Literary Analysis of The Crucible

Literary Analysis of The Crucible

Introduction

The Crucible is a fictional play that is set in 1653 in describes the Salem trials. The author has a history of using literature to describe human behavior; this was the case with the play. The story revolves around Abigail, a teenage girl who concocts a fictional story to accuse residents of Salem of being witches. At the end of the play, most of the residents are either jailed or executed. The Crucible has recurring themes and motifs that bring out the message in the play. Arthur Miller used the literature to convey the concept of moral guidance to the readers of the play.

Analysis of the Play

Who is the villain of the Crucible?

The play does not point to a single individual as being the villain in the story. The entire village is a villain to itself due to the way it acts towards its member. By looking at the actions of the villagers, it is evident that they were fighting among themselves. Abigail, the protagonist of the play, may have introduced the issue of witchcraft, but the villagers’ actions exonerate her. The theme of intolerance elucidates this fact. The residents exhibit high levels of intolerance towards each other. The intolerance of the villagers is seen by how they treat the suspected witches. The society in Salem was theocratic, and this meant that purity was a public concern. One should always agree with the court, and if not, they are not to be tolerated.

Reverend John Hale

Reverend John Hale was not a resident of Salem. He is a spiritual doctor who would investigate whether there was witchcraft and take the appropriate action. Rev. Hale is a devoted Christian who is sincere and would love to help the afflicted. However, the reverend is torn between his faith and his belief in autonomy, resulting in unforeseen quagmires. Reverend Hale has an appetite for discovering witchcraft. Abigail exploits this zeal in an attempt to manipulate him. Despite receiving such an overwhelming amount of evidence, he does not declare witchcraft until he can prove it. Like Proctor, Rev. Hale mustered the courage to question the court’s decision and to stand up for his convictions.

And are they at fault for their actions?

Many factors can be attributed to causing the actions of the villagers. The court proceedings, accusations, and confessions are recurring themes in the play. The actions of a teenager did not cause the villagers’ actions, but the drama and the related court proceedings were occasioned by the villagers’ skewed outlook of life. The central theme that controlled the actions of the villagers was guarding their reputation. Reputation was essential for everyone in Salem. This was because Salem was a theocratic society, therefore, cojoining public and private moralities. Everyone in the town is afraid of being termed guilty by association. The characters’ actions are all geared towards protecting their reputation. Reverend Parris is afraid that Abigail’s actions will injure his credibility as a minister. The protagonist John Proctor does not want to taint his name as an adulterer in society. Proctor would have prevented the actions earlier in the play, but his reputation was essential to him. In the end, he decided to do what was right without worrying about his reputation.

What are the implications of their morality with this title?

The play has an impact on how morality should be viewed in society. The concept of morality is challenged in the play. The author, however, lauds the fact that there is no concept of individual morality in society. Without the concept of individual moral authority, society is condemned to groupthink that a single person controls. The absence of individual moral authority leads to an increase in accusations in the Salem trials. The intolerance towards witchcraft makes the villagers forget their morals and trying executing anyone involved. It takes an individual’s conviction of Proctor and Reverend Hale to change the direction of the trials. This enables the two to stop the tyranny that was present due to the shortfalls of groupthink. The audience should also borrow a leaf of morality from Elizabeth Proctor. She is the wife to John Proctor, and from the beginning, she sorts to have the truth brought out. The theme of morality as espoused in the play shows that it is essential to follow their convictions rather than the group’s conviction.

Conclusion

The Crucible provides moral guidance for its audience. The play was set in the town of Salem, which was a theocratic town. Accusations of witchcraft put the town in hysteria. Intolerance and reputation were essential themes in the play. The villagers, due to their theocratic nature, would have intolerance towards anything to do with witchcraft. People would guard their reputations by falsifying evidence. However, John Proctor and Reverend Hale are shown the audience that doing the right thing is necessary, especially in a small town such as Salem. The play impacts the readers’ view on morality. People ought to have a sense of morality that would guide their actions.