Emotions at the core of The Crucible

In the play The Crucible, Arthur Miller explores good verses evil. Miller sets his play in Salem Massachusetts during the witch trials in the late 1600s that he found very similar to the Red Hunt in the 1950s. Miller sets a group of young ladies in a time where children did not speak until spoken to. Secrets and lies fill the town, as the girls that follow Abigail's lead are not the only ones keeping secrets from the town. As events unfold Miller examines hidden agendas that go too far. The motivating forces behind the characters' behavior in The Crucible are fear and love.

After the girls of Salem dance and chant in the forbidden woods, fear of witchcraft is on the minds of all those living in the small usually calm town. After realizing what the girls have done Mary Warren begins to regret following Abigail's lead in the woods, shortly after the incident Mary Warren exclaims to Abigail, "What'll we do? The village is out! I just come from the farm; the whole country's talkin' witchcraft! They'll be callin' us witches, Abby!" (837). After finding out that Reverend Paris' daughter Betty lies inert in her bed, Mary Warren is afraid of what the members of the town may do to her and the other girls. The punishment for witchcraft a

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Parris' daughter participated in the events in the woods with Abigail, Mary Warren, and all the other girls and becomes ill soon after.

Love and fear influence the characters in The Crucible to act in certain ways and motivate them to achieve their goals. In the end good overcomes evil after the girls deceptions come to light, and Salem slowly returns back to normal. Mary Warren and Reverend Parris exhibited fear in the beginning of the play being vulnerable to the frightening signs of witchcraft that filled the normally uninteresting town. t this time is death, and although the girls believe they did nothing harmful they fear for their lives. Love also causes Elizabeth Proctor to stay with John even after his recklessness. Elizabeth is trying to explain to John that her heart has been cold ever since she has known of him and Abigail. John Proctor, realizing that his past experiences with Abigail were wrong has stopped it completely, yet Abigail is still desperately in love with him and proclaims her love for John when they're alone, "I look for John Proctor that took me form my sleep and put knowledge in my heart! I never knew the lying lessons I was taught by all these Christian women and their covenanted men! And now you bid me tear the light out of my eyes? I will not, I cannot! You loved me, John Proctor, and whatever sin it is, you love me yet! John pity me, pity me!" (839). The love between John and Elizabeth is much stronger than the love that John once felt for Abigail. Although the witch trials are exciting on their own, another scandal helps build suspense in the play, a love affair with John Proctor as the main character. Elizabeth truly love John Proctor and John has come to realize that his love for Abigail never was quite as deep as his love for his wife. Elizabeth, walking on eggshells for that last few months is trying to let go of the past but her heart will not let her. Love causes Abigail to desperately go after John Proctor after he claims that nothing ever happened between them. Reverend Parris is desperate to find out what is wrong with his daughter Betty and pleads to Abigail, "You call this sport? Abigail, if you know something that may help the doctor, for God's sake tell it to me" (833).

Approximate Word count = 843
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

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