is hypocrisy a natural human flaw the crucible

Though the Puritans believed that children were not to be taken seriously, they are later convinced by the court officials that the children are the authorities on witchcraft. 73), meaning the girls are testing out the extent of the chaos they can create with their newfound power. No one considers that the accusers are lying, partially because theyre seen as innocent children and partially because many witches confess to avoid the death penalty. 133). Goody Proctor is a gossiping liar!" This well-intentioned mistake seals both of their fates. Even before the witch trials, the people of Salem are doing lots of little magic tricks to make all their unholy thoughts and actions disappear. Danforth, who has the most authority, is also the most sold on her act, and it only takes a few screams to persuade him that hes in the presence of witchcraft. In Act 3, Hale continues to make ironic statements about the existence of concrete proof for the accusations of witchcraft. She is clearly outspoken and dominant, but her initial position in society is one of very little influence and authority. Abigails power skyrockets as the hysteria grows more severe. Theme 3: Reputation. Rebecca Nurse, a woman whose character was previously thought to be unimpeachable, is accused and arrested. The life of such man is ruled by the desire to seek the truth and justice in all that surrounds him, including himself. They so fear the devilish consequences of challenging the accusers that theyre willing to take them at their word and ignore any defenses the accused have to offer. This makes him particularly averse to accepting that he's been fooled by a teenage girl. Well, it's not. His only goal is to get on the good side of the community as a whole, even in the midst of this bout of collective hysteria. The evidence used in the Salem Witch Trials further demonstrates the hypocrisy in the Puritan times. Mary Warren exemplifies hypocrisy extraordinarily well in the scene when she and Proctor travel to the courthouse so she can confess that the girls have pretended everything and they never actually saw spirits. Do you not know that God damns all liars? The town, already primed with rumors of black magic, is quickly willing to accept that the first few women who are accused are involved in black magic because theyre beggars and slaves. In The Crucible, they all fear witchcraft, because there is a rumor going around. In this act, we learn more details about the accused that paint a clearer picture of the influence of reputation and social standing on the patterns of accusations. Miller accomplishes this through almost, if not every character in the story. In saying this he admits that a person can only avoid a hanging by confessing to witchcraft even if their statement contains no truth. Arthur Miller portrays the protagonist, Proctor, as the tragic hero of his play The Crucible. She was seen as a grandmother to the village. The crucible, based during the Salem, Massachusetts witch trials of 1692. Why is hypocrisy so common in repressive communities like Salem? Diehard fan of The Wire. Support me by becoming a Medium member: https://bit.ly/39Cybb8. In today's world hypocrisy is demonstrated by everyday citizens and even political leaders. As this hysteria begins to rise, other people such as Thomas Putnam, a rich landowner, start to also allege Salem villagers. Is there any character besides John Proctor that represents the voice of common sense amidst the madness? So, she decides to manipulate the situation by saying that the Devil has come to her and she has resisted his commands to kill Mr. Parris. How to use hypocrisy in a sentence. They are extremely biased towards believing they have made the correct sentencing decisions in court thus far, so they are reluctant to accept new evidence that may prove them wrong. If you argued that John Proctor was the central tragic character, you could say that his flaws were an excessive concern for his reputation and overconfidence in the power of reason to overcome hysteria. The town, already primed with rumors of black magic, is quickly willing to accept that the first few women who are accused are involved in black magic because theyre beggars and slaves. In steadfastly refusing to confess, Rebecca Nurse holds onto a great deal of power. No one even considers Mary's statement about sticking the needle in herself. This entry was posted in offline website builder software for windows 10 on June 30, 2022 by .offline website builder software for windows 10 on June 30, 2022 by . This immaculate proof that has led him to sign numerous death warrants is nothing but the fabrications of teenage girls and other townspeople seeking petty revenge. Here are some discussion questions to consider after reading about the thematic role of the concepts of power and authority in the events of the play: Mary Warren when she comes back from Salem in Act 2. Abigail possesses a two- pronged approach in her motivation. Danforth insists that John must know more about the Devil's dealings than he has revealed. The overall message is that when a person's actions are driven by desires to preserve favorable public opinion rather than do the morally right thing, there can be extremely dire consequences. He believes there is a group of people in town determined to remove him from this position, and. John feels incredibly ashamed of his affair with Abigail, so he tries to bury it and pretend it never happened. To Danforth, anything that doesnt confirm that he was right all along is a lie. He is weak and vulnerable after Abigail's theft of his life's savings, and hes even facing death threats from the townspeople as a result of John and Rebecca's imminent executions. The power of mass hysteria is further revealed when Mary is unable to faint outside of a charged courtroom environment. The idea that a witch's familiar spirit is capable of stabbing people is too scary for the superstitious and now hysterical people of Salem to give Elizabeth the benefit of the doubt. Explain the irony of Hales position at the end of the play as compared to his actions at the beginning. First off, what is irony? She is cast as a