Theme Of Selfishness In The Crucible

Selfishness is the lack of consideration for others or to be concerned mainly with one's own personal profit or pleasure. Selfishness can blind a person, cloud their judgment, and influence them to make horrible decisions. Sometimes our decisions negatively affect other people’s lives. This is the case for many of the characters in Arthur Miller’s The Crucible. They place their need and wants before the lives of others. Some call it survival, but it seems more like selfishness. One of the main themes of The Crucible is selfishness. Many of the characters in the crucible display selfishness throughout The Crucible. For example, Thomas Putnam. Thomas Putnam is one of the wealthiest of Salem and he plans on becoming richer. He plans to accuse George

Giles Corey tries to defend Jacobs and is asked for proof. When Giles Corey is asked for proof he responds, “The proof is here! If Jacobs hangs for a witch he forfeits up his property, that’s the law! And there is none but Putnam with the coin to buy so great a piece. This man is killing his neighbors for their land” (Miller 96)! Putnam wants more land for himself and the only way to get is from his neighbors. To achieve this, he is willing to falsely accuse his neighbors of witch-craft. Another example of a character that portrays selfishness in The Crucible is Judge Danforth. Danforth and Parris finally realize that Abigail Williams lied to them and the court. Readers can conclude he is selfish when he says, “You misunderstand sir; I cannot pardon these when twelve are already hanged for the same crime. It is not just” (Miller 129). Mr. Danforth refuses to pardon the condemned not because it is unjust but to save his reputation. Mr. Danforth knows he will look like a fool, he put his