The Crucible - Reason and Intelligence are powerless
The play The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, is a suspenseful and thought-provoking drama, concerned with a theme of rising over adversity to stand for truth and righteousness. Set in Salem, Massachusetts, during the 17th Century, the play reiterates the story of mass hysteria, which was experienced during the Salem witch-hunt in 1692, as the community was stirred into madness by superstition, paranoia, malice, and the terrifying power of false accusations. Through John Proctor, Miller reveals the absurdity of the incident as the reader follows the struggles of his main character, in his effort to restore truth and righteousness. Throughout the play, Miller explores the influence of this outburst of human darkness, as reason and intelligence became powerless in Salem, 1692. The human darkness of vengeance and vindictiveness, and the power of lies and deceit, are seen to overpower the reason and intelligence of the Salem community, as seen through the characters of Reverend John Hale, and Rebecca Nurse. A fear of repercussions, a fear of isolation, and a fear of the invisible world, force reason and intelligence to become powerless before human darkness, and it is these ideas, which Miller explores so diligently in his play. . . .
Fear controlled hearts of the people of Salem, and Miller presents three fears throughout his play that can be held accountable for human darkness overpowering reason and intelligence. Her faith in God, and the strength of her religion demonstrates the narrow-minded reasoning of the society as they choose to turn to the Devil in times of uncertainty and she ‘goes to God’ for answers. I think she’ll wake when she tires of it. 100) Once again Hale’s reason and intelligence are seen to represent the truth, but alas, the court ignores him and the girls continue to hold power of the community of Salem, indicating the powerlessness of reason and intelligence in this mass hysteria. His demagoguery is placed into relief when Proctor reveals the true reason for the girls’ admission of witchcraft in this passage. As well as the character of Hale, Miller uses Rebecca Nurse to portray his ideas regarding the powerlessness of reason and intelligence in his play. ] Abby, Abby, I’ll never hurt you more!” (p. PROCTOR: “She only thought to save my name!” HALE: “Excellency, it is a natural lie o tell; I beg you, stop now before another is condemned! I may shut my conscience to it no more – private vengeance is working through this testimony! From the beginning this man has struck me as true. Miller presents this idea through the character of Deputy-Governor Danforth. The third a final fear Miller illustrates is a fear of not knowing, a fear of the ‘invisible world’. We cannot look to superstition in this. Even Hale displays a sense of shock and disbelief when he hears of her accusation, indicating a loss in faith of the inquisitorial process. It is from these beliefs that a fear of the unknown is established. Throughout the play, Miller discusses the obtuse reasoning and intelligence of the Salem community, as they were faced with the hysteria of the witch trials, through his representation of characters such as the Putnams and Giles Corey. The hysteria reaches a threshold, when Rebecca herself is accused by the Putnam’s for the supernatural murder of their stillborn children.
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