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Theme Of Hypocrisy In The Crucible

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Judgment and hypocrisy have become two themes that we either see, are a victim of, or participate ourselves in our everyday lives. These themes are also seen and used in the book, The Crucible. In The Crucible, the witch trials would have never gotten as far as it got if it weren't for all the judgment, hypocrisy, and lies. Without all the rumors and accusations of witch craft so many innocent people wouldn't have died. Readers will realize that saying something untruthful and making judgments about people will have a bigger consequence than they would have ever imagined. Everyday a person walks by someone and they look at the other person and judge them based on what they look like, what they are wearing, what they are doing; but the truth …show more content…

People will say one thing and tell others not to do that or that they do not like when people do that, but next thing you know they are doing exactly what they said they weren't going to do. It is sometimes hard to follow through with this concept of practicing what you preach and many people are victims of being a hypocrite. In The Crucible, the theme of hypocrisy invades the pages. One of the main characters that is definitely has fallen guilty of hypocrisy is Judge Danforth. For example, when he is questioning Mary Warren in the court about how she all of sudden wants to tell the truth, he snaps back saying, "How were you instructed in your life? Do you not know that God damns all liars?" ( Miller 178). This shows that Danforth sees himself so high up in the court and in town that he doesn't even notice that he is making people lie to save their lives. He thinks he has the God gift to be able to decide everything and whatever he says is right. When Hale comes back and tries to make it right and tries to get the hangings postponed Danforth says,"I cannot pardon these when twelve are already hanged for the same crime. It is not just" ( Miller 214 ). This shows that Danforth believes he is showing his God-given authority in that deciding what he is doing is "just", yet this whole trial he has been unfair and innocent people have died because of his decisions. His own pride causes him to make these hypocritical accusations that help cause the hanging of innocent

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914 Words | 4 Pages

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