villain. He refers to Johns refusal to confess as a calamity, looking past his own involvement in the larger calamity of the conviction that led John to this point. The Crucible provides an example of how convenient lies can build on one another to create a universally accepted truth even in the absence of any real evidence. There are many characters in the Crucible who are guilty of taking innocent lives, but there are three major characters who, without a doubt, are the most at blame. Why does Mary Warren behave differently when she becomes involved in the trials? flashcard sets. When the petition testifying to the good character of the accused women is presented, the reaction from Danforth, Hathorne, and Parris is to arrest the people who signed it rather than considering that this might indicate that the women are innocent. These are themes that could be considered subsets of the topics detailed in the previous sections, but there's also room to discuss them as topics in their own right. She beg me make charm (Miller, pg. Though hysteria overpowered the reputations of the accused in the past two acts, in act 4 the sticking power of their original reputations becomes apparent. The court refuses to challenge anyone who claims to have been afflicted. Danforth, Hathorne, and Parris become even more rigid in their views when they feel they are under attack. The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points, How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer. The meaning of HYPOCRISY is a feigning to be what one is not or to believe what one does not : behavior that contradicts what one claims to believe or feel; especially : the false assumption of an appearance of virtue or religion. 22). Thomas Putnam tells him to Wait for no one to charge you - declare it yourself.Parris must rush to be the first accuser so he can place himself beyond reproach. The other two main female characters, Elizabeth and Mary Warren, are somewhat bland. What are their strengths and personal flaws? "She sat to dinner in Reverend Parris's house tonight, and without word nor warnin' she falls to the floor. In this environment, whoever yells the loudest seems to get the most credibility. The Devil is really a superstition hiding the townspeople, who are ''precise'' in their accusations because they want land from others. These two institutions fuse together in The Crucible to actively encourage accusers and discourage rational explanations of events. The play is about human weakness, hypocrisy, and vindictiveness. Tituba, the slave of Reverend Parris, is the first to admit to dancing with the devil. In Act 2, John Proctors guilt over his affair with Abigail is demonstrated through an ironic exchange with Reverend Hale. They say not to use superstition when dealing with the Devil, who is in fact a superstition used to cover up the sinful dealings of the people. Elizabeth is a victim of cruel irony in this Act when she is summoned to testify on the reasons why she dismissed Abigail from her household. How does Reverend Hale make Tituba feel important? When Abigail accuses Elizabeth, a respected farmers wife, it shows that she is willing to take big risks to remove Elizabeth from the picture. Miller accomplishes this through almost, if not every character in the story. When the petition testifying to the good character of the accused women is presented, the reaction from Danforth, Hathorne, and Parris is to arrest the people who signed it rather than considering that this might indicate that the women are innocent. 42). (pg. However, this runs up against Danforths desire to preserve his reputation as a strong judge. They so fear the devilish consequences of challenging the accusers that theyre willing to take them at their word and ignore any defenses the accused have to offer. Then, on the other end of the spectrum, we have Rebecca Nurse. Why does John decide to ruin his reputation in Act 3 by confessing to the affair? Abigails many deceptions are sometimes laughably ironic as she chastises others for lying even as she is spinning falsehoods. The judges cannot force her to commit herself to a lie, and her martyrdom severely damages their legitimacy and favor amongst the townspeople. Anns extreme conclusions are gradually accepted because rational people are too afraid to challenge the consensus and risk bringing accusations upon themselves. By Act 2, there have been notable changes in the power structure in Salem as a result of the ongoing trials. The prisoners have lost all faith in earthly authority figures and look towards the judgment of God. Shes not a traditionally accepted target like the others (except in her susceptibility as a woman to the misogyny that runs rampant in the play). While Mary Warren gets pressured by Proctor to reveal the truth about Abigail, but the overwhelming pressure from the mob makes her turn from the truth. Upon arriving in the court Mary Warren says, I cannot lie no more. This act also sees the irony of Hale discussing the powers of the dark that are attacking Salem (pg. A professor tells us that he has a strict rule about cell phones in the classroom, then he answers it midway through his own lecture. Abigails presence is always rife with irony in The Crucible, as she constantly chastises others for sins she herself has committed. Read on for an overview of what a theme is, a list of important themes in The Crucible with specific act-by-act details, and a summary of how to use this information in your essays and other assignments. Now that you've read about the most important themes in The Crucible, check out ourlist of every single character in the play, including brief analyses of their relationships and motivations. By Act 4, many of the power structures that were firmly in place earlier in the play have disintegrated. There are two examples of Ad hominem from The Crucible in Act 2 and Act 3. