The Crucible and the Use of Authority

A detailed Summary of The Crucible and the Use of Authority


Today's society is composed of a country built on the Constitution, which is governed by laws, justice in these laws and authority. Authority holds precedence in any situation; the policeman upholding the law, the judge administering justice, the common citizen being law abiding. However, true authority is not constituted by a diploma, an appointment, or a title, it is earned by respect, honor and integrity. All of which are misused, and misunderstood, in the The Crucible.

Authority can be a means of rectifying one's situation in a community. With a title, authority is swayed to protect a person's image or self respect, resulting in another's misfortune. Reverend Parris himself led in the persecution of several innocent townspeople, all in protection of his own image and pulpit let it be disgraced by a niece that was a liar and sleep around. Now a man of lesser title, or precedent, would probably have been sneered at for believing his niece wa


s afflicted with witchcraft and carrying out such accusations against the townspeople, but, as a man of god, more people were willing to believe in his feelings, resulting in the death of 20 individuals. Thomas Putnam, a man resembling wealth and property authority, was able to conveniently gain more property and wealth as a means of accusing his enemies of witchcraft to spite his own profit. Deputy Governor Danforth, a symbol of civil authority, controlled the court to his advantage by limiting his thoughts in regards to the obvious "act" put in front of him by the "afflicted" girls. A person who may have been innocent could easily be persecuted by a wealthy or titled person who had more authority, or was deemed so by the standards of the day or the title beseeched him.

A person with integrity can also easily hold authority in a situation. Reverand Hale shows true authority when he realizes that innocents are being helplessly persecuted, a

Some common words found in the essay are:
Governor Danforth, , Reverend Parris, Bridget Bishop, Warren Proctor's, Crucible Authority, Thomas Putnam, Reverand Hale, John Proctor, Rebecca John, true authority, respect honor, people willing, wealthy titled, governor danforth, honor integrity,

Approximate Word count = 640
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

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