In this play, Arthur Miller uses a lot of different universal themes, and the one I am going to use today is, false accusations lead to many innocent deaths in the small town of Salem. Many deaths happened due to false accusations and because of this; the town of Salem went insane. Everyone was being accused of Witchcraft and the town slowly started to disintegrate. One of the most controversial deaths in this play was John Proctor, mainly because he was well known and had an extremely well reputation. The priests and judges forced Proctor to accuse himself of Witchcraft and not be hanged in hopes that the people of Salem would recognize this action, and come clean. After this was all said and done, they made Proctor sign his name so they could hang it on the doors of the church, and after Proctor refused they hanged him for the crime of Witchcraft. This left the people of Salem shocked because nobody knew who to trust anymore. Rebecca Nurse was one of the most religious women in the town, and when she was accused it made Reverend Hale stop, and reconsider whether the accusations and proceedings were just and fair. “If Rebecca …show more content…
“I t discomfits me! Last night-mark this-I tried and tried and could not say my prayers. And then she close her book and walks out of the house, and suddenly-mark this-I could pray again!” (Miller40) Martha Corey, Giles Corey’s wife was later hanged for the accusation of her studying Witchcraft. After Giles Corey refused to cooperate with the priests and enter a plea of guilty or not guilty, he was pressed until his death. “I will not give you no name.. I mentioned my wife’s name once and I’ll burn in hell long enough for that. I stand mute.” (Miller97) Giles Corey suddenly becomes a hero in this play after his famous two word line; “more weight”. They put more weight, just as he asked, and Giles Corey died