How Does Miller Present Conflict In The Crucible

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

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

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