The Crucible
In the play "The Crucible" written by Arthur Miller, the author displays how easily people can make judgments based on their personal beliefs rather than rational and logical reasoning. Miller elucidates throughout the play that truth has no meaning when men believe only what they want to believe. A situation is created where there are factors capable of forcing characters into making assessments based on what they think is right while disregarding the truth. Three characters in Miller's play who abandon the truth because they choose to believe only what they want to believe are Reverend Parris, Reverend John Hale and Judge Danforth.
In the opening scene, Reverend Parris is introduced as a very apprehensive character. His daughter lays unconscious in front of him and there is a rumor that she is victim of witchcraft. Parris is infuriated and he begins questioning Abigail, as he saw her and several other girls dancing in the woods. When Abigail denies that they were practicing witchcraft, he does not believe her. He asserts that she and the other girls were involved in witchcraft and accepts this as the truth, even if he is not certain that he is right. However, when Tituba begins pointing fingers and calling other people witches, every authorial figure present in the scene including Reverend Parris accept this as the truth. She realizes that she must lie in order to save herself and she does so by conveying the attention on other townspeople, such as Sarah Good and Goody Osburn. For this reason innocent citizens are then prosecuted for witchcraft because of the ignorant beliefs of certain people, who preferred to believe a child instead of looking for evidence. Parris and Hale are both upset by the content of Tituba's words yet they will choose to believe her. The reckless accusations proclaimed by the young girls are accepted as truth, in a town controlled by anxiety and concern.
John Hale is the force behind the witch trials, as people will follow in his
In the opening scene, Reverend Parris is introduced as a very apprehensive character. His daughter lays unconscious in front of him and there is a rumor that she is victim of witchcraft. Parris is infuriated and he begins questioning Abigail, as he saw her and several other girls dancing in the woods. When Abigail denies that they were practicing witchcraft, he does not believe her. He asserts that she and the other girls were involved in witchcraft and accepts this as the truth, even if he is not certain that he is right. However, when Tituba begins pointing fingers and calling other people witches, every authorial figure present in the scene including Reverend Parris accept this as the truth. She realizes that she must lie in order to save herself and she does so by conveying the attention on other townspeople, such as Sarah Good and Goody Osburn. For this reason innocent citizens are then prosecuted for witchcraft because of the ignorant beliefs of certain people, who preferred to believe a child instead of looking for evidence. Parris and Hale are both upset by the content of Tituba's words yet they will choose to believe her. The reckless accusations proclaimed by the young girls are accepted as truth, in a town controlled by anxiety and concern.
John Hale is the force behind the witch trials, as people will follow in his