Crucible
Title: The Setting og Arthur Miller's The Crucible The Crucible, Arthur Miller's sixth play, is a study in moral values and honesty. The author puts in the spotlight John Proctor and examines his motives and explores his personal moral standards. Proctor's struggle to find his inner goodness is made much more difficult by the atmosphere in which he must live. LateSeventeenth century Salem, Massachusetts is no place for a man ofProctor's high moral fiber. It is a hostile social environment where the people are ruled by a crumbling theocracy. TheSeparatist Puritans, who had come to America aboard the Mayflower in 1620 to find a safe haven from the Church of England, whichthey believed had not carried out the full process of theReformation, developed, over time, a powerful theocracy where theexact word of the Bible was law. This government by the Churchwas dangerous, as is clearly demonstrated in MillerÕs play. ThePuritan society was austere, restrictive, and fanatical. ThePilgrims believed in hard work, a stern, unforgiving God, and theimmorality of all entertainment. There was only oneinterpretation of the Bible, not open to outside argument.
So outraged were theBoston ministers when, in 1684, they discovered that many personswere indulging in this form of diversion, that they issued apamphlet entitled, An Arrow against Profane and PromiscuousDancing, drawn out of the Quiver of the Scriptures. The girlsÕ reaction to the public exposure they are about toexperience is influenced by the social atmosphere of the time. Although ElizabethÕs strict adherence to the Puritan code stiflesher sexual flame, she cannot be entirely blamed for her husbandÕsinfidelity. If the society were only lenient enough to let thegirls dance in public, there would be no problem and no rumoursof witchcraft. Mary Warren: Abby!Abigail: Oh, Mary, this is a black art to change your shape. John Proctor does not have a healthy relationship with his wife,Elizabeth. Although JohnProctor still has some desire for Abigail, his stalling to exposeher harlotry to the court is not at all because of concern forher. The people are saying that there was witchcraftinvolved. Susanna Walcott: Her claws, sheÕs stretching her claws!Proctor: Lies, lies. She dwells upon him like his conscienceand accuses him of still loving Abigail. Although several lives are forfeit, the PuritantheocracyÕs dark cloud is, to all intents and purposes, vanished. Outrageously strict laws governing dancing,drinking, dress, art, and even hair length hemmed the people inon all sides. Countries are constantly trying tomake their laws walk the thin line between over-lenience andflat-out repression. "Forall have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23)is an example of the Bible stating that "nobody is perfectNwe arejust human. Mary Warren: Abby, IÕm here!Proctor: TheyÕre pretending, Mr.
Common topics in this essay:
Reverend Hale,
John Proctor,
Elizabeth Act,
John ProctorÕs,
Scriptures Wertenbaker,
Betty Parris,
Church England,
Reverend Parris,
Mary Warren,
John Hale,
mary warren,
mass hysteria,
dancing woods,
john proctor,
reverend hale,
puritan society,
mary warren abby,
girls dance,
warren abby,
scenes mass hysteria,
reaction public,
girlsÕ dancing,
reaction public exposure,
arthur millerÕs crucible,
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Acceptance Essays
