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Racial Discrimination In The Crucible

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In the conservative society of Salem, Massachusetts, The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, examines the rash extremity people will take to report false accusations of their enemies. With an uprise of sudden unorthodox behavior and accused witchcraft, Reverend Hale, a local pastor of Beverley, suggests, “no principle, however glorious” is worth dying for. On the contrary, it would be more fulfilling if one yields to condemnation or death by honoring their ethics, instead of falling short to their own selfish tendencies. There are several accounts of people surrendering to protect their principles. Civil rights activist, Martin Luther King Jr., fought against racial discrimination in the South. Willingly placing his reputation and life on the line,
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Justice or injustice, universally humans have been defining these words depending on how, who, and where that individual was raised. Justice is good and right, following the law. Injustice is breaking the law like stealing, or lying. In the novel, The Crucible by Arthur Miller has an ample amount of examples of injustices. One character, in particular, Abigail Williams, exemplifies the meaning of wrong and evil.

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Our history is swarming with discrimination. Humans have a tendency to see something that is different from themselves and fear it, or hate it. This hatred often leads to the destruction of these so-called “different” people. The Crucible by Arthur Miller tells a story of the Salem witch trials, where a town becomes hysterical when several young girls are falsely accused of witchcraft. This play was written as an allegory to McCarthyism, and the destruction of innocent lives that came because of it.

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There has come a time in everyone’s life when their character was called into question, or someone accused them wrongly of something they did not do. This puts a person’s morality on the line and tests whether they will do what’s best for them or the masses. The Crucible by Arthur Miller shows the characters John Proctor, Deputy Governor Danforth, and Abigail Williams going through this same test. The play provides a narrative on how people choose to value their own reputation and honor over protecting the lives of themselves and others.

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In the play The Crucible, playwright Arthur Miller protests the Red Scare of the early 1900s, a period of public hysteria in which Senator Joseph McCarthy accused many innocent Americans of Communism. Appalled by this tragic period of modern history, Miller suggests a parallel in The Crucible, in which he attempts to convey “‘the essential nature of one of the most awful chapters in human history’--the trials for witchcraft in Salem in 1692” (Background: About Arthur Miller” 3). In both periods of history, Miller warns that mass hysteria often results from people who claim, that principle motivates their actions, while they may actually have other secret incentives such as greed or revenge. In The Crucible greed motivates some characters and revenge motivates others, creating the tragedy of the Salem Witch Trials.

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Arthur Miller’s work, The Crucible, was written during the “Red Scare” time period, and many themes and ideas regarding both events are presented through a drama based on the Salem witch trials. In this drama, a lack of justice is shown when some jealous, vengeful characters in Salem are willing to use manipulation and deceit, and sacrifice the reputations and integrity of all involved, in order to empower themselves.

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“If I do not do this thing, then it may go on and on. Nothing of the greater good comes without struggle and sacrifice in equal measure, be you man or woman, and in this way are we freed from tyranny.” Said by Kathleen Kent In the Heretic's Daughter. People in order to be free need to go through a struggle or as said in the quote “sacrifice in equal measure.”

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Based on the tragic events of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, The Crucible is a hard-hitting tale that reflects upon the subjectivity of goodness and virtue, sparking the reflection of the importance of moral behavior during times of hardship and crisis. In an unyielding and restricted Puritan community like Salem village, a bad reputation could result in social exclusion and scorning from the community. As a result, many members of the community would go to extremes to avoid tarnishing their reputations. The Crucible asserts that those who are concerned only with protecting their standings are dangerous to a society, as they are willing to blame and hurt other people in order to protect themselves.

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The Crucible Arthur Miller purposefully stereotypes the women in the Crucible to make a statement concerning the treatment of women in modern society. Miller is making the statement that most women is modern society are viewed as having many negative characteristics, just because of their gender. In the Crucible, Miller primarily used Elizabeth Proctor, Mary Warren, and Abigail Williams to show how negative stereotypes are used against women in modern society. Women are often portrayed as being cold and cruel if they don’t fit the picture of a happy housewife, and that’s how Elizabeth Proctor was depicted.

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Although, many people that were condemned weren’t actually apart of the Communist Party, (under McCarthyism around 1950-1954) they got blacklisted or lost their jobs. This social injustice is also portrayed in The Crucible as its characters face the Salem Witch Trials. Arthur Miller wrote The Crucible as his own reaction to the injustice of McCarthyism. Miller’s purpose was to show how people accused each other with false denunciations because of their fear, jealousy and solely hatred of one another under McCarthyism.

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The Salem witch trials and McCarthyism have an uncanny relation to one another. In Salem people were afraid of not appearing christian enough, meanwhile during the 50’s Americans feared of being accused of communism. Also during the McCarthyism era and the witch trials innocent lives were ruined when people were forced to accuse others or be accused themselves. Though The Crucible is an allegory for McCarthyism, it focuses some of its attention on the question what is more important, your honor and reputation or your life?

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Not so Pure Sexism "The United States identified women as legal entities as late as 1875", this leads us to believe that women weren't even considered to be citizens even in the late 1800's, what must have been their image in society all the way back to the puritan time period?. Arthur Miller's "The Crucible" occurs in the early puritan time period, and it all starts when two girls are in a coma like state after they have been caught to be dancing around naked in the forest. The town is immediately lead to believe that they are involved in witchcraft. At the time, denial of accusations lead to the person being hanged, but surprisingly enough if you confessed to witchcraft, you were saved. The group of girls claim witchcraft at first but then continue with their lies to gain things out of it.

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Do you remember learning about the Holocaust in school? Do you remember all of the feelings and thoughts you had? Imagine if it was you. Imagine if you were one of the soldiers. Would you stand up for what was right?

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Back in the late sixteen hundreds the people during that time are very strict on religion. During the time a colony in the Americas called the puritans believed in witchcraft. People that are accused are guilty till proven innocent. In the Crucible it portrays injustice by how Danforth is not following court that is ruled by religion, Abigail intimidating the court, and the accused not having proper court rights. The following reasons will explain why the crucible is injustice.

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1063 Words | 5 Pages

The Deep Roots of Sexism: Preconceived Sin and Weakness In the Christian bible, when the first woman commits the first sin she creates an enduring image of her gender; she is drawn away from god and purity, to evil and sin. The book The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller both deal with not only sin in Puritan times, but the ignominy stemming from women’s wrongdoings. The Scarlet Letter follows Hester Prynne, a woman who, after committing adultery is forced to wear a scarlet A to punish her for her sins. The Crucible is about the Witch Trials in Salem, which are brought on by the beautiful, manipulative and jealous Abigail.

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Social class can define a person depending on who you are. Chances are, you will probably get judged by your social class like for an example, High social class people will get treated a little nicer than those in the lower social class. In the Crucible, people got judged on what their beliefs were or how they lived. John Proctor was a man who was first in the higher class with a lot of friends. Later on in the play/story, people have started accusing other people of WitchCraft and John Proctor got involved and was eventually hung at the end of the play.

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