Literary Analysis Essay on "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller

Introduction

The Crucible by Arthur Miller is one of the exciting plays that was used as a reflection on the events of the society portrayed by the events of the Salem witch trials which took place in Massachusetts. The book displays and employs characters who signify conflict, isolation and the lack of civil liberties in the society described in the play. The setting of the game is a society with reverence to holiness and respect for God which rendered some certain acts to be ungodly and most-likely illegal. The start of the trials is brought to existence by the dancing of the girls in the woods while some of them were naked. The presence of something cooking in the pot brought the controversy about which craft which was further backed up by their presence in the woods a place considered to be ungodly. This brings the question of why is there so much turmoil in the Salem witch trials.

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Considering the environment and setting of the play, the characters build and develop an aura of fear and religious expectations that may result in the society labeling certain acts as witchcraft. Mass hysteria can be analyzed as the primary cause of the Salem witch trials as it can be justified by "Open yourself, Tituba- open yourself and let God's holy light shine on you." (Miller 1261). In this context, God was used a scapegoat to avoid punishment hence protection from any form of accusation. Also, other justifications may be derived from the passage as; "The people of Salem developed a theocracy, a combination of state and religious power whose function was to keep the community together, and to prevent any disunity that might open it to destruction by material or ideological enemies" (Miller 7). From the passage, religious expectations were high such that any actions away from the desired religious activity were considered acts of witchcraft.

Peer pressure could also be analyzed as a contributing factor to the case of hysteria. Most of the girls in the play were forced to show certain behaviors as they feared they would be called witches. This is justified by the words of Tituba "Oh how many times he bid me kill you, Mr. Parris!" (Miller 1262) as he is terrified of being convicted as Abigail accuses him of causing her to laugh during prayer. "I-I cannot tell how, but I did. I-I heard the other girls screaming, and you, your honor, you seemed to believe them, and I - It were only sport in the beginning, sir, but then the whole world cried spirits, spirits, and I-I promise you Mr. Danforth, I only thought I saw them but I did not (Miller 107). Mary warren is scared of the conviction and confesses to her lies but finds it more useful to blame it on peer pressure which she says she cannot avoid. The hysteria at this time is also widespread.

The spreading of rumors may also be analyzed to have contributed to the hysteria as the blame game bears fruit in this context. Abigail blames other girls for her own actions and convinces some of her friends to blame others. "I saw Goody Sibber with the Devil! It is rising to a great glee." (Miller Act 1, 1263) this scene represents the blame game which goes back and forth hence hurting the innocent. "Why, it's sure she did. mr. collins saw her goin' over ingersoll's barn, and come down light as a bird, he says!" (Miller 13). At this point, the hysteria is rampant, and even the adults are convinced that shifting the blame to others will make them fit into the crowd. Rumors are vital in spreading hatred.

This setting is intended to bring to light the troubles that were experienced in the times of witchcraft convictions. However, this establishes some form of law in the society hence order.

Works Cited

Miller, Arthur. "The Crucible (1953)." The New York Times(1953): 15.

Miller, Arthur. The crucible. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2015.