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The Role Of Guilt In The Crucible

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The Guilt & Situations The feeling of guilt is when a person feels responsible for the outcomes of their actions negatively. It is a strong emotion that affects everyone differently. Guilt even plays a role in a lot of stories like The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and The Crucible by Arthur Miller. The Scarlet Letter is set during the Puritan epoch. It is about a Reverend called Dimmesdale that commits adultery and impregnated the woman. Hester, the other adulter, was forced to wear a scarlet letter A as a punishment for committing adultery. However, Dimmesdale’s identity remains a secret, until he confessed at the end of the book and died. Likewise, The Crucible is also set during the Puritan epoch. The play is about a farmer, John …show more content…

They both have committed sins of adultery. To begin, Dimmesdale had an affair Hester and the result was a child.. They were not sure what to do when people questioned Hester who the other adulter was. One day, Dimmesdale and Hester met up in the woods and Hester questioned Dimmesdale if he was okay. He replied, “ What else could I look for, being what I am, and leading such a life of mine… Hester, I am most miserable” (Hawthorne 166). It is very noticeable that Dimmesdale is sorrowful for what he had done. Dimmesdale knew that he, a part of church, could not be known for such a horrible sin. He is doing so terrible that he is physically weakening. The shame is ruining his life and actually, he even died after he finally confessed his sin. Along with Dimmesdale being afflicted by guilt is John Proctor. John Proctor had an affair with Abigail, but it was not really important until he needed to help his wife. After John confessed his affair with Abigail, he said, “On the last night of my joy, some eight months past” (Miller 220). After the affair he felt terrible and guilty. He enjoyed it for a while; but once it was over, he was done. He could no longer betray his wife in such a nasty way. He knew that what he did was wrong and it bothered him enough to confess. He confessed figuring that it would help his wife’s situation. Honestly, that is the least he could do for her. Especially, considering that his affair made his wife …show more content…

Dimmesdale is not married. In addition,m Hester’s husband was known to be possibly dead at the bottom of the ocean. His affair with Hester was an act of the moment. Dimmesdale also still supported Hester after the affair, unlike John Proctor. At the Governor's hall, Hester tried to convince the governor to let her keep her child. Dimmesdale found the Governor’s reasoning to take away their child unamiable. He took Hester’s side and said, “ God gave her the child” (Hawthorne 101) Dimmesdale stood up for her because he did not mant their child to be taken away from Hester. He trusted her. The child might had been what kept them together but no matter what, he defended her and their relationship never truly lost it’s connection. On the contrary, John Proctor was in a different situation in his relationships. First of all, John Proctor was a married man to Elizabeth Proctor. Their relationship was dull and Elizabeth could tell John was getting bored. He ended up having an affair with Abigail. However, John started feeling ashamed of himself. He tried to cut Abigail out of the relationship. John and Abigail were arguing, when he said, “But I will cut off my hand before I’ll ever reach you again. Wipe it out of mind. We never touched Abby” (Miller 177). Their affair remained a secret for a long time. John Proctor neglected her and put a stop to their relationship John regretted his actions and

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Arthur Dimmesdale Quotes

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Consequently, Arthur Dimmesdale is the cause of Hester Prynne's shame for he is the man whom Hester loves. No one knows he is the father of Pearl, Hester won't say and he isn't strong enough to speak up. He struggles with this knowledge that Hester is being punished and not him. The only truth that continued to give Mr. Dimmesdale a real existence on this earth was the anguish in his inmost soul, and the undissembled expression of it in his aspect, (Hawthorne 142). Being a minister of God the citizens look up to him, and he feels guilty about his hidden sin.

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Despite committing adultery,Hester and Dimmesdale are saved. From the second chapter to the end of the book, Hester has been making up for her sins and dealing with the consequences of her actions. Even though dimmesdale did not confess until the enfo the book, he still suffered the consequences of his sin. Dimmesdale is saved because he confesses his sin to the whole town even though it was seven years late. “At last--- at last I stand upon the spot where, seven years since, I should have stood, here, with this women….”

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All but one character whose name is john proctor did not fall for the foolery in the town dealing with witchcraft. All throughout the play John Proctor was a versatile character. From the beginning of the play was portrayed tormented for the affair he had with Abigail Williams which he believes his affair with Abigail damaged him in the eyes of god and everyone else in the town. For seven months john was cheating on his wife after while he felt the remorse and came to realize that the affair caused the accusations.

