Power In The Crucible By Arthur Miller

The Crucible by Arthur Miller details the cause and effects of the debilitating witch hunts of 1690 on the small town of Salem, Massachusetts. Through his intensely brutal storytelling, Miller weaves a tale of agony and faithlessness, equivocating the hatred and prejudice present in 1692 to the then current issues of communist finger pointing seen in the 1940s. Through this profound play, Arthur Miller uses chaotic character interactions and insidious descriptions to highlight the complexities of the intricate power structures present in Salem, revealing the distinct motivations each character has for their rise to, or fall from, power. This characterization displays the effects power can have on an individual, and the ultimate destruction

Within the first half of the play, the antagonist role to the main character is filled by one Reverend Samuel Parris, the local minister and unofficial leader of the town. Parris is an uneasy man, insecure in his power and paranoid in fear of losing it. He harbors a hatred of John Proctor, as John is the only one who does not crumble under Parris’ vigor. In the first scene, it is immediately clear just how Parris obtained the power he now holds over the town, stating, “I have Fought here three long years to bend these stiff-necked people to me” (Miller 10). This statement reveals Parris’ full distain for those he controls. He is aware of his undeniable power but is simultaneously weak, feeling insecure in such, as he secured it through control and fear. Later in the scene, when things become more heated, Parris also reveals his most valued virtue. When challenged, Parris screams, “There is either obedience or the church will burn like hell!” (29). The reverend believes that he is entitled to the town’s respect and that this respect is the only thing that keeps society in check. From his perspective, obedience is the glue that keeps society running;

Born on October 17th, 1915, he was “surrounded by wealth” as a child and bathed in this fortune (Peterson). His father was a Jewish immigrant from Poland, one of the lucky few migrants that was able to find great success in his business. Unfortunately, the stock market crash destroyed his family’s prospects and Author’s family lost most of their wealth in the chaos. Fourteen-year-old Miller was consequently forced to move and give up his Rich lifestyle in order to survive the great depression. From then on, Miller developed a fascination with the human condition and his own troubles, as well as the purpose of art as a window into society. Peterson notes that “the effects of his misfortune remained with Miller throughout his life, and eventually found expression in his writings”