causes her to perform reckless actions to destory the lives of others, which begins with her affair with John Proctor that enables her to hold power over him. However, there is a main inconsistency throughout the play which is the fact that John names himself, and acts as a honest man but he begins an ongoing affair with Abigail.

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715 Words | 3 Pages

Fear, anger, and distrust are feelings that all humans face on a daily basis. In Arthur Miller’s book The Crucible, Abigail Williams’s actions opened Pandora's box in her small town. The story takes place in Salem, a puritan village, and it’s a tale of how a single person can bring havoc to the ones around them. The Crucible acts as a morality play by illustrating how manipulation and panic can cause false accusations that lead to death. Miller shows this through symbolism and characterization of good and evil.

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570 Words | 3 Pages

For example, Abigail Williams had an affair with John Proctor who was married to Elizabeth Proctor at the time and got discovered. However, Abigail Williams still “loved” John Proctor and was rejected. Later, she accuses Elizabeth Proctor for witchcraft, an action she uses as her revenge. These acts of cruelty ultimately affect all the victims and their families in this play as their consequence is to be hung. The vulnerability and sense of helplessness are all revealed in the victims as they are facing their

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704 Words | 3 Pages

Abigail Williams, the main antagonist of the play, uses her sharp wit and manipulative personality in order to gain power through causing hysteria and chaos in a restrictive 17th century Salem environment. The attention Abigail draws to herself through the accusations made in the witch trials generate a great source of power for her, when Abigail and John Proctor, of whom previously had an affair have a conversation regarding the witch trials she says, “I have a sense for heat, John, and yours has drawn me to my window, and I have seen you looking up, burning in your loneliness. Do you tell me you’ve never looked up at my window?”(Miller 21). Through her relationship with John Proctor, Abigail gains power due to the fact that they share a mutual liking for each other and John is married to

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1748 Words | 7 Pages

Because of this, he consigns them to a future of suffering. The prominence he has as a respected figure in town is well known to all in the play, to the point where Parris professes that John’s signed confession “‘will strike the village’” (pg. 141). In this, it is evident that Parris is aware that if John confesses, others will follow. The townspeople of Salem have the overall impression of John Proctor as a good man, and if he were to confess to a sin such as witchcraft, it is likely that the townspeople would look more scrutinously towards the doings of the court.

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