Good at its best‚ Evil at its worse When good and evil clash‚ does good always triumph? In a theocracy‚ religion is the basis of their living politically‚ socially‚ and economically. Therefore in a place where theocracy is practiced‚ good should always conquer evil. However this is not the case in Salem during the witch trials. Religion in Salem is taken very seriously. All citizens work toward pleasing and serving the lord. They repent all evil and choose the way of the Lord instead the way of
Premium Good and evil God Evil
theologically the minister‚ in this case‚ Parris‚ is supposed to be the ultimate decider of morality in Salem. The Church‚ in theocratic Massachusetts‚ defines conscience. Right and wrong is decided by authority‚ and the authority here is the Church. Law is based on the doctrines of the Church‚ and Salem is a theocracy. "For good purposes‚ even high purposes‚ the people of Salem developed a theocracy‚ a combine of state and religious power whose function was to keep the community together‚ and to prevent
Premium Salem witch trials The Crucible Morality
the Puritans in England before they took a long journey to an unknown land in Salem‚ Massachusetts. There‚ they struggled to settle into a strict‚ religious lifestyle. They followed their Bible and went to Church. They also had harsh punishments for treason as well as other forms of crime. The Puritans were people with a strong belief system that led to irrational fears and a confined lifestyle. The Salem Witch Trials were a time of horror when neighbors accused each other of witchcraft
Premium Salem witch trials Witchcraft The Crucible
exploring Miller’s idea of the use of hysteria and rumour in order to seek personal vengeance. Hytner’s depiction of Salem is well represented and the use of space‚ both outdoor and indoor‚ helps to visually depict Miller’s idea of the blur between the public and private world. Furthermore‚ Miller’s use of symbolism within The Crucible is integral in reinforcing Salem’s governing theocracy and this is well demonstrated in the film adaptation. It is inevitable that there are some flawed elements of Hytner’s
Premium The Crucible Salem witch trials Arthur Miller
the play‚ “The Crucible”‚ by Arthur Miller‚ the readers are introduced to the Puritan society and the theocracy within it. In the puritan society‚ the church and the state are one and religion is very strict. In Salem village‚ everything and everyone belongs either to God or the devil. For example‚ “a person is either with this court or he must be counted against it.” (Act III). This shows how Salem
Premium Salem witch trials The Crucible Salem, Massachusetts
Miller’s Intent in The Crucible Theocracy is a method of government in which a divine being is formally recognized as the public Head of state and community officials are viewed as divinely guided. In a theocratic civilization‚ God himself is thought of as the head of state. Conscious of how a theocracy can destroy a society‚ Miller intends to imply – through his portrayal of John Proctor and Reverend Hale – the thematic idea that theocracy is essentially blind and corrupt. One indication
Premium Religion Christianity Salem witch trials
conscience‚ eventually accepting his own death rather than make a false confession. This theme is also conveyed through the setting and plot. Set in the small‚ tight knit community of Salem‚ the play’s setting provides an appropriately claustraphobic atmosphere for the events that take place. The world of Salem is enclosed by strict moral and religious codes which inevitably encourage the growth of hypocrisy and the abuse of power. The confined setting of the play effectively reinforces the trapped
Premium Salem witch trials The Crucible Puritan
his mistakes and confess all his sin and meets a death. He represents his individual freedom more than anyone else throughout the book while the Salem court and the Puritan theocracy represent repression of individual freedom. The start of the witchcraft causes chaos to the town‚ church‚ and the court instead of bringing peace to a community. The Salem rules over and overpowers the individual freedom of people in the town while John Proctor continue to keep his individual freedom. John Proctor represents
Premium Salem witch trials The Crucible John Proctor
the society of Salem‚ Massachusetts‚ during the late seventeenth century. In the book‚ Timebends: A Life‚ Miller declares: “I can almost tell what the political situation in a country is when the play is suddenly a hit there — it is either a warning of tyranny on the way or a reminder of tyranny just past.” Tyranny denotes a cruel and oppressive exercise of power. In ancient Greece‚ it implied a rule by one who has absolute power without legal right. The Puritanical theocracy that rules the
Premium Salem witch trials The Crucible
CRUCIBLE INTRODUCTIONARY NOTES The crucible by Arthur Miller‚ is a play that deals with conflicts involved in the Salem witch trials of 1692. The characters in Miller’s theocratic society are not only in conflict with their environment‚ but with each other and their religious authority. John Proctor sacrifices his life as he battles his individual conscience‚ guilt and the authority of the church. In his play‚ Miller shows that when an individual questions the dominant values of a society
Premium Salem witch trials The Crucible Witchcraft