The Crucible
"The tragedy in Salem...was a perverse manifestation of the panic which set in among all classes when the balance began to turn toward greater individual freedom"(7). The conjured witch hysteria in Salem, Massachusetts, deteriorated the rational, and emotional stability of its citizens. This exploited the populations weakest qualities, and insecurities. The obvious breakdown in Salem's order led to the tragedy, which saw twenty people hung on the accusation of witchcraft. Arthur Miller author of the Crucible used hysteria to introduce the evident flaws in the rigid social system, the fear of the people, and the confusion it caused before and during the witch trials. The strict ways and the isolation of the Puritan society created a rigid social system that did not allow for any variation in lifestyle. The strict society that was employed at this time had a negative effect on the Proctor family. John Proctor, a hard working farmer who had a bad season the year before and struggling this year was occasionally absent at Sunday service. This was due to the fact he needed to tend to his crops. Also, Proctor did not agree with the appointment of Mr. Parris as the newest minister, and therefore did not have his last child baptiz
The fear of what was unknown created an uneasiness within Salem's population added to the hysteria that torn the community apart. The circumstances surrounding the witch trials gave residents something to blame the supernatural on. The condemning of Tituba was mainly due to this. When Tituba took the girls into the woods, and they performed their ceremony, something the Puritans were not accustomed to, she was accused of witchery. Along with Tituba, Martha Corey was indicted solely because she would not allow Giles to read them. Giles also stated that "I tried and tried and could not say my prayers. And then she close her book and walks out of the house, and suddenly-mark this-I could pray again"(40)! This evidence of witchery is preposterous. The only thing that is true is that Giles was not allowed to read the books, and because he did not know what the books contained, he feared them. Salem's fear turned into hysteria which made the community lose faith in the church, which snowballed further and created more tragedy. ed. With the latest craze of witchery and swirling accusations, John Proctor was easily accused of being a messenger for the devil by the testimony of his disillusioned servant Mary Warren, who in the past committed perjury. The court who
Some common words found in the essay are:
John Proctor, Abigail Tituba, Martha Corey, Arthur Miller, Salem Massachusetts, , Mary Warren, john proctor, rigid social system, fear unknown, tragedy twenty, puritan society, rigid social, social system, hysteria salem, witch trials, flaws rigid, accused witchery,
Approximate Word count = 860
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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