The Crucible: Experience of the Salem Witch Trials
The Crucible
In The Crucible Miller demonstrates the evils within the human nature through the experience of the Salem Witch Trials. Many characters in this play endure their own personal crucibles. First, Elizabeth Proctor has the ignominy of keeping a terrible secret. Also, Giles Corey goes through a deadly trial trying to protect his neighbor. Finally, Mary Warren, a shy and timid girl, has the impossible task of going against Abigail and the court. Each of these characters’ crucibles are very excruciating, but only some pass while others fail. Primarily, Elizabeth Proctor is put through a crucible due to Abigail, but she also puts herself through one as well. As a precursor, Abigail is trying to get rid of Elizabeth and accuses her of witchcraft. Elizabeth is targeted by Abigail due to her knowledge of Abigail and John’s affair; however, Abigail does not know that Elizabeth will keep it a secret to protect John’s name. Elizabeth is later questioned whether or not she knows of this affair; she lies and says she has no knowledge of John committing lechery. I believe that by lying in an attempt to save her husband’s name, she fails her crucible. Elizabeth could save herself and her husband by staying true to the good Puritan woman she is and simply telling the truth. The fact that she is incapable of telling the truth when it matters most leads to more deaths; therefore, she fails. Not only does Elizabeth Proctor go through a crucible, but also Giles Corey suffers one as well. Giles Corey accidentally puts himself in a crucible. In trying to become a good Puritan, he actually ends up accusing his wife of witchcraft. He tries to save her, John’s wife, and Francis’s wife by using his knowledge of the court and his evidence against Putnam that he has procured. In the end, Corey gets arrested and pressed for the name of the witness that claims Putnam had his daughter cry witchcraft against Jacobs. No matter how much weight they add, he won’t put his neighbor in
In The Crucible Miller demonstrates the evils within the human nature through the experience of the Salem Witch Trials. Many characters in this play endure their own personal crucibles. First, Elizabeth Proctor has the ignominy of keeping a terrible secret. Also, Giles Corey goes through a deadly trial trying to protect his neighbor. Finally, Mary Warren, a shy and timid girl, has the impossible task of going against Abigail and the court. Each of these characters’ crucibles are very excruciating, but only some pass while others fail. Primarily, Elizabeth Proctor is put through a crucible due to Abigail, but she also puts herself through one as well. As a precursor, Abigail is trying to get rid of Elizabeth and accuses her of witchcraft. Elizabeth is targeted by Abigail due to her knowledge of Abigail and John’s affair; however, Abigail does not know that Elizabeth will keep it a secret to protect John’s name. Elizabeth is later questioned whether or not she knows of this affair; she lies and says she has no knowledge of John committing lechery. I believe that by lying in an attempt to save her husband’s name, she fails her crucible. Elizabeth could save herself and her husband by staying true to the good Puritan woman she is and simply telling the truth. The fact that she is incapable of telling the truth when it matters most leads to more deaths; therefore, she fails. Not only does Elizabeth Proctor go through a crucible, but also Giles Corey suffers one as well. Giles Corey accidentally puts himself in a crucible. In trying to become a good Puritan, he actually ends up accusing his wife of witchcraft. He tries to save her, John’s wife, and Francis’s wife by using his knowledge of the court and his evidence against Putnam that he has procured. In the end, Corey gets arrested and pressed for the name of the witness that claims Putnam had his daughter cry witchcraft against Jacobs. No matter how much weight they add, he won’t put his neighbor in