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. is hypocrisy a natural human flaw the crucible 16 is hypocrisy a natural human flaw the crucible. Salem is under attack from the hysteria that is encouraged by the same people who seek to keep imaginary supernatural demons at bay. Reverend Parris has fallen from his position of authority as a result of the outcomes of the trials. The ruthlessness with which the suspected witches are treated is aimed at purifying Salem, but it achieves the opposite outcome. How is the arrest of Rebecca Nurse a sign that the hysteria in Salem has gotten out of control? Okay, let's take a moment to review. Though their Bible would forbid murder, they condemn people to death with an excuse of witchcraft just to get land. The hysterical atmosphere and the dramatic performances of some of the accusers cause people to believe they have seen genuine proof of witchcraft. Themes can be expressed in many different ways. Abigail distracts the judges from any rational investigation in this act by playing into this hysteria. She openly threatens Danforth for even entertaining Mary and John's accusations of fraud against her. Concern for reputation is a theme that looms large over most of the events in. This is a decision with dire consequences in a town where reputation is so important, a fact that contributes to the misunderstanding that follows. Abigail also shows concern for her reputation. Nowhere is there any consideration of ulterior motives. Read this character flaw list (with examples) for inspiration and develop interesting character weaknesses: 1. Lying- Explain why the girls are more willing to lie . Fear plays an immense role in the way people make their decisions, such as when the characters of Danforth and Mary Warren . The people who preside over the trials are corrupt. If you can show that you understand the themes of a work of literature, you've clearly mastered the material on a deeper level. How is Millers underlying message revealed in one of these themes and through the character?". He says, I would to God it were not so, Excellency, but these people have great weight yet in the town (pg. Recall that hypocrisy is when someone's actions don't match up with the professed values. The petition he presents to Danforth is used as a weapon against the signers rather than a proof of the innocence of Elizabeth, Martha, and Rebecca. Here again, he is driving the point home that the villagers were greedy and seeking land, so they put some of the pillars of the community to death for their own gain. The book is about witchcraft or what the town thinks is witchcraft. Why doesnt John immediately tell the court that he knows Abigail is faking? Hereferences the many sentencing decisions he has already made in the trials of the accused. He. As we discussed in this lesson, we see hypocrisy everywhere, and its depiction in art is no exception. The court refuses to challenge anyone who claims to have been afflicted. Both flaws led him to delay telling the truth about Abigail's fraudulent claims and their previous relationship, thus dooming himself and many others to death or imprisonment. There are numerous connections between the flaws of individual characters and the overarching themes of the play that could be brought into this discussion. As much as I loved Bernie Sanders, he made millions of dollars while preaching for democratic. Revenge in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Theme, Examples & Analysis, Allusion in the Crucible by Arthur Miller | Examples & Overview, Thomas Putnam in The Crucible | Character Traits, Quotes & Personality, Irony in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Overview & Examples, Abigail Williams in The Crucible | Quotes, Traits & Descriptions, The Crucible by Arthur Miller: Act 1 | Quotes, Overview & Analysis, Judge John Hathorne in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Analysis & Quotes, John Proctor in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Quotes, Analysis & Development, Reverend John Hale in the Crucible by Arthur Miller | Traits, Quotes & Analysis, Reverend Parris in The Crucible | Character Traits & Quotes, Hysteria in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Theme, Quotes & Examples, Fear in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Quotes, Examples & Analysis, Judge Danforth in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Character & Quotes, Giles Corey Character Analysis & Quotes | The Crucible by Arthur Miller, Ruth Putnam in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Character & Analysis, Symbols in The Crucible by Arthur Miller | Examples & Analysis, NYSTCE English Language Arts (003): Practice and Study Guide, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Study Guide, English 103: Analyzing and Interpreting Literature, EPT: CSU English Language Arts Placement Exam, ILTS English Language Arts (207): Test Practice and Study Guide, Common Core ELA Grade 8 - Language: Standards, College English Composition: Help and Review, Create an account to start this course today. He believes there is a group of people in town determined to remove him from this position, and he will say and do whatever it takes to retain control. Samantha is also passionate about art and graduated with honors from Dartmouth College as a Studio Art major in 2014. Though Rebecca Nurse's involvement has already been corroborated by other confessors, Danforth demands to hear it from John to confirm that John is fully committed to renouncing his supposed ties to Satan. While I speak Gods law, I will not crack its voice with whimpering (pg. Reverend Hale, Abigail Williams and Judge Danforth. Abigails power skyrockets as the hysteria grows more severe. We hear a lot about hypocrisy, or when someone's actions don't match up with the professed values. The court's attempts to preserve Puritan morality by arresting and executing accused witches ironically lead to the removal of the most virtuous people from society. When she cant get John to abandon Elizabeth for her, she decides to take matters into her own hands and gain control through manipulating the fears of others. Ironically, though she is normally honest to a fault, in this situation Elizabeth decides to lie to preserve Johns reputation, not knowing he has already confessed. Its easy for more respectable citizens to accept that shes in league with the Devil because she is an "other" in Salem, just like Tituba.

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