Religion In The Crucible Essay

Many people view religion as a way to maintain order in society; it’s a moral code for people to follow. It can cultivate community, provide people with structure, and overall create a sense of belonging. The Crucible, a play by Arthur Miller, explores the opposing impacts of religion. Through his depiction of the Salem witch trials, he shows how religion can tear communities apart, and be used as an excuse for hate. Miller specifically shows the impact that the overwhelming presence of Puritanism has on women in the Salem community. In The Crucible, Miller expresses how religion, specifically Christianity, is used to control women through fear; this theme remains relevant today, as it continues to be used to justify shaming women for making

For example, the United States Conference for Catholic Bishops refers to abortion as a “moral evil”, saying it “is gravely contrary to the moral law" (Respect for Unborn). Women who make the choice to get abortions often end up ostrasized by communities such as the USCCB. If the people in these groups believe that women are committing an evil act by getting abortions, then they will view the women who have made that decision as evil too. Similarly, in The Crucible, Abigail is shamed by the Puritan community of Salem for engaging in an act that is condemned by the Bible. John Proctor refers to Abigail in court, stating “it is a whore” (Miller 102). He not only uses derogatory language to describe Abigail, but he also refers to her as “it”, showing that he doesn’t even respect her as a person. Abigail is being degraded simply because she was a woman who had an affair with John Proctor, which was largely disapproved of at the time. In the courtroom, it’s clear that nearly all of the slander is directed towards Abigail, even though she and John committed the same sin. Since John Proctor is a powerful man in the Salem community, he’s less likely to be a target of humiliation. Abigail sees this power imbalance, and she realizes that religion is consistently used to categorize men as more valuable and respectable than