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John had an affair with Abigail when Elizabeth was sick, which made Abigail crazy for him. John forces Abigail to began accusing innocent people so that she would be able to finally accuse Elizabeth. When Proctor finds himself on trial, he reveals to the court that he knows Abigail. This was a very bad decision because now the court will find it hard to believe him. Proctor tries to tell the judges that Abigail wants to replace his wife.

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Arthur Miller was the author of the Crucible who wrote this in 1953 in response to the second red scare of communism in the United States. He used the Salem Witch Trials to compare the situation happening at home where many people were accusing others of being communists. In the play people are accused of witchcraft and given unfair trials much like what was happening in the 50’s. Because lying had more benefits than honesty, many people in the play decided to lie and confess to witchcraft in order to stay alive.

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After having been Hester being publicly shamed in such a dreadful manor, dimmesdale was definitely not going to put himself through that. This idea of public shaming scares people, and especially Dimmesdale here, into changing their behaviors. In this case, however, instead of the shame causing someone to conform to society, it caused dimmesdale to do the opposite , to hide from society, and to thus avoid this shame. However, despite the difference in course of action in both instances, in school today, and in the Puritan society back then, the people were trying to avoid the shame that was made out to be a dreadful consequence for

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However, Dimmesdale belittles Hester’s suffering while punishing himself out of shame, revealing his narcissistic tendencies. Dimmesdale is unsympathetic towards Hester, often belittling her pain and

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John Proctor’s abusive nature toward Elizabeth epitomizes the prominence of patriarchy and his strong self loathing. John Proctor is undoubtedly an individual who is tormented. In his mind, he has made an unforgivable mistake, and has made an irreparable mistake that has broken his and Elizabeth’s marriage. While it is true that he committed adultery, he believes there is no way that he can ever forgive himself and punishes himself mentally for what he has done.

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Abigail Williams Scapegoation

772 Words | 4 Pages

Even though John was not accused he confesses his affair with Abigail to Danforth saying, “I beg you, sir, I beg you-see what she is... She thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grave... God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat.” (Miller ). Proctor was well aware of the consequences of his confession, however, the accusation of his wife put him between a rock and a hard place so to speak.

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John Proctor’s words towards Elizabeth signal irritation and annoyance. John Proctor, the main character of The Crucible, has an affair with a much younger girl, Abigail Williams, breaking his wife, Elizabeth’s trust in him. Her suspicion of him rises when he tells her he was in a room alone with Abigail. Elizabeth’s growing mistrust begins to aggravate John, which is revealed when he says, “I’ll not have your suspicion any more” (489). Elizabeth is doubtful after learning about John’s affair with Abigail and her lack of trust in her husband begins to anger him.

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Guilt's Effect on the Town of Salem, Massachusetts The Crucible by Arthur Miller, is a play based off the 1692 Salem Witch Trials. The play was first published in 1952, the first performance of The Crucible was in 1953. The play is a dramatized story of the true events that happened in Salem, Massachusetts. The Crucible, focuses on the inconsistencies of the Salem Witch Trials and the extreme behavior that results from twisted desires and hidden agendas.

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Theme Of Punishment In The Crucible

620 Words | 3 Pages

The town of Salem, Massachusetts was run by a strict theocracy. The Puritan theocracy looked down upon activities that would be considered “fun,” an example being dancing. If people were caught doing a sinful activity such as this, they could, and most often would, be punished. The punishment for dancing would usually involve being struck by a whip. This way of life was especially difficult for young children who had more energy to use than their lifestyle would allow.

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Examples Of Reputation In The Crucible

964 Words | 4 Pages

John Proctor, Deputy Governor Danforth, and Abigail Williams were worried about their reputation in town, and they were willing to commit many sins and harm others to prevent this from happening. To begin with, John Proctor was seen as a good citizen. He was well-respected among his neighbors and other people in Salem because of his upright morals. He had an affair with his old servant, Abigail Williams. He tried to keep this hidden from the people to keep his good name.

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1264 Words | 6 Pages

He puts Hester in a no-win situation by questioning her like this. If she exposes him, he loses everything and becomes a social outcast but is released from his moral burden. Staying silent, however, keeps Dimmesdale in his position of power but also prolongs his suffering and misery. His selfish attitude towards his atonement is at odds with his otherwise cool and collected countenance, showcasing a very scared and vulnerable individual.

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Dimmesdale sinned with Hester Prynne by committing adultery. Although this was terrible and looked down upon, his crime was self inflicting and done out of passion. After Hester was punished for the crime, Dimmesdale was overwhelmed with guilt and sadness. This showed that Dimmesdale was a good person

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